Mick Schumacher has jumped around since leaving the F1 paddock following the conclusion of his Mercedes duties, but the Swiss-German racer could be heading for an exciting new home

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Mick Schumacher is being linked with a switch to IndyCar for the 2026 season(Image: Kym Illman/Getty Images)

Helmut Marko has warned Mick Schumacher that there is potential for ‘serious accidents’ in IndyCar oval racing, should the Swiss-German race execute a switch to the series after his successful test at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.

Schumacher has been hunting for a return to the F1 grid since Haas opted not to renew his contract for the 2023 season, but after watching numerous doors close, the 26-year-old is weighing up IndyCar as his route back into open-wheel racing after a stint in the World Endurance Championship.

With IndyCar on his mind, he joined forces with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing to test at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course in early October. His times were competitive, and Schumacher confessed to enjoying the experience.

“The series is a good series, it’s very competitive,” Marko told Sport.de when asked about Schumacher’s IndyCar prospects “A good step for the German; he had a very encouraging test there. If he feels comfortable in America, learns the oval tricks – and he’ll need a few races for that – then it will certainly go well.”

However, Marko also offered a warning to the former Haas F1 star. “That would be too dangerous for me,” he continued. “At an average speed of up to 340 km/h, there’s a risk of serious accidents. In such a case, it’s usually a major crash.”

Indeed, oval racing is often the sticking point for young drivers coming over from Europe to IndyCar. On the 2026 schedule, six races will be held on ovals, including the legendary Indianapolis 500, which is the crown jewel of the series’ calendar.

Schumacher, however, isn’t too concerned about the challenges this will pose. “I think safety is obviously a high priority for everybody,” he explained after his test. “IndyCar has made a lot of adjustments and changes to make it safer, and I’m sure they’ll keep improving.

“At some point, though, you can only make it so safe with the speeds you’re going. But again, I think all the precautions have been taken. I haven’t driven an oval, so I can’t say more than that, but for now I haven’t heard anything that would scare me off.”

Whether or not Schumacher’s IndyCar adventure will translate into a full-time seat remains to be seen. Graham Rahal and Louis Foster are secure with RLL Racing for 2026, although Devlin DeFrancesco’s disappointing 2025 campaign has opened the door for a potential driver swap.

“Obviously, at some point I want to be sure about my future, so I think it won’t be too long before I make a decision,” he explained when asked about a timeline for his final decision. “Whether that’s going to happen before or after I do an oval test, I don’t know.”