Possibility of Schumacher to Sauber?

[OzzyR1]

Lots of rumours circulating on Twitter today and starting to appear on news sites:

http://www1.skysports.com/formula-1/news/12478/813...

[craigjm]

This was being mentioned at the time they announced Hamilton to replace him at Mercedes.

[Flanders.]

I really hope he goes, the Sauber looks faster than the Merc and in his hands could go quicker IMHO.

[Scuffers]

Flanders. said:

in his hands could go quicker IMHO.

into the back of somebody!

[NISaxoVTR]

I don't think Schumi needs another season of treading water. He needs a top team drive to walk away from his come back with his head up. I haven't heard who's replacing Massa this week..

[Phil-CH]

I think the question is:

- does Schumacher want to race another year because he wants to win and prove something?
- is he just enjoying racing so much that he wants to continue and achieve something while he's still 'good enough'?
- how concerned is he about his legacy?

[P-Jay]

NISaxoVTR said:

I haven't heard who's replacing Massa this week..

This week it's a 3 way fight between Paul Di PR Personality, Nico Hulkenburg and Massa for the role of Alonso's ego stroker.


I hope Paul gets it and 'does a Lewis' on him. He might actually form an opinion of his own then.

[CocoUK]

It's an interesting situation for Sauber.

We have Perez leaving and presumably taking with him a fair few Mexican sponsorship dollas.
One would expect another paid-driver would be required to fill the empty seat & keep Peters bank account topped up.
But if that driver is Schumacher, then instead of paying into the team, would simply having the Red Baron bring along some new sponsors cheque books? His name still carries much weight but as he would probably only sign a single year deal, doubtful...

Plus would Schumacher actually be interested in driving the Sauber?
This seasons car has achieved some very good results, but that's largely thanks to a very delicate driver continuously managing the tyres, running less pit-stops. Not something that Schumacher may find 'fun', especially as he has been quite critical of the tyres...


And what of Kobayashi? Rumours began before the summer break that he may be losing his seat, has that now changed?

[joewilliams]

I can't see it personally, but he could be perfectly happy to buzz around in the midfield for another season or two.

[sanf]

OzzyR1 said:

Lots of rumours circulating on Twitter today and starting to appear on news sites:

http://www1.skysports.com/formula-1/news/12478/813...

Really? I hope not. Schui has been around for so long and achieved so much, it's time to call it a day. Hope he stays at Merc and is used to help develop Lewis & Nico as a multiple championship winning drivers.

Let another young charger have a pop in the Sauber.

[Gwagon111]

He's been in discussions with Peter Sauber since Monaco. It's a personal favour / bringing some heavy duty sponsorship thing, rather than any serious intent on a competitive drive. Not unlike Damon Hill to Arrows, way back when.

[oyster]

Gwagon111 said:

He's been in discussions with Peter Sauber since Monaco. It's a personal favour / bringing some heavy duty sponsorship thing, rather than any serious intent on a competitive drive. Not unlike Damon Hill to Arrows, way back when.

Your post puts Schumacher's amazing achievement into perspective.

His F1 debut was before that of Hill, and Hill's move to Arrows was in the twilight of his career and it was FIFTEEN years ago.

[Crafty_]

But Hill is older than Michael and started driving later in life than he did.

Arrows wasn't the twilight of his career imho, don't forget he went to Jordan after that and won a GP with them.

He went to Arrows because his management team negotiated poorly with Frank, who was never one to suffer fools gladly. By the time they'd figured out he wasn't staying at Williams there were few places to go.

Anyway, back to topic..

I think its too late for Michael to worry about his legacy, his spell at merc has seen to that.
I think he just wants to drive because he still can.

[haggy]

Did'nt Schumacher do Le Mans in a Sauber Mercedes just before he got his F1 drive

[Graham]

haggy said:

Did'nt Schumacher do Le Mans in a Sauber Mercedes just before he got his F1 drive

Yep.

I also don't think Schumi cares about his legacy. He's a racer and wants to race and if people still want to pay him why not ?

Your legacy is for others when your dead so why bother

[Alfanatic]

oyster said:

Gwagon111 said:

He's been in discussions with Peter Sauber since Monaco. It's a personal favour / bringing some heavy duty sponsorship thing, rather than any serious intent on a competitive drive. Not unlike Damon Hill to Arrows, way back when.

Your post puts Schumacher's amazing achievement into perspective.

His F1 debut was before that of Hill, and Hill's move to Arrows was in the twilight of his career and it was FIFTEEN years ago.

Someone posted a picture of a lot of French drivers from 1979, and then someone else posted their career details. They mostly spanned 10 - 12 years, even the ones i had thought of as long timers like Arnoux and Laffite. Prost started in 1981 and finished in 1993. Hakkinen's F1 career was about 10 years long, And Coulthard was a really long term driver at, what, 15 years?

10 - 15 years seems the normal limit in the recent past for a successful driver. Schumacher's first race was in 1991. He is still in a decent seat 21 years later, albeit with a 3 year break. He's been in the game for an awfully long time. Current champion Vettel was 4 years old when Schumacher first raced in F1. It is entirely possible, if it hasn't happened already, that Schumacher might compete in F1 against someone who wasn't even born when Michael climbed into that Joedan for his first race.

[Stuck In A Lift]

I wouldn't be surprised if they announce a move back to Ferrari.

[TheHeretic]

oyster said:

Your post puts Schumacher's amazing achievement into perspective.

His F1 debut was before that of Hill, and Hill's move to Arrows was in the twilight of his career and it was FIFTEEN years ago.

Hill at Arrows was at the twilight a of his career? Well, he had the number one on his car, so that career cut off point must be razor sharp!

[CiderwithCerbie]

Graham said:

I also don't think Schumi cares about his legacy. He's a racer and wants to race and if people still want to pay him why not ?

Your legacy is for others when your dead so why bother

Unless of course your stubbornness brings you to an earlier grave or worse kills someone else.

You may be right about how he views his legacy now, but moving to Sauber for 2013 is a huge shift from his arrival at Merc when he was 'aiming to win races and challenge for the WDC'

Like or loathe him it's time to go. Even I have had enough of seeing him crash...

[hairykrishna]

How many crashes has he had where he's been at fault since he came back? There was the brain fade last race and he hit Kobayshi last year - any more?