Before Formula 1 moves on to the next world championship round in Singapore, all eyes will be on Hungary.
That's where, at the Hungaroring, Alpine will conduct a private test with a year-old car to assess an impressive shortlist of contenders to replace Fernando Alonso in 2023.
The latest to join the action is Mick Schumacher - with his current team Haas said to be closing in on a 2023 deal with 35-year-old Nico Hulkenberg, who has been on sabbatical for the past year.
"I think he's a candidate because he has a super license, he has driven in F1 before, and he has experience," said team boss Gunther Steiner when asked about Hulkenberg.
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Rising talent
Schumacher, 23, also appears to have lost the backing of Ferrari's 'academy', with Russian Robert Shwartzman the new darling of the Maranello-based team's development program.
"Robert is a fantastic driver," said Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto at Monza. "I think he's very fast, especially in an F1 car. So it's a shame for him not having a seat at the moment."
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Former F1 driver Timo Glock thinks Binotto is seizing the moment to move on from Ferrari's investments in Schumacher.
"I don't think he ever believed in Mick, and the lack of commitment on his part now suggests that the collaboration will end at the end of the year," he said. "The question is where Mick will end up after that."
Schumacher, however, faces stiff competition for the Alpine seat, as also in action in Hungary will be Jack Doohan, Colton Herta, and Nyck de Vries.
Indycar star Herta, however, is reportedly only running because Alpine's
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