Mick Schumacher’s American Dream: Inside Mick Schumacher’s Big Leap with RLL
The 2026 NTT Indycar grid is truly shaping up with another driver of excellent calibre joining the grid in the form of Mick Schumacher, the son of the legendary 7-time world champion of F1 Michael Schumacher. This is a legacy signing by the RLL team and a great addition to the Indycar series
On November 24th, we got the bombshell news story that the talented German racer Mick Schumacher would be trading his European heartland for a trip across the pond to join up with the rising Rahal Letterman Lanigan squad ahead of the 2026 season. He will be partnering up with the ROTY for 2025 Louis Foster and esteemed veteran of the series, Graham Rahal in a lineup in which hasn’t fostered this much driving prowess and well-rounded ability yet in their history.
This move to Indycar has signalled Mick’s return to single seater racing full-time for the foreseeable future, as he will pilot the #47 Honda of RLL and although there was rumours of a possible Cadillac seat in Formula 1 these never materialised although Mick stated how “I had pretty much up to the end had been contention for that seat and then they went in a different direction.”
Consistent Speed of a Champion
Mick is very talented and is no stranger to being at the front and winning races and even championships. After many close shaves prior, Mick took his first single-seater championship in 2018 in Fia European F3. This was a collectively competitive field of racers housing fellow expatriates from european racing series like Marcus Armstrong and Robert Shwartzman who Mick is now following suit of in joining the biggest American single seater racing series.
The fact that the grid held the likes of 4 time Indycar legend Alex Palou shows Mick has a winning mentality woven through his blood. Mick went on to have even bigger successes taking out the Fia Formula 2 Championship of 2020. This was by defeating, another now Indycar driver, Callum Ilott to the title in a year defined by consistent speed and a surgical-like precision to capitalise on every opportunity he had to take points over rivals.
Mick has stated about his intentions to rekindle some old rivalries on track next season. “I think its going to be fun to see them again,catch up but also race hard against them.” Mick only finished the big scoring once outside the top 10 with a worst finish of P11 at Spielberg, Austria.
Mick was then promoted to Formula 1 for the 2021 season,with the American outfit Haas giving the rookie the opportunity. Although Mick never got a front running car in his tumultuous F1 stint of 2 years, he was still able to showcase his ability to race wheel to wheel in moments like the Austria 2022 GP against Hamilton or Verstappen at the 2022 British GP.
Mick scored a few points finishes with a best result of P6 in his 43 race starts.
He then became a Mercedes F1 reserve driver for 2 years and in the meanwhile raced in the World Endurance Championship with the French squad Alpine. In those 2 seasons, he managed 3 team podium finishes. Mick recently left Europe behind, to have his first Indycar Test at the Indianapolis Speedway with the RLL team on the 13th October. Only a month later, Mick has now signed with them showing how fast things can progress in motorsport.
The Start of a New Journey in IndyCar
Moving over to Indycar would definitely mean a lot of different surroundings to get used to on and off the race track but for Mick he seems just eager to get things started and to acclimatise fast. “I think we’re all very keen to get the season going.” This enthusiasm and attitude to the way Mick does things has definitely not gone unnoticed.
“I think there’s plenty of work still to be done but I believe that’s why everything has gone so smoothly already.” This smooth start to his early tenure in Indycar will hopefully continue on. Everything has happened so fast and smoothly since the test and this was a huge indicator to making his decision on his future and where his priorities lied.
“It was just interesting to exploit that single-seater route again. I think to me then Indycar was the best option. Mick also gave answers as to whether he could see himself in Indycar long-term. “I just had to kind of confirm it to me and to everybody around me that this is something I could see myself doing this for the long-term.”
After the Indycar test, it made things easy for Mick. “I think that the decision-making process was pretty simple.”
A Groundbreaking Test at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Mick tested for RLL at the IMS road course just over a month ago and since then he has spoken about the experience and what aspects of the car he had to get used to most. “The car being the way it is with no power steering makes it quite exciting.”
Mick is ultimately relishing the challenge of this new machinery as he compared it to being “a bit like his old karting days.” The cars being so robust in wheel to wheel combat will surely bring joy to Mick when he finally goes out on track in his first race.
Within this steep learning curve of getting used to Indycar Mick has pledged his 100% focus to this stating “this year is 100% being focused on what I am doing and I think its already enough.” This therefore closes the doors on any chance of seeing Mick participating in a duel campaign of Indycar and IMSA in a single season next year.
Whilst Mick got a flavour of the IMS Road Course in his first test, he is keen on exploring all the other circuits. “Honestly I am excited to discover all of them so why not? I think there’s some really cool tracks out there,” whilst still affirm the historic prevalence and intense racing action at the Indy 500.
The current President of the team Jay Frye also shed some light on Mick’s future test schedule. “We’ve thought about how we would divide it up. Its probably going to be four oval tests, two road courses and one street course being Sebring.”
What to expect from 2026
Mick and RLL will hope to blossom their partnership early with some on track strong performances although will be aware of the challenges awaiting them.
Mick was asked about his teamates for 2026 and how building rapport with them early to learn and use them as a baseline would be key to help drive the team forward further. “Well since obvously joining WEC, I’ve kinda learnt this new approach lets say to teamates.”
Mick went further on explaining how “you also understand that as long as you’re not one,twoor three in this case there’s no real reason to fight each other.” Mick really believes in the “incentives to bring the team forward,” which is what they are all here for as RLL aim to continue their steady momentum as a team into 2026.
Bobby Rahal mentionned prior the team’s all rounded driver lineup as he aims to ramp up operations to be able to be competitive on all type of tracks with a particular focus on the Ovals. “I think we saw great performance gains on a consistent basis in the road and street courses.”
Rahal further went on to explain the particular recruting pattern of late as he aimed to bring the personnel to not only foster gains in RLL’s strengths but to patch up clear weaknesses as well like oval racing.
Rahal has strong feelings on the current addition of Mick and the rest of his current lineup for next year stating how he “Just feels very positive about the guys he has driving these things now,” To wrap up, he explained the positivity was reasonable and “felt very strongly about the potential for 2026.”
Mick and RLL are Aligned in Continous Improvement
With 2026 fast approaching, the signs look really promising for the whole RLL squad. Can Mick Schumacher unlock the potential of the 3rd Car to be able to aid RLL push forward up the grid in a tight midfield battle being forecasted once again in the Indycar series next year.
Fine margins will be the name of the game and Mick isn’t concerned about not having a front running package yet in a reference to the hugely competitive field on a race by race basis creating opportunities to pounce upon. “I think its great and the way it should be. I think its great that you have so many different winners. Its all down to yourself really.”
Bobby Rahal also touched upon how a main goal wouldn’t neccesarily be front-running results like wins or podiums but just “being competitive every race,” stating the frustrating reality of “everything having to go right in order to win a race,” especially with the resources RLL have.
Continuous improvement is key in all aspects of the team whether thats operationally as a team or driver development. Only the future knows what’s in store for RLL for 2026 and beyond but with Mick as a stand-out driver to push things forward and the correct personnel being brought in to help with the direction this team wants to head in, the prospects are promising.
I suggest following Mick’s story of his rookie season closely in 2026 as I feel this driver/team partnership could definitely be spring a few positive surprises on this grid.
written by Taegan Hignett / Media Credit: Penske Entertainment