Mick Schumacher has landed a new job after leaving Mercedes’ Formula One team at the end of last year. Schumacher was a reserve driver for two years for the Silver Arrows but then missed out on a seat at Alpine and Williams for the current F1 season. But the Swiss-born German has now been confirmed as a full-time IndyCar driver for 2026.

The son of F1 icon and seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher joins Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLL) for the 17-race 2026 season. The move also means the former Haas F1 racer will compete in the 110th edition of the Indianapolis 500 in May. Schumacher will race in the No.47 car which is powered by Honda and will be teamed with Graham Rahal and Louis Foster who was the 2025 IndyCar rookie of the year.

Schumacher had been competing in endurance racing in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) for Alpine in 2024 and 2025. But the 26-year-old will switch his attention to North America’s premier open-wheel racing competition which begins with the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg in Florida on March 1.

Having successfully tested with RLL in October, Schumacher said: “I am delighted to confirm today that I will be competing in the IndyCar series next year with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, taking part in the full season. Having both an F1 and an endurance background, and having competed in various racing series over the years, I have insights and knowledge that I am sure will contribute to a great partnership.

“RLL prepared me extremely well during testing already, and I am sure that we can build a lot together. I was also immediately excited about the car and the American way of motorsport which comes across as being more about pure and direct racing, and it is precisely this aspect that I am very much looking forward to.

“And of course, I am curious about new experiences and always interested in broadening my horizons. For me, a new journey is beginning here, and I am excited for the season to start.”

RLL president Jay Frye added: “Opportunities like this are rare, and we couldn’t be more excited to see everything come together. Mick is an exceptional talent on the track and an outstanding young man off of it. We are very proud to have Mick as part of the RLL family.”

While one of the team’s co-owners, Bobby Rahal, reacted: “I think I speak for everyone at RLL when I say how thrilled we are to welcome Mick to the team and to IndyCar.

“His test with us on the IMS road course was exceptional – he impressed every single team member. Everyone walked away from that event determined to do what we could to bring Mick into our program. We’re thrilled he’s chosen to join us, and we can’t wait to get to work.”

Schumacher’s IndyCar switch all but confirms his time in F1 is over. He has not raced in motorsport’s highest class of open-wheel racing since the 2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The former F2 and F3 champion made 43 race starts in F1 with a career-best finish of sixth at the Austrian Grand Prix three years ago.