Michael Schumacher could be set for a shock return to the Formula One cockpit behind the wheel of a Mercedes GP. The seven-time world champion reportedly lost his position as an advisor to the Ferrari F1 team as part of a new three-year contract agreed in September, with Schumacher instead concentrating on road car development. Mercedes motorsport boss Norbert Haug has fuelled speculation that Schumacher could drive one of his two cars, likely as a team mate to Nico Rosberg, while Schumacher's own spokesman has refused to rule out a move to Mercedes. "I have every understanding that all the people in Formula 1 worldwide want to know who the drivers will be now," said Haug. "It's not finally decided, but I think and hope we can announce something in the course of the next couple of weeks. We will do a very good job in that respect as well I can promise you and maybe we can create some surprises." Fellow German Nick Heidfeld has been linked to the team as Rosberg's partner, but his capture would hardly be a "surprise". Both Haug and Mercedes CEO Dieter Zetsche have spoke of the need of having a German in the Mercedes team, something which never happened in its time as a McLaren shareholder. Schumacher is widely believed to want to return to the sport having retired at the end of the 2006 season. His planned comeback in 2009 was aborted due to fitness concerns, while Ferrari boss Luca di Montezemolo's plans to run a third car for the German appear to be a non-starer. Schumachers spokeswoman Sabine Kehm didn't rule out the German returning to F1, but admitted it was "unlikely" at the moment. "Although you never say never in this sport," she said. http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/AllCars/245158/ I don't see this happening what so ever.....
Not entirely. This will generate massive amounts of publicity for Mercedes. Will he come back? Won't he? Who are the drivers? Haug will want as strong a driver line up as he can out of those still available and as German a driver line up as possible. It will likely be Heidfeld and Rosberg, but I will bet they string this along for a while for the chatter. MS as test and development driver, working back again with Ross Brawn to lead the youngsters to success is a compelling story. I think it is unlikely to see MS racing F1 again, but I think you might see him back in a car.
Ermm well it seems not all think it's rosey in the Merc garden. The decision to leave McLaren and buy into Brawn has resulted in some criticism for the Daimler AG management from the leading workers representative in the company. Erich Klemm, who in the Vice Chairman of the Daimler Supervisory Board, and thus in theory at least the second most important man in the company structure, says that he does not understand why Daimlers Mercedes-Benz brand is quitting one Formula 1 team and buying into another. Your probably right about MS though.
I'd love to see MS back - why not? The guy is on top of the world... rich, famous, he can do whatever he wants. What is the point of life if not to be happy? I doubt it will happen, but you never know.
Mercedes may be looking for the same PR bounce that Ferrari got when they announced Schumi's "return". Fool me once...
I would so love to see it. Can you imagine? Schumey and JV both making returns? 2 more Champs in the field? Would be awesome!
Where exactly is the link mentioned in the topic? I only see Haug saying that the driver decision might be a surprise.
While Haug and the Schue go back a long way and MS always wanted to drive for Merc in F1 after they raised him through Group C in a Sauber, this will never happen. Why? Broken Atlas. One accident and MS would be a veggie.
wouldn't suprise me in the slightest to see the chin in a silver arrow. He has a long connection with them.
Yep. Seems like a cheap stunt, if it is not in the cards. And, if it were in the cards, they would not need the cheap stunt. (But what do I know, I think USF1 is in trouble.)
MS back in an F1 car at all? Not going to happen, except for a test or publicity stunt. At the last GP of the season, one of the Speed TV comentators mentioned the rift betweem MS and his wife over his desire to get back into racing, but I just don't think he's physically fit enough to make a legitimate go of it.
He hasn't said he wouldn't drive again. He is free from his SF F1 role. He would inherit a championship winning car. Haug is saying there maybe something surprising. And Ross is already there. HHHhmmmm.... I could see an all German Merc GP squad to oppose the McL Brits.
In the world of F1, if you haven't heard a rumor by ten o'clock in the morning, start one. Better chance of Mika Heikkinen sitting in a Silver Arrow than MS trying to convince the missus that he still feels "the need for speed." Cheers-Colin Firth-Ontario Canada
