Monday 14th December 2009

Mercedes GP Still Chasing Schumacher

Ross Brawn's team won't rule out comeback season for F1 legend

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Schuey: about to come out of retirement?

Mercedes may still be hoping to sign Michael Schumacher for an F1 drive in 2010.

As the various F1 teams begin to get their act together for the upcoming season, Mercedes Grand Prix (formerly Brawn GP) is still yet to complete its driver line-up for the 2010 season, with Nico Rosberg currently the only confirmed driver for the team - and it seems Mercedes could still be after one Mr M Schumacher.

Rumours that Mercedes planned to sign Michael Schumacher for a return to the sport have previously been denied by all significant parties, but new evidence suggests the idea has yet to be totally written off.

Though the team is known to have been considering bringing in Nick Heidfeld, Mercedes' motorsport boss Norbert Haug has refused to rule out the possibility of bringing Schuey back into F1 for the team's second season. When German newspaper Bild asked Haug about the recent rumours, he simply replied "who knows?"

Schumacher's own manager Willi Weber is similarly reluctant to count out the possibility, but notes that Michael has just extended his consultancy contract with Ferrari by another three years. Call us unimaginative, but it seems unlikely to us that the same man will drive for Mercedes while consulting for Ferrari at the same time. Even superhuman Schuey may struggle with that level of multi-tasking...

[aarondrs]

You would have thought that the deal signed with Ferrari would end this speculation. I can't believe that Ferrari would nto have a clause forbidding him from racing for any other F1 team. I seem to remember his previous contract forbid him from racing in any series whatsoever in a car that wasn't from the Fiat stable.

[sunsurfer]

An interesting rumour but what will Mercedes and Michael Schumacher get out of it?

Every driver has a shelf life and surely Schumacher left because he felt the deterioration of his capabilities? If this is the case of what benefit for him or Mercedes would it be to make a come back?

It might be that even a slightly 'off' Schumacher may be better than many of the young drivers on offer. Perhaps Merceds plan for Schumacher to drive for a year or two without the expectation that he will win world championships and then move into the role of driver coach and perhaps team manager? In his latter years at Ferrari he acted a bit like a coach for Massa

Mercedes gets a legend - with the all the marketing possibilities and perhaps even a driver capable of leading the team and creating race wins. If Mercedes is lucky MS may even grind out another world championship - he recently beat everyone at Massa's charity karting event and sportspeople hate to be beaten even at charity events.

[Snoggledog]

What, exactly, is he consulting on at Ferrari? If it's only road cars then potentially he could race for MB. I'd still like to see him back in F1. Just to see how the modern drivers stack up against him.

[snorkel sucker]

andrew benson's blog makes for a very interesting read....

[Snoggledog]

snorkel sucker said:

andrew benson's blog makes for a very interesting read....

So does this and this



ETA.... Looks like a done deal according to Auto Express

Edited by Snoggledog on Monday 14th December 14:06

[Project 644]

Who is Micheal Shumacher?

[snorkel sucker]

Snoggledog said:

snorkel sucker said:

andrew benson's blog makes for a very interesting read....

So does this and this



ETA.... Looks like a done deal according to Auto Express

Edited by Snoggledog on Monday 14th December 14:06

it would almost appear so, yes....

i for one cant wait for next season, and the anticipation will be greater still if schumacher is to return

[johnaachen]

Project 644 said:

Who is Micheal Shumacher?

I thought that Michael Schumacher was in line for the second seat at Mercedes?
He is 7 times WDC so whoever this Shumacher is he must be some driver!

[Dakkon]

Project 644 said:

Who is Micheal Shumacher?

I woundered about that too

[Johnpidge]

so thats a yes then??????????????

[Agent Orange]

Given the last year in F1 I can see it happening - but I'll believe anything after this year. Schumi agrees a 1 year sabatical from Ferrari to fill the seat at Mercedes and assist Rosberg until Vettel is free from his contract.

What I can't see though is Ferrari being too keen on a current consultant working for a competitor and potentially taking points from them. Never mind the technology he'll have been party to at Ferrari.

Seems a big win for Mercedes and Schumacher but a huge lose and risk for Ferrari.

Norbert says "who knows?" nice easy publicity for Mercedes to pump up the home support.

Edited by Agent Orange on Monday 14th December 16:07

[VXRTOM]

Autocar Says: "Michael Schumacher has agreed a 3.5 million euro deal (£3.1m) to drive for Mercedes GP in Formula One next season, according to German media reports."

[hairyben]

VXRTOM said:

Autocar Says: "Michael Schumacher has agreed a 3.5 million euro deal (£3.1m) to drive for Mercedes GP in Formula One next season, according to German media reports."

I heard it was £7M.

Personally I can't see old mick putting his helmet back on for a) anything south of about £25M -it's about prestige, innit- and b) anything less than a dominant car.

Merc could stump up the $$ but I doubt they have the car to tempt.

That said, there was always an element of "unfinished business" about the way he retired, did de montzerella make the decision for him.

[Gridl0k]

TFA said:

Even superhuman Schuey may struggle with that level of corporate spooge in his mouth...

Edited For Acuracy.

[Gridl0k]

aarondrs said:

I seem to remember his previous contract forbid him from racing in any series whatsoever in a car that wasn't from the Fiat stable.

Racing in?

He's not even allowed to get into a Mercedes taxi-cab, best I can tell.

[AndrewW-G]

VXRTOM said:

Autocar Says: "Michael Schumacher has agreed a 3.5 million euro deal (£3.1m) to drive for Mercedes GP in Formula One next season, according to German media reports."

he's currently on more than that at Ferrari, does anybody realy think that one of the most marketable sportmen on the planet is going to give up a very lucrative deal with Ferrari, to drive for Mercedes the only way Merc will get him in a car is if they pay off Ferrari and give Schumacher several dumper trucks full of cash.

[llewop]

seems like Ferrari have opened the door.....

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/80575

'Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo says his company would not prevent Michael Schumacher from racing for Mercedes in Formula 1 if he wished to do so - but added that the German had not yet discussed any such situation with him.'

[Mark-C]

AndrewW-G said:

VXRTOM said:

Autocar Says: "Michael Schumacher has agreed a 3.5 million euro deal (£3.1m) to drive for Mercedes GP in Formula One next season, according to German media reports."

he's currently on more than that at Ferrari, does anybody realy think that one of the most marketable sportmen on the planet is going to give up a very lucrative deal with Ferrari, to drive for Mercedes the only way Merc will get him in a car is if they pay off Ferrari and give Schumacher several dumper trucks full of cash.

Unless this isn't about money and he also gets the "sort out your own marketing deals" option that was offered to Jenson?

[CampDavid]

AndrewW-G said:

VXRTOM said:

Autocar Says: "Michael Schumacher has agreed a 3.5 million euro deal (£3.1m) to drive for Mercedes GP in Formula One next season, according to German media reports."

he's currently on more than that at Ferrari, does anybody realy think that one of the most marketable sportmen on the planet is going to give up a very lucrative deal with Ferrari, to drive for Mercedes the only way Merc will get him in a car is if they pay off Ferrari and give Schumacher several dumper trucks full of cash.

I doubt he gives a fk about the money. He's never been cash motivated, the deal he was offered for 2007 with BMW was frankly epic and he turned that down ($1b for the year, if the title was one, when you start including all the royalties from cars etc)

If he wants to drive he'll do it, the cash won't be the issue

[Church of Noise]

hairyben said:

Personally I can't see old mick putting his helmet back on for a) anything south of about £25M -it's about prestige, innit- and b) anything less than a dominant car.

Not sure about that second point there...
If he is indeed 'over the hill', choosing for a potentially less developed car would allow him to blame the car of course...