Mick Schumacher Joins Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing for Full 2026 IndyCar Season
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing announced on November 24, 2025, that Mick Schumacher, the 26-year-old son of seven-time Formula 1 world champion Michael Schumacher, will drive for the team in the NTT IndyCar Series throughout the 2026 season. Schumacher, a Swiss-born German racer, will pilot the No. 47 Honda-powered entry, a number selected as a tribute to his father’s legacy following Michael’s traumatic brain injury in a 2013 skiing accident. This move marks Schumacher’s transition from European racing circuits to the competitive U.S. open-wheel series, where he joins a lineup featuring veteran Graham Rahal and 2025 Rookie of the Year Louis Foster. The announcement follows Schumacher’s impressive test session with the team on October 13, 2025, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, where he demonstrated strong adaptability to the IndyCar machinery.
Schumacher’s professional journey began with promise in junior formulas, culminating in a 2020 Formula 2 championship title that propelled him to Formula 1 with Haas in 2021. Over two seasons, he completed 43 starts, achieving a best finish of sixth place, but faced challenges including costly crashes that contributed to his departure from the series. In 2023, he served as a reserve driver for Mercedes-AMG Petronas while competing in the FIA World Endurance Championship, transitioning to Alpine’s factory program in 2024 and 2025, where he secured three podium finishes in the Hypercar class. Team co-owner Bobby Rahal praised Schumacher’s performance during the IMS test, noting that every team member was impressed by his skill and determination to join the program. Co-owner David Letterman highlighted the driver’s talent and character, stating that with this trio, the team’s future holds unlimited potential.
The 2026 NTT IndyCar Series schedule comprises 17 races, blending 11 road and street course events—aligning well with Schumacher’s extensive experience in similar formats—with six oval challenges, including the prestigious Indianapolis 500 on May 24. Schumacher expressed enthusiasm for the series after receiving positive feedback from Formula 1 peers about its engaging nature, and he found the car’s handling and the team’s collaborative atmosphere particularly appealing during testing. This signing replaces Devlin DeFrancesco, who finished 26th in the 2025 standings despite a multi-year deal, signaling strategic shifts under new team president Jay Frye. Co-owner Mike Lanigan emphasized Schumacher’s skills as a key enhancement to the team’s competitiveness in one of motorsport’s most demanding series.
Schumacher’s arrival injects a high-profile name into IndyCar, drawing parallels to his father’s historic dominance, including five victories in seven F1 races on the IMS road course configuration. The season opener is set for March 1, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Florida, providing an immediate platform for Schumacher to adapt to the series’ diverse demands. Rahal Letterman Lanigan, champions of the 2020 Indianapolis 500 and multiple IMSA titles, aims to leverage Schumacher’s insights from F1 and endurance racing to foster a strong partnership. As the team prepares for enhanced performance, this development underscores IndyCar’s growing appeal to international talent seeking fresh opportunities.
