Mick Schumacher makes endurance championship debut in 13th

Mick Schumacher made his World Endurance Championship debut on Saturday by finishing 13th with his Alpine team in the season-opener in Qatar.

Schumacher, the son of seven-time Formula One world champion, drove 128 of the 335 laps on the Lusail International Circuit.

He recorded the fastest lap time of the three-man team but also had a scary moment when he slid off the track but was able to continue.

"Finishing was the big aim. I learnt a lot which I didn't expect in this way," he told broadcasters Sport1.

Schumacher drove in F1 for Haas in 2021 and 2022. He has been a reserve and test driver for the Mercedes F1 team since last year but is also competing in the endurance class this term.

Saturday's race saw the first-ever victory for the Porsche Penske team around fellow German André Lotterer.