Another option for Michael Renault boss Flavio Briatore wants Germany's seven-time Formula One Champion Michael Schumacher to drive for his team next season, according to Schumacher's agent Willi Weber. With reigning World Champion Fernando Alonso leaving Renault for McLaren-Mercedes at the end of the season Briatore has a vacancy and wants Ferrari driver Schumacher to fill it. "We have known each other a long time and Flavio has been in touch to say that we should talk with him before signing a deal at Ferrari," Weber said in Bild daily. "We will speak with Ferrari first and I made it clear to Flavio that we would not talk to him until Michael decides whether he wants to carry on driving or not. " Schumacher worked under Briatore at Benetton early in his career and won successive world titles in 1994 and 1995. But whether Briatore can now match Schumacher's estimated 40 million euro (48.3 million dollar) annual salary is open to debate. Schumacher is contracted at Ferrari until the end of the season and has given no indication as to whether he will carry on racing or not. The German lies fourth in the world championship standings 17 points behind reigning champion Alonso. Source AFP
Possibly yes but when the words "Bild" and "Weber" are thrown into the mix, I would say Let's wait till something is really announced and not idle speculation.
I just don't see Carlos Ghosn allowing 40 million Euros to be spent on one driver's salary. Not only that, I can't see MS so close to the end of his career making a switch. I really only see him driving next year or working for Ferrari doing something to keep him occupied.
I don't see it either but if Renualt did open the purse strings MS could go where the money is. Plus it may also depend on if he really didn't wanna get blown off the road by Kimi
It would seem that if MS doesn't do anything significant this year he's toast. So far things are looking marginal.
Let's not forget Renualt has had the best car so far this season and last. From a competitive point of view the move would make sense.
Actually Bild itself states that this is only Flavio talking and Weber said first Michael has to decide whether he wants to continue on in 2007. And even then he would first talk to Ferrari. At any rate I don't see it happen. I think Michael will call it quits after this season, which will be another dismal one for him and the team. Who knows, maybe he'll even do a "Lauda" and resign before the end of the season.
I'd hope he quits while on or near the top. I'm scared to death we might see another Senna-type of deal if he jumps to Renault....... I've seen it too many times, not just in F1.
Nor does Jean Todt. Marlboro picks up that bill. Renault could find a sponsor to do the same thing. But there are other arguments against a transfer like that. The most obvious came from Michael saying that he is 99% sure to end his career with Ferrari.
Will just trying to get Ferrari to pay some more. Exactly what good agent should do. He can also issue a press release that i want Schumi to drive me to work. I probably wouldn't be able to match Ferrari's offer, but work is less stressful.
Then again Michael Jordan said he was 99.9% sure he'd not play basketball again....before rejoining the Wizards for a season and a half
Good point and look what it did to his otherwise stellar record. MS should quit while he can do it in style. I don't want to see another Alan Jones or Nigel Mansell comeback.
I'm not a huge fan of the "go out on top" bit. If I were in MS's position, I would race til I didn't enjoy waking up every morning to drive. You'll never have to work a day in your life if you like what you do.
and look how well that turned out for jordan, i think MS should just keep racing until ferrari stops paying him anymore and he hates racing. why should he care about people saying he is washed up and his best days are behind him. as long as he gets paid to do what he wants to do he should keep doing it. I dont think he should change teams though, espcailly if he was only going to be racing another year or two, if he stays with ferrari till he is done racing then he still has a great relationship with that company. i know that having a good realtionship with a company as historic and good as ferrari would be more important to me then changing teams just because i could. and so what if kimi is on the team also, that just means the team is bettter. (its too bad MS porb doesnt think like me at all though)
Michael should continue racing as long as he enjoys himself and can still run at a descent pace. I hope he doesn't move to another team though. I would have a very hard time associating him with any other team than Ferrari.
Well, except maybe Renault. It would provide a sweet bookended symmetry to his career if he were able to win another championship under Flavio and the current variation of Benetton.
You're right, I never thought of it like that. When I really got into F1, he was already at Ferrari. I hardly remembered his success at Benetton.
Like was stated before, Renualt still seems to have the best car. If MS really wants to win he maybe thinking there's a good option. i'm sure he'll give it some thought.
It would be a high-priced game of "musical chairs": Fernando: Renault to McLaren Kimi: McLaren to Ferrari Michael: Ferrari to Renault
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=35585 Michael refutes that he will drive for another team out here.
