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There are many glorified names in the wide world of motorsports, but there’s only one Schumacher. Seven-time Formula 1 champion Michael Schumacher set new records, shattered them, and established an entirely new standard of dominance by the time he retired in 2012. But it’s his son on the grid now, in IndyCar, chasing his career a world away from the European racing establishment where that name carries so much weight. Welcome to America, Mick Schumacher.

Life couldn’t be more different for the 27-year-old Swiss these days as he sat for a long interview with The Drive during the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach last month. He’s now living on a ranch in rural North Texas (his family’s ranch, but still, might as well be Mars for someone from Lake Geneva) and driving an hour and a half for groceries. But even that is a minor adjustment compared to the massive shift in what he’s racing—the No. 47 Honda for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.

It was just four years ago that Mick was in Formula 1, trying to make the best of driving for a dysfunctional Haas team and constantly being compared to his father. His time in the big show ended in 2022 after two hard-luck seasons, and whatever you want to say about his inconsistent performance, those circumstances were not ideal. Guy can drive; he won the F2 championship in 2020.

Still, it says a lot that Mick decided to walk away from F1, the thing he spent his life preparing for, after sitting on the sidelines in 2023 as a reserve driver for McLaren and Mercedes. You can easily see someone in his position, with his name, refusing to leave F1’s orbit and wasting prime years waiting for another shot. But Mick wanted to drive. He hopped over to the World Endurance Championship to race for Alpine in 2024 and 2025, flashing his skills with a few podiums before getting the itch to return to open-wheel cars. Different ones.

So now, he’s five races into his inaugural IndyCar season with RLL, preparing for his first Indianapolis 500, and adapting to life as a 27-year-old rookie with a lot to learn. He finished 17th in Long Beach, adding to a decent start that’d probably be easier if he didn’t break his wrist in the pileup that knocked him out of the season opener. But he’s clearly thrilled to be here, doing his own thing, and who knows where it leads? During our conversation before the race, he opened up about his new life in the US, getting ready for the 500, and what it feels like to drive out from under his father’s shadow.

Jerry Perez: This is a big change for you, not just in the type of car you’re racing, but also moving to the U.S. How are things treating you? How are you feeling?

Mick Schumacher: It’s definitely very different in many regards. But yeah, it’s been super interesting, super nice. I think, for me personally, it is also about development. On the racing side of things, obviously, it’s also a very big difference, simply working with the people here in IndyCar. It feels almost like back to the roots of go-karts, where it’s very one-on-one and very old-school. It’s been very fun, and I’m really enjoying it.

I thought maybe you had moved to Indy, but it sounds like you didn’t. Was it just easier to stay in Texas and feel more at home?

I guess so. Already back in the day, whenever I spent more than two weeks away, I was like, ‘Oh, I want to go back home, I miss my home.’ But yeah, it’s probably better to be there and have some family. I think Indy would be very foreign to me. Even though you have a lot of drivers who live out there and love it, I think I would still feel less at home than I do in Texas. Though honestly, the thing I miss most from home is the food. The closest Whole Foods Market that we shop at is like an hour and a half away, right? So it is a long drive just to go grocery shopping.

For Texans, that’s not very far; that’s just down the street.

Yeah! For me, you know, five minutes would be ideal timing. You have to drive longer than you have to be there, it feels like. It’s hard where we are out there in Texas.

The IndyCar season has an interesting cadence, per se, which is way different than what you’ve been exposed to before. What do you think of the pace?

When I looked at it the first time, I was like, ‘Well, it’s uh, a very compressed season, a very short season’ because we’re done [racing] in September. I would rather have it a bit more stretched out, probably into November, for example, because then the downtime is shorter. The one thing I love doing is racing cars, after all, but I understand why they do it, and it makes sense from their side. And for us racing drivers, it opens opportunities beyond IndyCar. For me, I opted to do only IndyCar this year because I didn’t really want to be distracted, and honestly, I was also quite happy to maybe have that break after the season. I just wanted to be sure I don’t commit to anything I’ll regret in the end. Maybe next year I’ll take a different approach, but for now, I think this has been all right.

Whenever I attend a race in Europe, people always ask me about IndyCar and how the fans can get super close to the action. I once talked to Fernand Alonso when he was racing the 500, and he had to have Indiana State Troopers escort him from the garages to the paddock bathrooms because everyone would mob him during that short walk, and he was very bothered by it. It was a distraction he wasn’t used to. Have you come to terms with this, and do you think it’s a plus or a minus?

I think the way the [IndyCar] championship is placed right now is probably a plus. I mean, I wouldn’t see why it would be a negative to let people come in and have a look at things. I think at the level that Formula 1 is at, and the popularity that it has, I think it would not be possible [to offer similar access]. I mean, we’ve seen it in different circumstances, even like in F1 races, where you would think that people would be quite reserved, they ended up being pretty on you. Here, in IndyCar, contrary to F1, I’ll still be able to make my way around, and people are pretty respectful if you tell them, ‘Hey, look, I don’t really have the time right now.’ They’ll let you go. I don’t know what Alonso’s experiences were in the 500—I haven’t done a 500 yet—so I don’t really know. It’ll be exciting to see how it goes for me there. I don’t plan to have any state troopers with me.

You say that now.

Yeah, maybe we’ll have to! We’ll see. 
If not, we always have fun! No, man, it’s been all right so far. I think it’s just different, and it’s a different approach. I still have to do my job and be in a position where I have to just deal with things like this.

Speaking of the 500, you were there as a spectator last year, and then you had your first go around. You have one more test coming up before it’s time for the big show. Have you sat down to try to process what the month of May will look like for you, your first time as an Indy 500 competitor?

Not really. I probably won’t. I think I’ll just let it come to me. But overall, I didn’t like it when I did Le Mans for the first time two years ago, and everybody was like, ‘Oh, yeah, it’s gonna be amazing, it’s gonna be like this whole crazy deal.’ And I was like, ‘Yeah, all right, I’ll see how it goes.’ Honestly, I wasn’t too fussed by it. I don’t like the thought of making one race a one-event championship. Yes, the 500 is probably gonna be one of the best races ever because it’s crowded, it’s full, but in my opinion, every race should be like that because what we do is amazing, and I love racing. As a fan of the sport, I would want to support it everywhere it goes. That makes sense? I don’t ever want to be like, ‘Oh, I just want to go to the Indy 500, and that’s all.’

Has Graham or anyone else prepped you on what you should expect?

I just remember Louis [Foster] telling me that it was the scariest thing he’s ever done in his life. Oh, awesome! No, honestly, I think we’ll have a good time. Short ovals have been great. I went to Homestead, and it was a great track; it was fun, but not insane or a completely scary experience for me. In Indy, we’ll be on low downforce, so sure, that’s gonna be a first. Regarding the low-downforce package and how we’ll have to [manage] cooling there, I’m sure Graham will be great at giving me insight on all that. I’m excited to listen to him and see how he approaches that weekend.

You’re a Honda driver now. Honda is one of the biggest names in racing; if it can race, it typically dominates. What’s it been like working with HRC and the likes of David Salters?

It’s been great. I am enjoying the rivalry among the manufacturers, and being with Honda in IndyCar has been great. I feel like they really pay attention to every little detail to make sure we’re in the best place possible. Dave [Salters] has been great—he’s been pushing a lot. He used to work on dad’s car during his final season [at Ferrari], so it’s been great catching up, talking about that [era], and seeing his perspective on working in F1 and now in IndyCar. Now we cross paths here, it’s funny how sometimes these things happen.

[Author’s note: For obvious reasons, Mick has been closely guarded from questions about his father by his family and management and has declined to answer them in the past. It’s not a topic to broach lightly, but his journey is inseparable from the triumph and tragedy of Michael’s life. At this point in the conversation, I pivoted away from the usual racing fare and brought up a recent interview on Racer.com where third-generation driver Marco Andretti was asked about his experience following in the footsteps of his grandfather Mario and father Michael Andretti.

Somewhat surprisingly, Marco was frank about the pressure that comes with the last name, the feeling of not measuring up, and the unwanted attention it brings—which I applaud him for saying out loud. It felt like an important question to ask Mick as well, and to his credit, he answered it with grace.]

Marco was quite outspoken about how being a third-generation driver often took the fun out of racing because he always had to measure up to his father and grandfather. He always felt the pressure of the last name. Have you ever felt this way? Do you feel like racing is less enjoyable because you’re constantly compared to your father’s achievements?

No, not at all. I’m very proud of what my dad achieved, and he’s the best for good reason. He put some hard effort out there working countless nights to achieve what he did, and making sure that the car was in the best position possible. I’m just aiming to look at what he did and follow it, and make sure that what I do works for me as well. There’s never been any pressure to do exactly what he did or to try to beat him or whatever. There’s none of that just because; since an early age, my dad has always been there to support me, never to push me to do something he thought was not beneficial to me.

That’s why, a lot of the times I ended up just having a mechanic instead of my dad doing the that for me when I was in go-karts, just because he wanted to, I think, step away from it and say, ‘Yeah, I’ll support you wherever you need, but I’ll be having my fun on another racetrack while you’re doing your work and enjoying what you’re doing, and then we can come back together afterwards and have a chat about it.’ It’s never been to a point where he’s like, ‘Okay, you should do this, you should do that.’ It’s a great approach. I loved it, and if my kids ever want to do that in the future, I’d do it exactly as he did.

What do you drive back at home for your daily, daily car?

I don’t actually have a car yet.

So, how do you drive 1.5 hours to Whole Foods?

I’m using my sister’s car [laughs].

Do you have any toys you like to take out on the weekend when you’re back home in Switzerland?

Yeah. We have some nice cars that I love driving, but I don’t really take them out onto a track—I just literally drive around in them. I recently bought a drift car that is fully FIA spec. It’s an HGK E92 with an LS7 engine in it. The other stuff is just like really nice and fun cars to have, but not put too many miles on.

What’s your favorite way to spend time away from the track?

It depends on the weather conditions we have and where, I guess. Like, if I’m home in Switzerland, I’d probably take out the little motorhome—it’s a Sprinter—with my dog, and just go up in the mountains or do something away in nature. That’s always great. Here, that’s a bit more difficult. I would go golfing or do something that is pretty enjoyable for me at the moment. If I were by the coast, I’d probably go surfing.

Lastly, and just to pick your brain, what’s your take on the current drama with the F1 regulations changes, and various drivers saying it’s like Mario Kart? Any thoughts on how things have evolved since you were there?

On paper, they [FIA] always knew that something similar would happen, but F1 is known for, in my opinion, being able to have an insanely quick and good way of turning things around for the better. If you look at what we started in 2022 to where we ended in 2025 [with the previous rulebook], that was a huge change in terms of just how great the cars were by the end of that regulation set. I have no doubt that by, even later this year, they will have something in place to improve what they have at the moment.

Email the author at jerry@thedrive.com

So, you’re finally ready to buy your next vehicle. The shopping process can be a daunting task, but with millions of listings both new and used, The Car Connection can help you find the car, truck, or crossover you really want.

If it’s a used vehicle you need, here’s a shortcut. We’ve scoured our listings with our easy-to-use shopping tools to find a handful of vehicles we think could be great deals. You can do the same, on a desktop computer, or on our iPhone or Android app, too. Either way, you’ll be able to connect to the dealer instantly to set up your own test-drive.

But what about those deals we found? This week, our used-vehicle suggestions range from a sports car to a pickup truck, from an SUV to a used luxury car. The best on our list this week follows:

2003 Toyota 4Runner used car

2003 Toyota 4Runner

133,225 miles; $8,687

Gilbert, Arizona

Need to tow a four-wheeler to the sand dunes this summer? This 2003 Toyota 4Runner would do the trick. It has a 4.0-liter V-6 engine that has a reputation for being reliable. The tan exterior appears to be in good condition. Inside this 4Runner features leather seating surfaces, and an aftermarket Alpine radio. It’s been on the market for just over 20 days, so you might have some wiggle room when it comes time to talk price. [See more used Toyota 4Runners]

2004 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V

90,976 miles; $7,999

Parker, Colorado

This 2004 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V just came onto the market, and it looks exceptionally clean. If you want a cheap, fun-to-drive compact sedan, this vehicle is a good option. It has a fuel-efficient four-cylinder engine connected to a manual transmission. The Spec V model of the Sentra is the performance trim, with specific exterior and interior accents, along with upgraded suspension tuning and brakes. [See more used Nissan Sentras]

2002 Ford F-150 XLT

104,953 miles; $6,999

Des Moines, Iowa

If you need a pickup truck to haul stuff, you can’t go wrong with a used Ford F-150. It’s the best-selling truck in the U.S., and this one looks like a good value. Powered by a 4.6-liter V-8 engine, it has the power to tow thousands of pounds, and it has just over 100,000 miles on it. It already has aftermarket running boards installed to make entry and exit easier, and overall the truck appears to be in good condition. It’s been on the market for over two months, so you’ll be in a good position to negotiate on price. [See more used Ford F-150s]

2003 Acura TL Type S

118,089 miles; $6,900

Lodi, New Jersey

If you’re looking for a luxury car on a budget, it’s hard to beat this 2003 Acura TL Type S. It’s loaded with leather, heated seats, alloy wheels, and automatic climate control. The built-in navigation system is a bit dated, but there’s an aftermarket radio already installed. We like the metallic grey color, and the paint appears to be shiny. It’s been on the market for over two months, so we’d suggest trying to negotiate on the price. [See more used Acura TLs]

2003 Nissan 350Z

125,670 miles; $9,493

Tampa, Florida

Summer is here, so maybe you want a sports car? This 2003 Nissan 350Z would make a great ride. It has a manual transmission and powerful 3.5-liter V-6 engine with a nice growl to the exhaust note. Its silver paint looks to be in good condition and its interior looks like new. We like that it’s stock, with no aftermarket modifications. [See more used Nissan 350Zs]

As always, we highly recommend you have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection on any used vehicle before you write a check. It’s also a good idea to ask the dealership for the Carfax report.

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Visit our redesigned used cars section today — over 2 million live classified listings for sale: used trucks, used SUVs, used Toyotas, used Fords and more.

With the 4th of July holiday coming up, you may be planning a road trip. That just might involve a change of vehicles–a change into something pre-owned, perhaps?

If you’re about to purchase a vehicle, we can help. With millions of used car listings, and thousands of vehicle reviews, The Car Connection has all the tools you need for quick and easy used-car shopping.

We’ll do one better than that. To save time, we’ve scoured through our used-car listings to find five vehicles that would be great for your road trip, and for everything that comes after that. From a station wagon and pickup truck, to fuel-efficient family sedans and a crossover, we’ve covered all the major bases, not to mention a big chunk of the country.

You can do the same–take a look at our vehicle listings and car reviews on the go, with our iPhone or Android app.

2001 Subaru Outback

138,157 miles; $8,900

Thorton, Colorado

No matter where your family adventures might take you, this 2001 Subaru Outback will help get you there. With its all-wheel-drive system and impressive ground clearance, trekking through the woods to that perfect hiking location never seemed so easy. It has a fuel-efficient four-cylinder engine and automatic transmission. The ad states it has a Carfax buyback, which can help put your mind at ease. It’s been on the market for nearly three months, so we bet you’ll be able to negotiate on the price. [See more used Subaru Outbacks]

2007 Mazda 6

54,940 miles; $9,995

Marietta, Georgia

If you need a fun-to-drive mid-size family sedan, this 2007 Mazda 6 could be the ticket. It is powered by a fuel-efficient 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine connected to a five-speed manual transmission. It has less than 55,000 miles and the burgundy paint looks shiny. The Mazda 6 is known to have good handling for a family sedan, and the eight-way power driver seat will help make sure you’re comfortable behind the wheel. It’s been on sale nearly three months, so we’d suggest you haggle on the price. [See more used Mazda 6s]

2000 Chevrolet Silverado

65,432 miles; $9,985

Beaver Dam, Wisconsin

If you need to tow something on your road trip, this 2000 Chevrolet Silverado has the grunt to do it. With a 5.3-liter V-8 engine under the hood, it’ll pull that boat or camper to your destination with ease. It comes with a camper top so you can haul your luggage in the bed without worrying about it getting wet if it rains, and the interior features leather seats. [See more used Chevrolet Silverados]

2006 Nissan Altima

86,043 miles; $10,991

Jonesboro, Arkansas

If you need a family sedan that has a reputation for reliability, a Nissan Altima will fit the bill. This 2006 Altima is just under $11,000, but we’d bet with a bit of negotiating you might be able to get it under $10,000. It has a gas-saving four-cylinder engine under the hood and an automatic transmission sending power to the front wheels. It’s a comfortable sedan on the highway and has more than enough room in the trunk for all your luggage. [See more used Nissan Altimas]

2008 Ford Escape

98,853 miles; $9,993

Spring, Texas

If you prefer a higher seating position while you drive, this 2008 Ford Escape could be the vehicle for you. We like the Vista Blue paint color, and inside you’ll find tan leather seats. Its V-6 engine sends power to the front wheels through an automatic transmission. It features alloy wheels, power door locks, mirrors, windows, and a voice-activated Microsoft SYNC system. If you are worried about paint chips, don’t be. It comes with a bug deflector already installed. [See more used Ford Escapes]

As always, we highly recommend you have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection on any used vehicle before you write a check. It’s also a good idea to ask the dealership for the Carfax report.

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Visit our redesigned used cars section today — over 2 million live classified listings for sale: used trucks, used SUVs, used Toyotas, used Fords and more.

Do your plans for the weekend include shopping for a new vehicle? If so, The Car Connection is here to help. With millions of used-car listings, and hundreds of vehicle reviews, we are your one-stop shop for all your car research needs.

Once you read the vehicles reviews, it’s easy to either connect with a local car dealership to request a quote on a new vehicle, or search our used-car listings. You can sort our used-car listings with our easy-to-use sliders that make finding your next vehicle a breeze. With the ability to narrow your search by make, model, color, year, price, and even mileage, it won’t take long to locate what you’re looking for.

We even have an iPhone and Android app so you can take your research on the road.

This week we sifted through thousands of listings to find you these deals. From a family sedan and SUV, to a convertible and pickup truck, there’s something for everyone.

2007 Ford Fusion

73,996 miles; $10,895

Newton, North Carolina

This 2007 Ford Fusion has only been on the market for nine days, but it’s priced to move. With less than 74,000 miles on its V-6 engine, it’s a clean looking used car. As far as family sedans go, the Fusion isn’t quite as bland as some of the competition. It features a nice design with a touch of European flair. This SEL mid-trim model features power locks, doors, and mirros, leather wrapped steering wheel, along with some aftermarket alloy wheels. Negotiate the price down to an even $10,000 and walk out of the dealership knowing you bought a nice car at a fair price. [See more used Ford Fusions]

2004 Volkswagen New Beetle

51,160 miles; $9,695

Marion, Iowa

If you’re looking to feel the wind in your hair this summer, then this 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle might be the car for you. It’s fun, chic, and features a retro style that is sure to be pleasing to the eyes for many years to come. This one is powered by a turbocharged 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine connected to an automatic transmission. What caught our eye is the low mileage–less than 52,000 miles. This might be the bug that Grandma drove to church on Sunday. [See more used Volkswagen New Beetles]

2003 Chevrolet Tahoe Z71

109,697 miles; $10,413

Pittsfield, Massachusetts

The Tahoe has a history of being a reliable family hauler, and this particular 2003 model looks clean. We like the Z71 package with the upgraded suspension and front fascia, and it features the Driver Convenience Package with power adjustable pedals, steering-wheel-mounted controls, HomeLink, and other power features. The interior has leather seats and the green paint looks shiny. Over favorite part of the ad is the 0-60 mph claim of about the same time it’ll take you to catch your breath. [See more used Chevrolet Tahoes]

2006 Mazda 3

69,029 miles; $9,977

Cumming, Georgia

The Mazda 3 is a great compact sedan for those seeking both fuel-efficiency and that fun-to-drive factor. This 2006 Mazda 3 has less than 70,000 miles on it, and it’s powered by a four-cylinder engine. Enthusiasts will enjoy the manual transmission, and it has a rear decklid spoiler. It’s been on the market for nearly half a month, and we’d be you can negotiate on the price a little. [See more used Mazda 3s]

2007 Ford Ranger

79,098 miles; $9,995

Anaheim, California

If you need a pickup truck but don’t want something that’s large and hard to park, then the Ford Ranger would be a good choice for you. This 2007 Ranger is powered by a 3.0-liter V-6 engine and has an automatic transmission. It has alloy wheels and color matched mirrors and bumpers. It comes with a toolbox mounted in the bed, and tie-down hooks to secure cargo in the bed. It’s been on sale for about 20 days, so negotiations may go your way when it comes time to talk pricing. [See more used Ford Rangers]

As always, we highly recommend you have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection on any used vehicle before you write a check. It’s also a good idea to ask the dealership for the Carfax report.

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Visit our redesigned used cars section today — over 2 million live classified listings for sale: used trucks, used SUVs, used Toyotas, used Fords and more.