Mick Schumacher satisfied with his first test on an oval track: "We are on the right track"

On the eve of the 2026 season ofIndyCar, Mick Schumacher took the wheel of the No. 47 for the first time on an oval track. In Miami, at Homestead Speedway, the car operated by Rahal Letterman Laningan Racing (RLL) completed 97 laps. This first private test signals a promising season for the former driver of F1.

Between Formula 1 and theEnduranceThe German driver certainly has no shortage of experience. Yet, in IndyCar, everything is new. Apart from a test conducted in October at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway circuit in October 2025, Mick Schumacher is starting from scratch.

Accustomed to the regular braking zones of the circuits he has raced on in the past, he had to contend with long corners that allowed him to reach speeds of 312 km/h. Despite prior preparation and a lap of the circuit the day before alongside Ryan Briscoe, the RLL coach, the rookie in the category was caught off guard by this unsettling exercise.

« It's a bit like not knowing which side of the track I was on, which turn I was in, and where I was in the race. he says. Approaching a corner without braking is something completely new (for me). So the first time, I did give it a little tap on the brake. … That's one of the things I had to get used to: entering the corner almost flat out, then gradually easing off the throttle. The approach and the initial setup were very conservative. We weren't really in the right setup window at that point, so everything felt a bit strange and awkward. »

He pursues : " As we found a better balance with the car, things started to feel more natural and straightforward. Towards the end, I felt I was in a really good position, especially in terms of confidence and how I approached the corners. From there, everything started to fall into place and become more logical. Everything was exactly as I expected. »

Mick Schumacher is finding his feet in IndyCar

The old pilot Haas He will also participate in the tests scheduled for February 17 and 18 in Phoenix, Arizona – a circuit making its return to the calendar after several years' absence – where he can refine his knowledge of the oval before the season opener in Saint Petersburg, Florida, on March 1. He is eagerly awaiting this event. I'm very curious to see how it will be with the other cars on the track, to feel the dirty air and the resulting loss of aerodynamic downforce. There's certainly still a lot to learn, and I'm far from being able to say I'm completely comfortable everywhere. he acknowledges. We are making progress little by little. We're making sure we're ready for St. Pete, and then we'll take care of the rest. »

Schumacher is therefore approaching the 2026 season with confidence. I think everything is going really well. We're already putting all the pieces of the puzzle together. On the first day, I didn't think we'd be so far ahead of where we started. We're on track to have everything in place for the first race. »

The next IndyCar test, organized by the teams, will be held on February 9th and 10th at Sebring International Raceway.

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