Tuesday 15th December 2009

Ferrari Prepared To Release Schuey

Di Montezemolo says Schuey could go and race for Mercedes if he wished

---

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has said he would release Michael Schumacher from his Ferrari contract if the German race ace wanted to drive for the Mercedes GP team.

Speaking to the Reuters news agency, di Montezemolo also added that, although he had not yet discussed the issue with Schumacher, his contract with Ferrari was "not binding".

The Ferrari boss's comments came after reports in the German media over the weekend suggested Schuey could be heading to Mercedes in a one-year, £3 million deal.

Despite the fact that Schumacher signed a three-year deal this summer to remain an ambassador for the brand, di Montezemolo remained sanguine about the possibility of Schuey's defection to Mercedes.

"It's clear that if he decides to take another road our agreement will no longer be valid, that is logical," he said. "You can't work with a competitor and with us at the same time. I still haven't spoken to him about it. He is only a dear friend, not a team member. He is a consultant for our road cars."

[itiejim]

Sounds ever more promising - I wonder how a 2010 season with Schuey in would pan out - it'll certainly keep me glued to the TV.

[Project 644]

Sounds like Ferrari are pissed off at Mercedes getting alot of free media exposure (much like Ferrari did in the summer) and they want in on some of it.

I don't believe it will happen.

[sprinter1050]

Is Ross Brawn staying at Mercedes GP ? or did he just take the loot & scarper ?

Interesting pairing again if he & Schuey are together....

[patmahe]

Thought the story was wishful thinking until I read that. Maybe it still is, Ferrari and Mercedes are certainly generating a lot of publicity on the back of it.

How brilliant would it be though. Schuey, Rosberg, Alonso, Hamiltion, Massa, Button, Vettel and Webber, when was the last time you could name 8 drivers at the start of the season who could be in with a realistic chance of winning the championship.

That and the return of Lotus (in diluted form) should make for an interesting season. It will have to be something special to top 2009 though.

[AndrewW-G]

Project 644 said:

I don't believe it will happen.

I hope it does as it would be facinating to see how well he'd do after a couple of years of retirement and of course to see him up against the likes of Alonso, Button and of course Lewis "WDC by one point" Hamilton

Like yourself I'm still unsure it will happen, the sums of money involved would be enough to raise questions about Merc both at home in Germany and in the US, can people really see Merkel and Obamma not getting pissed off if Merc spend the expected 20-30 million on Schumi driving for one year?

[CO2000]

Only 3 Mil, thought it would be more

[Project 644]

AndrewW-G said:

Project 644 said:

I don't believe it will happen.

I hope it does as it would be facinating to see how well he'd do after a couple of years of retirement and of course to see him up against the likes of Alonso, Button and of course Lewis "WDC by one point" Hamilton

Like yourself I'm still unsure it will happen, the sums of money involved would be enough to raise questions about Merc both at home in Germany and in the US, can people really see Merkel and Obamma not getting pissed off if Merc spend the expected 20-30 million on Schumi driving for one year?

I hope it does happen, but realistically I don't think it will.

Didn't Schumacher "win" the 1994 WDC by 1 point?

[CampDavid]

Project 644 said:

AndrewW-G said:

Project 644 said:

I don't believe it will happen.

I hope it does as it would be facinating to see how well he'd do after a couple of years of retirement and of course to see him up against the likes of Alonso, Button and of course Lewis "WDC by one point" Hamilton

Like yourself I'm still unsure it will happen, the sums of money involved would be enough to raise questions about Merc both at home in Germany and in the US, can people really see Merkel and Obamma not getting pissed off if Merc spend the expected 20-30 million on Schumi driving for one year?

I hope it does happen, but realistically I don't think it will.

Didn't Schumacher "win" the 1994 WDC by 1 point?

He won a few championships

I don't think it'll be an issue if Mercedes pay him big cash, I doubt they will though

[Soovy]

It's ON.


Schuey comes back, wipes the floor with everyone, and retires 50 mil richer and with his reputation as the greatest ever unassailable.


Love him or hate him, this is going to be SOME season.

[Beefmeister]

Herr Schumi would be a fool to leave the Ferrari deal he has - they pay him a HUGE amount of money to work on the road cars, and he's basically the golden boy of Maranello.

I don't believe he has the fight in him anymore to take chances like moving to Merc, even if it does have his old mate Brawny at the helm.

I will be pleasantly surprised to be proved wrong though.

[Rollcage]

Soovy said:

It's ON.


Schuey comes back, wipes the floor with everyone, and retires 50 mil richer and with his reputation as the greatest ever unassailable.


Love him or hate him, this is going to be SOME season.

At least two parts of that wish list are questionable, to say the least!

I really dont think he will be doing it for the money - he has realised he wants to race again.

[Wanta996Gotta]

Soovy said:

It's ON.


Schuey comes back, wipes the floor with everyone, and retires 50 mil richer and with his reputation as the greatest ever unassailable.


Love him or hate him, this is going to be SOME season.

Lets not get carried away Soov - remember his last two seasons ended in failure when Alonso won the two titles which i believe put the final nail in his coffin.

I would love to see him back but i think he will be up against more than Alonso.

[Mini1275]

AndrewW-G said:

Project 644 said:

I don't believe it will happen.

I hope it does as it would be facinating to see how well he'd do after a couple of years of retirement and of course to see him up against the likes of Alonso, Button and of course Lewis "WDC by one point" Hamilton

Yeah i'd like to see him against "WDC by one point" Hamilton and the current 2009 world champion Double Diffuser.....oh, cough...cough Jenson Button

Edited by Mini1275 on Tuesday 15th December 11:40

[The Milfman]

Wanta996Gotta said:

remember his last two seasons ended in failure when Alonso won the two titles which i believe put the final nail in his coffin.

The Ferrari was poor compared to the renault in 2005, he still dragged a win out of it. In 2006, it was slow to start with and got better, it was still unreliable and he dominated Alonso for the second half of that season. Schumi would have won the championship were it not for reliability issues. He actually left while at the front and on top.

By your reckoning Alonso should have retired ages ago, but as we all know, he hasn't had the machinery and I am sure he will be competitive again.

Wanta996Gotta said:

I would love to see him back but i think he will be up against more than Alonso.

Agreed and I really hope it happens as it will be very interesting, I think he will still be capable of winning if the car is competitive.

[kevin ritson]

CampDavid said:

Project 644 said:

AndrewW-G said:

Project 644 said:

I don't believe it will happen.

I hope it does as it would be facinating to see how well he'd do after a couple of years of retirement and of course to see him up against the likes of Alonso, Button and of course Lewis "WDC by one point" Hamilton

Like yourself I'm still unsure it will happen, the sums of money involved would be enough to raise questions about Merc both at home in Germany and in the US, can people really see Merkel and Obamma not getting pissed off if Merc spend the expected 20-30 million on Schumi driving for one year?

I hope it does happen, but realistically I don't think it will.

Didn't Schumacher "win" the 1994 WDC by 1 point?

He won a few championships

He also has a 15 year head start on Hamilton

[Wanta996Gotta]

The Milfman said:

Wanta996Gotta said:

remember his last two seasons ended in failure when Alonso won the two titles which i believe put the final nail in his coffin.

The Ferrari was poor compared to the renault in 2005, he still dragged a win out of it. In 2006, it was slow to start with and got better, it was still unreliable and he dominated Alonso for the second half of that season. Schumi would have won the championship were it not for reliability issues. He actually left while at the front and on top.

By your reckoning Alonso should have retired ages ago, but as we all know, he hasn't had the machinery and I am sure he will be competitive again.

Wanta996Gotta said:

I would love to see him back but i think he will be up against more than Alonso.

Agreed and I really hope it happens as it will be very interesting, I think he will still be capable of winning if the car is competitive.

Why when Schuey loses does everyone blame the car? He was good BUT Alonso was better IN A RENAULT. Ferrari had no excuse with there funds and size of there team not to completely turn it around that year. Alonso was just too good for him, Ferrari fans need to get over the fact and remember that Kimi was brought in to replace a Schumacher that everyone knew was over the hill.

Also remember we have no idea how the Brawn/Mercedes car is going to perform in 2010?

If he is not upto speed - all the Schuey fans will blame the car.

If Schuey wins? Its not about the car, its all down to the GREAT Schuey.

Bringing him out of retirement could destroy his reputaion or re-affirm his greatness. I know where my money would be.

Edited by Wanta996Gotta on Tuesday 15th December 11:56

[JonRB]

I can't see it happening. He has little to gain and so much to lose. He'd be a fool to do it.

[CO2000]

JonRB said:

I can't see it happening. He has little to gain and so much to lose. He'd be a fool to do it.

But remember Nigel in 95 or even Derek Warick in his Touring car return

One thing though is Shuey has stayed off the pies
He'll be fine.

[Nickellarse]

All the drivers are great, but Shuey was the best. Is he the best now? Only one way to find out.

I'd love to see him back, if his neck is up to it.

If it happens and the car is competitive then it's going to be a very interesting season.

[wab172uk]

Beefmeister said:

Herr Schumi would be a fool to leave the Ferrari deal he has - they pay him a HUGE amount of money to work on the road cars, and he's basically the golden boy of Maranello.

I don't believe he has the fight in him anymore to take chances like moving to Merc, even if it does have his old mate Brawny at the helm.

I will be pleasantly surprised to be proved wrong though.

Think the racing driver in him, still want's to race. When he retired, I think Ferrari made him retire, as they saw Kimi, and Massa as the new ferrari era, Kimi was disapointing (besides winning the Championship) so they've signed Alonso to replace Kimi.

Schumacher is God in Italy. I bet he never has to pay for anthing when out for a meal. Is paid a Huge amount of money to halp develop road cars, and it's not like he needs the money.

Will he jump ship?
His sensible head should say "Stay at Ferrari"
His racing head will say "I want to race. I can still win"

Will he race next year? My gut feeling is no. However, what a season it would be if Ferrari, McLaren, Mecedes F1, and Red-Bull all have competitive cars.

Button, Alonso, Hamilton, Massa, Schumacher & Vettel all going for race wins. Mouth watering.