Mick Schumacher enjoys first IndyCar test with RLLR in Indianapolis, as Diogo Moreira steps up to MotoGP with LCR Honda in 2026.
“So far, so good,” Mick Schumacher said Monday. That’s how the son of legendary Formula One champion Michael Schumacher described his first NTT INDYCAR SERIES experience driving on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course in a car fielded by Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. The 26-year-old former F1 driver arrived in Indianapolis late Friday and spent the weekend immersed with the team owned by Bobby Rahal, David Letterman and Mike Lanigan.
Monday, Schumacher tested RLL’s No. 75 Honda in what was described as a potential trial run for his future. The first love of the Swiss-born German is racing single-seat cars, and there haven’t been many opportunities in Europe since Schumacher’s final F1 race at the end of the 2022 season. Yes, he has been an F1 reserve driver the past couple of years, but his race-day sessions have only come in sports cars through the FIA’s World Endurance Championship.
Schumacher said conversations with other NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers over the years have led him to the conclusion that racing in the U.S. might be appealing. “INDYCAR comes the closest to what I can still race,” Schumacher said during a midday break in Monday’s test. “I can’t go back to (Formula 2, which he won in 2020) because I won a championship. INDYCAR might be a good option. Obviously, my target the past couple of years has been to go back to Formula One, but that option hasn’t quite opened up this year or the years previous to that.
“So, at some point I want to race again in single-seaters, and therefore (this) option is a good one.” Sebastien Bourdais and Mike Conway are among the NTT INDYCAR SERIES veterans whom Schumacher has raced against this year in WEC, and there have been plenty of other series veterans, like James Hinchcliffe, who pass through through the F1 paddock during the season.
Schumacher, who has made 43 F1 starts between 2021 and 2022, said the INDYCAR SERIES receives high praise from the drivers who have raced in it, and the love of the sport was something he felt in attending this year’s Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. “Frankly, it’s a great championship (with) 17 races,” Schumacher said. “I’m still young, so I do want to race as much as I can, and I think the people here really live motorsports. I also like the mentality of the driver being the main part of the team and (him) driving the team forward.”
RLL fielded cars this year for Graham Rahal, Devlin DeFrancesco and Rookie of the Year Louis Foster, but it could have a place for Schumacher if he wants it. Schumacher acknowledged that before any decision is made, he must decide where he wants to be in 2026. “It’s a decision that lies with both sides, and I think obviously in this moment, I guess it’s mostly on my end because I have to figure out if I want to do (INDYCAR) or not,” he said. “We all have a couple of days and weeks to think about it and see what opportunities there are for the future.
“But so far, so good.” Schumacher has no plans to test on an oval track, but he said he would be open to it, a noteworthy statement given that his father was not interested in doing so due to the high speeds and the walls. “For sure, I’m interested to try it and see what it’s all about,” the younger Schumacher said. “I might as well (as) it’s what the (series) is about, and I think it would be wrong to just do one part of (the races). If I were to commit (to INDYCAR), I’d like to commit to it fully.”
Schumacher’s day on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile IMS road course was shared with NTT INDYCAR SERIES veterans Alexander Rossi and Christian Rasmussen of Ed Carpenter Racing along with INDY NXT by Firestone products Caio Collet (AJ Foyt Racing), Dennis Hauger (Dale Coyne Racing), Lochie Hughes (Andretti Global) and James Roe (Juncos Hollinger Racing). However, it is not the same layout used by F1 when father won five races and four poles from 2000 through 2006.
Schumacher said he didn’t remember having attended any of his father’s IMS races – “You’d have to ask my mom,” he said, smiling – but he sounded like someone intrigued by the chance to start a new Schumacher era at the iconic facility. “I’m happy to be here and happy to drive the car,” he said. “It’s fun (driving single seaters), that’s about it. I want to enjoy racing, and to do that I want to find where I feel most at home. I’m not saying Europe or WEC or any of those other championships aren’t that, but I feel maybe racing (single seaters) is always what I wanted to do.”
Here’s video: https://x.com/RLLracing/status/1977719028815643035
https://x.com/RLLracing/status/1977746819661644184
https://x.com/RLLracing/status/1977806727816131065
https://x.com/RLLracing/status/1977810921549680766
https://x.com/RLLracing/status/1977843171183989149
https://x.com/RLLracing/status/1977861999292772608
https://x.com/IndyCar/status/1977740258423750898
MotoGP, Diogo Moreira –
Brazilian rider Diogo Moreira has signed a multi-year deal with Honda Racing Corporation, which will see him make his MotoGP debut in the 2026 season with the Honda LCR Team. With an impressive track record in Moto2, where he was named Rookie of the Year in 2024, Diogo has demonstrated exceptional talent, securing wins in Assen, Austria, and Indonesia, while continuing to fight for the World Championship in 2025.
With his talent and Honda LCR’s expertise in the category, he’s set to make the perfect start to his MotoGP career! This signing strengthens Honda and LCR’s commitment to developing young talent, one of many key objectives the team focuses on. The whole Honda LCR team is excited to start this new journey with the talented Diogo Moreira!
Diogo Moreira: “Joining the MotoGP World Championship with Honda LCR is a dream come true. I want to thank Honda and the team for believing in me and giving me this incredible opportunity. I’m excited to learn, to grow, and to fight for strong results at the top level of motorcycle racing.”
Lucio Cecchinello, Honda LCR Team Principal: “We are very pleased to announce the arrival of Diogo Moreira to our team. Without a doubt, Diogo possesses all the qualities to become one of the greats in MotoGP. He has undeniable talent, a deep passion for racing, and has proven his speed across all types of motorcycles and disciplines. On behalf of the entire LCR Team, I extend a warm welcome to Diogo and thank Honda HRC for entrusting us with this exciting project for 2026.”
Other news –
James Wharton joins Prema for 206 F3 season: https://premaracing.com/en/news/19644-19-year-old-australian-set-for-second-formula-3-campaign
[The story is as per press release]
