Berlin, Aug 31 (IANS): Alpine driver Esteban Ocon has said he would like to have Mick Schumacher as a team-mate in the next Formula One season.

Schumacher's future at Haas is unclear and Alpine could have a vacancy as Fernando Alonso is moving on to Aston Martin, reports DPA. Alpine said that Oscar Piastri would take Alonso's place but the Australian said he will not drive for them amid McLaren speculation, with the case now being decided by the F1 contract review board.

"I told the team leadership I would preferably like to drive with Mick Schumacher. We are friends, I rate him very highly," Ocon said ahead of the weekend's Dutch Grand Prix.

"As far as I know he hasn't signed anything for 2023. So I told my people: let us get Mick."

Schumacher has been at Haas since 2021 and team principal Günther Steiner said recently they were not in a hurry to make a decision and that Schumacher must continue to perform well to secure a place.