Michael Schumacher 'will drive for Mercedes F1 in 2010'

This will be the equivalent of Jordan with the Wizards

 

Not sure about that. The Jordan part I agree, but I think Brawn-Mercedes is better than the Wizards. Well, we'll see next year.

 

If Merc/Haug had any sense he should pick up Rubik's cube quick, or be ready to act if Renault pull the plug on F1 or sell it.

 

Looks like everyone's backing off this now.

 

Unless by "Schumacher" they actually meant Ralf rather than Michael.

 

Ralf Schumacher, the Billy Carter of F1.

 

Rarely in the annals of the sport has so much been given...

to one who gave so little in return...

 

...or did Woobens take off when he caught wind of what might happen?

What doesn't add up about MS going to Merc?

a) His health - but there have been reports that his neck will be fine by the year end - where did they come from and why?
b) His Ferrari contract. But he's now "out" of the F1 operation. Any other contract isn't going to be hard to "re-arrange"

WHat does add up?

a) Obvious he wants to race again. He'd probably rather have done that in a Ferrari, but that option isn't available so the next best option is.....
b) Ross Brawn
Next "indicators"
c) Meetings he's had with RB & Merc as far back as Abhu Dhabi
d) His "spokesperson" says "no negotations going on" - Perhaps because the deal's already done?!
e) He's Kart racing in the States - Why???? (and scheduled for more of the same in the next week or two)
f) Next year's rules will suit a wily old head
g) Just like the Merc takeover has been negotiated over weeks/months, the idea of putting MS in the car isn't going to be a new one.

Which brings us back to where Rubens just took off - OK there were issues but he was winning races at Brawn - ideal number 2, but he bailed out (or was fairly unceremonially "dismissed") . And then Button took off - maybe he knows more than he's telling..........

 

Where's he scheduled to race Karts in the next week or two?

 

True or not, I would love to see it. Would bring some fun back into F1. Can you imagine Bernie's thoughts? Caching at the gate. Who in the F1 world wouldn't love to see him drive again?! I'd be willing to bet he hasn't missed too many steps.

 

Even if some of us consider it to be possible, (but not probable), the option must be very tempting:

1) Stepping right into the reigning championship winning car.
2) Ross Brawn masterminding and calling the shots. Ross has possibly the sharpest brain in the pitlane... EVERY place they've worked together they've won championships... As they say in life...it's not the building that brings success, it's the people INSIDE the building that bring success.
3) Massive backing from an automotive giant with hundreds of millions to spend (and let's not forget that with Mercedes GP- their NAME is on public display and their reputation is even more at stake).
4) There is nothing quite like patriotically winning everything with your countrymen.

5) The 800 lb gorilla in the room is that MS has been paid for the last several years to sit on the sideline. The sight of MS's body language when Luca went to hug him in 2006 made me question what was said publicly...

 

Rubens took a bullet for Schumacher too often for his own liking when they were 'team mates' and will whine to anybody who will listen to this day, if he know anything of the sort, the rest of the world would too.

Mike

 

This from the Sunday Express


SPECULATION that Mercedes are to link up with Formula One legend Michael Schumacher have been flattened by denials from both camps.

Comments by ex-F1 team owner Eddie Jordan sparked rumours that seven-times world champ Michael Schumacher was to come out of retirement as Jenson Button’s replacement.

Jordan had claimed: “The possibility is being actively pursued.” But

Schumacher’s spokeswoman Sabine Kehm said she would be surprised if the German came out of retirement at the age of 41.

“Michael is enjoying his life very much. To me, a return would therefore be highly unlikely at the moment,” she added.

Said a Mercedes spokesman: “It’s clear that there will always be speculation as long as one cockpit is still free.
“And some speculations are nothing but dreams which will not come true.”


http://www.sundayexpress.co.uk/posts/view/141795/Michael-Schumacher-in-Mercedes-denial-

 

I knew Eddie Jordan had lost the plot...

 

No!, Eddie's not lost the plot, he's just got to stop believing what the Leprechauns keep telling him!.

 

LOL!

 

we shall see. i think michael is coming back, somewhere. several reasons: he is still fit and hungry, he (thinks) he has something to prove, he doesnt like alonso and cant see him hanging around all the time like a 3rd wheel over at ferrari, and...perhaps more importantly, i think he needs the money. i am hearing from some reputable sources that he is short on cash since various projects have been negatively affected by the economy - dubai being the biggest hole. in that vein, he has sold most of his car collection here in geneva on the sly (i was offered several), and you dont do that unless you need to drum up some cash....

 

Given what he was paid by Ferrari, and that he probably won't have any mortgages for his properties or loans for his cars, I'm confused as to what he would actually need cash for - his outgoings can't be all that much relative to his former earning power.

As to the sale of his car collection... could he have been making room in the garage for replacement purchases?

All the best,
Andrew.

 

i dont know the details of course, but i heard he joined a group of investors that were going to build 7 (to match his wc crowns) ultra luxurious buildings around the world. the first one that i saw pictures of was in dubai, and it was a humdinger.
remember, schumi's worth at retirement was just under $1 bil. how much he committed to the buildings i dont know, but it doesnt take much to lose big time on real estate like that. but in addition to that his house here on the lake is massive - mortgage? i dunno. i suppose everything else is small fry (planes, cars etc) or can be leased. but here is what bothered me about the car sales, they were done on the hush. IF it were me and i was him i would call bonhams and do a mega deal out of it with LOTS of publicity to increase the eventual prices bid. he didnt do that. i got calls from a couple dealers for the enzo, and the 599, and heard about half dozen others had already gone.

 

He's just selling off the Ferraris because they conflict with his new Mercedes contract...

 

I cant say whether MS needs money. It is hard to imagine since he was valued at something like half a billion.

Then again I did hear that his big villa on Lake Geneva (the real one) is for sale, which would also explain why he is eager to sell his cars. They were stored in the subterrain garage.

 

I believe that's almost word for word what she said before it was announced he was going to try & fill in for Massa

The other 800lb Gorilla on this thing is that he clearly still needs/craves competition. Last year he was getting that from riding bikes. Then he fell off.......

....you can imagine the conversation in the kitchen of the Schloss Schumie....

C: No more bikes
M: But I need to race something!
C: NO MORE BIKES!
M: (mumbling) F1
C: NO MORE BIKES - what did you say?
M: (mumbling) F1!
C: Hmmmm - cost you 16 horses and a new stable block!!
M: Deal - Pass me the phone I need to call Ross & Norbert!

 

No, he will not.

 

All I can add is the Schuey looked great in all respects at the Super Nats in Vegas this past weekend. He performed well, looked fit, and obviously still loves to race!

The bottom line is that F1 is a marketing machine! It's about the show, money, etc. first and racing second. We all saw the result of Michael's impending return to F1 at the end of the season. Ticket sales soared! Hotels were sold out overnight. The chat rooms were abuzz with activity. All because of him.

IF (and this is a big IF) MS does come back it will be the shot in the arm that F1 needs after such a highly controversial season. F1 needs something (or someone) positive to focus attention on. Whether MS does well or not is secondary to everything else that will happen as a result of him returning to the sport. I for one would love to see it happen!