From Crash.net Weber hints at an all-Schumacher line-up Michael Schumacher will not be short on offers Michael Schumacher is being linked with a move from Ferrari to Toyota. The seven time world champion's manager, Willi Weber, is quoted in the German Bild newspaper as openly embracing the possibility, just days after 37-year-old Schumacher warned that he could quit Ferrari if the next scarlet racer is not competitive. Michael's brother, Ralf, currently drives for Cologne based Toyota, even if he is no longer managed by 63-year-old Weber. Schumacher left open a 'one per cent' likelihood that he would switch teams at the end of this year in his Der Spiegel interview. Weber explained: He did that because, in F1, there are always surprises. Even though McLaren have signed Alonso for 2007, there is still a big player on the market. F1's biggest player, with an estimated annual budget of now more than $500 million, is the Japanese carmaker. It is also perhaps the only F1 player able to meet Michael's wage demands. Weber concurred with his champion charge that much depends on the pace of Ferrari's 2006 challenger. We will see how the season starts, the German explained, before making a decision in the summer. He even went so far as to insist that having both Schumacher brothers at a single team is no longer a problem. Previously, he ruled out the scenario because - no matter what - one of his pair would be a loser. I no longer look after Ralf, he said, so it's no longer a problem probably BS but interesting none the less, the plot thickens............
You'd think that for his legacy alone he would switch teams. Ferrari pays well, but he's closing in on $1B net worth IIRC, who cares at this point... what he makes in interest each year eclipses his salary from the Scuderia
Actually from the perspective of his legacy, I would think he would stay at Ferrari and take over Jean Todt's role with the race team. He would be paid quite well for that privilege. And history would recognize MS forever. Besides the Italians would likely request saint hood if he continued a winning team in perpetuity. Anyway, I don't Ralf would relish the number two role.
Well my feeling is that this was leaked to the media to motivate Ferrari. I would doubt that he'd switch teams at his age unless he just wanted to have some fun with his bro, make huge cash while doing it, then retire. That being said Toyota would be stupid to let Trulli go and keep Ralf. Trulli pretty much mopped up the track with him all year long.
Today Ralf said: ''I can certainly imagine that.'' Adding with a smirk: ''But I don't think that will really happen.''
I think Ralph would have a breakdown if MS did make the move. He wouldn't be able to handle being put to shame by his brother. If I remember right, they haven't gotten along well on the track in the last year or so. Mark
He didn't seem to mind getting spanked by Montoya all those years and then Trulli this year. Why would it be different for his bro.............
I have a feeling Trulli is gone from that team after the end of this year. Ralf has a long term committment thanks to Weber to stay at Toyota. I personally home MS finishes his career at Ferrari.
Every time I hear that argument I wonder what makes people think he is capable of doing that? Not too many drivers have done well as team managers and MS doesn't strike me as a that terribly smart. Even "the professor" struggled. Having said that I don't see him leaving Ferrari for another team. This is just to put some pressure on the Scuderia to get their act together.
From what I've read over the years MS has the ability to motivate others around him. He's involved in more areas of the team than most drivers are and shows his appreciation to the rank and file within the team. And he leads by example by being a 7 time WDC. With that resume and those motivating abilities IMO he's probably the most capable one of leading Ferrari beyond the Todt years. That's provided he wants the job.
I doubt that will be enough. Prost is IMHO one of the smartest drivers there ever was and had similar credentials yet went bankrupt. Lauda, another brain heavy guy who managed to build his own airline did miserably as consultant to Ferrari (I'm sure he would have gotten the job if there had been a chance). Rahal got fired. Diniz didn't deliver. I don't like Todt, but have to say he is incredibly smart. Intellectually and street smart. Aside from his racing credentials. Enzo was fantastic. Ecclestone is brilliant. These guys are made of different stuff than your average driver. Champion or not. That's why they run teams successfully and then went on to even bigger things. Bottom line: I think being a great team manager requires very different skills than being a great driver.
The idea of MS taking over Jean Todt's position is not original. It was discussed a few years ago in an interview with Todt in a French publication, just after he took over as president of Ferrari motor cars in addition to being F1 team manager.
MS seems to have the ability to "team build". When he arrived (at scuderia) it took him a couple years to work with them and get everyone in place, but I think from there (2000 and on) history speaks for itself. Micheal seems too ingrained in ferrari to make a move at this point. One of his biggest disapointments must be failing with a team he helped build. Micheal has said before that he will never again have to worry about money, so outbidding ferrari for his salary seems an unlikely incentive, especially considering the legacy he could continue to build on staying at ferrari. Look at Stewert. He did a pretty good job at running a team, I think Micheal could (especially with the help he would recieve from current staff) do a fine job. He has the ability to make hard decisions and play them off on others when they become unpopular, an important part of managing a team, no?
He did? When he sold he was at the end of his rope and lucky/happy he found a buyer. Then he went on to stumble along with BRDC. The man was a great driver. Period. Running a F1 team successfully is rocket science. Team building is important, but only one tiny aspect of what I consider one of the hardest/complex/challenging jobs in the world. PS: MS can motivate his Scuderia because they know he is one of the best, so their efforts are not wasted. Not sure he is a team builder. He surrounded himself with people working with him, but that's not the same and the reason Ferrari has become a one driver team the moment he sat foot in it. Also keep in mind he basically took his dream team from Benetton with him to Ferrari. That team was not set up by him, but by Flavio.
I agree. Toyota is not a race winner today either. So it has to make huge gains to be deemed a championship contender. If at all he will move, McLaren seems more likely if the car is still competitive. Michael is great friends with Norbert Haug. But I feel MS will call it a day at the end of 06.
"MS can motivate his scuderia because they now he is one of the best, so their efforts are not wasted" good point, but I was of the understanding that he had a lot of say around ferrari even beyond driving/racing activity, even to the point of having limited say in what makes it to production vehicles. I suppose I should read up a little more on stewert's post racing activity. I may have overstepped a little. My knowledge of him comes mostly from a documentary I saw on speed and an article in Octane. I knew there was trouble with the BDRC trying to oust him, but I didn't really follow the details.
Thanks. I read a related note once about Berger vs Senna (working for McLaren): Whatever Senna required, the team happily did because they knew he was the ultimate measuring stick and would deliver no matter what. Berger copied that and demanded gimmicky changes to his car and then didn't deliver. MS is of the Senna group of course. He demands reasonable stuff and then works his behind off to get it to work. I don't think MS has much involvement in anything beyond F1. Nor should he, we want him to focus on his racing. He did however test a few of the cars and I'm sure he gave some input to the engineers. However that might have been also simply for marketing/PR reasons. Ferrari has full time test drivers for this. By the same token I think the whole FXX deal is a PR/Marketing exercise. I don't think the factory really needs "engineering" feedback from its customers. BRDC had a very snobby attitude running the British GP and told Bernie to get lost when he requested substantial changes to Silverstone. That almost cost the BRDC the right to hold the event. Stubberness can be a good thing or a bad thing.
agreed...it'll never happen...we all know that. altho i would like it to happen in MS's final season to whack the crap outta ralf!
Won't happen, especially after initial tests of the V-8 in Jerez were very positive. (I know it was an F2004 vs the F2006, but I imagine the F2004 is the mule the new car is based upon.)
Schumacher repeated the 1% chance of moving to another team in 2007 at today's press conference (ironically held by Ferrari).
