[Iceman]

The 40 year-old seven-time world champion was due to make a comeback for Ferrari as a substitute for the injured Felipe Massa last season before a neck injury forced him to stand down.

But following last week’s Mercedes takeover of Brawn GP and world champion Jenson Button’s shock switch to McLaren, the possibility of a German dream team with Nico Rosberg is emerging.


The associations line up beautifully. Schumacher won all his world titles under the guidance at Benetton and Ferrari of Ross Brawn, who will continue in the role of team principal at the newly-minted Mercedes team.

Schumacher’s connection with Mercedes goes back to his youth when he was part of the marque’s young driver programme. As co-owners at McLaren, Mercedes launched at least one serious attempt to persuade Schumacher to join them from Ferrari.

Head of Mercedes motorsport Norbert Haug failed on that occasion. The stars and moons are in better alignment now, though talks are understood to be at an early stage.

Six months ago while driving around the Ascari circuit in southern Spain as part of a sponsorship engagement, Schumacher insisted that he had no regrets about retirement. The time was right, he said, to devote himself to his young family and pursue other interests.

His retainer with Ferrari kept him in the F1 loop and he was a frequent visitor on the pit wall during races.

The picture shifts quickly in sport. Massa’s freak head injury during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix in July presented an unforeseen opportunity. When the chance to race again was dangled before him, Schumacher found that he could not say no.

Opportunity knocks a second time. The big money that he banked at Ferrari, upwards of £50 million a year including endorsements, is not available this time around. The downshift by Mercedes from McLaren to Brawn was premised on the need to reign in spending.

Schumacher would be coming back to F1 on a budget, offered the same deal turned down by Button. That would not worry him. The huge commercial appeal attached to the return of the seven times world champion would more than make up his money.

Button made his final visit to Brackley on Thursday to say farewell. His appearance provoked sadness and anger. There would have been no talk of Schumacher at Mercedes had Button said yes to their offer. He was rated highly by a management team who felt they had gone as far as they could go with their multi-million pound offer.

The timing of his unveiling as a McLaren driver cut across his visit, which was clumsy in the extreme. This was no way to end a fairytale. Button has been here before in a career punctuated by ham-fisted moves.

If anyone can apply balm to the wounds at Brackley it is Schumacher. Formula One went bonkers at the thought of a comeback in August. That was only a temporary affair.

This would be full-on for a year at least; Schumacher going up against McLaren’s back-to-back world champions Button and Lewis Hamilton, not to mention Alonso and Massa at Ferrari and his own Red Bull protégé Sebastien Vettel.

Interest in F1 in Britain is glowing red hot following Button’s world championship win and his subsequent move to McLaren. Beyond our shores neither Button nor Hamilton is the big sell that Schumacher is. His brand is global.

Schumacher would not be at the table were he not smitten with the comeback idea. His heart is beating again.

We thought Button’s rise from the Monaco dole queue to world champion in eight mad months was a story. How about Schumacher coming back to win an eighth world title in Button’s old motor? Wishful thinking? Not according to the tom tom drums.

[Iceman]

JENSON BUTTON was forced out of Brawn GP to make way for Michael Schumacher.

The real reason Button opted to take on Lewis Hamilton at McLaren became clear after legend Schu's secret comeback talks with Brawn were revealed.

Schumacher met old pal Ross Brawn at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this month.

The seven-time Formula One champ is set to spearhead Mercedes Grand Prix - which has bought 75 per cent of Brawn - if Ferrari release him from a consultancy role.

Schumacher's former boss Eddie Jordan said: "I believe it is going to happen. It started with a meeting between Michael, Ross Brawn and Daimler chief executive Dieter Zetsche at the Abu Dhabi GP.

"At the moment, Michael cannot drive for Mercedes because he has a consultancy contract with Ferrari.

"But I understand he was due to meet Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo with a view to being released. Michael likes the idea of driving a Mercedes run by Ross. It's a mouth-watering idea."

Button signed for McLaren in a �21m deal to partner 2008 king Hamilton. The Frome flier, 29, claimed he could have earned more at Brawn.

But it is clear he was being forced out at Brawn, whose new owners want Schu in an all-German line-up with Nico Rosberg.

Schumacher, 40, called off a comeback with Ferrari this year because of a neck injury. But the lure of racing for Mercedes, who backed him in his early days, is so big he wants to get fully fit.



and everyone thought Button commanded things in F1....eh?

F1 has returned to normality, the **** that is jenson will be forgotten. Oh Lewis, Massa, Alonso, vettel, watch out your about to get owned by the greatest driver there ever is......The Maestro

[Novo]

no1curr

[30stone]

Button and Hamilton?

Would be amazing all british side.

[Iceman]

Originally Posted by 30stone

Button and Hamilton?

Would be amazing all british side.

he has signed for mclaren already!

Rosberg and Schumacher all German side, mclaren stand no chance!

let the games begin!

[Iceman]

Originally Posted by .Andy.

no1curr

why you make a me so sad (in italian voice)

im waiting for michelle to come on!

[Iceman]

Just a quick reminder why he's the best.....I would post Button's records but em i checked and he hasn't got any.....


Championship titles: 7 (1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004)
Consecutive titles: 5 (2000–2004)
Race victories: 91
Consecutive wins: 7 (2004, Europe–Hungary)
Wins with one team: 72 (Ferrari)
Wins at same GP: 8 (France)
Wins at different GPs: 22
Longest Time between first and last wins: 14 years, 1 month and 2 days
Second places: 43
Podiums (Top 3): 154
Consecutive podium finishes: 19 (US 2001–Japan 2002)
Points finishes: 190
Consecutive points finishes: 24 (Hungary 2001–Malaysia 2003)
Laps leading: 4741 (22,155 km)
Pole positions: 68
Front row starts: 115
Fastest laps: 76
Doubles (Pole and win): 40
Perfect Score (Pole, fastest lap and win): 22
Championship points: 1,369
Most points in a season for a runner-up: 121 (2006)
Most wins in a season for a runner-up: 7 (2006)
Wins at Indianapolis (any racing class): 5
Wins at Monza (Formula One): 5
Wins in a season: 13 (72%) (2004)
Fastest laps in a season: 10 (2004)
Points scored in a season: 148 (82% of Max available) (2004)
Podium finishes in a season: 17 (100%) (2002)
Championship won with most races left: 6 (2002)
Consecutive years with a win: 15 (1992–2006)
Consecutive days as champion: 1813 (from 8 October 2000 until 25 September 2005)

[Novo]

I luv button he iz my favorite racerman eva

[Iceman]

Originally Posted by .Andy.

I luv button he iz my favorite racerman eva

LOL

realy iz he? I thout it waz the other guy?

[pinkmichk]

*walks in groans walks out already accepting defeat in 2010*

[Iceman]

Originally Posted by pinkmichk

*walks in groans walks out already accepting defeat in 2010*

Muahahaahahhaha he's been released as ferrari advisor, its almost confirmed!

I ****ing cant wait to hear all the oundits go nuts about how **** jenson will be next year, cant wait for schumi v Lewis its going to be immense!

[pinkmichk]

even though lewis now has a hell of a lot smaller chance to be champion the season will now be watchable again shame kimi isnt driving also but we wont dwell on that

[Novo]

Originally Posted by Iceman

LOL

realy iz he? I thout it waz the other guy?

Button iz da bestest in the world he wil win da tropy

[Iceman]

Originally Posted by pinkmichk

even though lewis now has a hell of a lot smaller chance to be champion the season will now be watchable again shame kimi isnt driving also but we wont dwell on that

well rallying is better than nothing i suppose, at least he'll still be driving so he wont lose the bottle for it or the hunger.....i think in retrospect it will be good for him....

[Iceman]

Schumacher has been honoured many times during his career. In April 2002, for his contributions to sport and his contributions in raising awareness of child education, he was named as one of the UNESCO Champions for sport, joining the other eight which include Pelé, Serhiy Bubka and Justine Henin. He won the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award twice, in 2002 and 2004 for his performances in the 2001 and 2003 seasons respectively. He has also received nominations for the 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2007 awards. No-one has been nominated more times than Schumacher in the award's seven-year history.

In honour of Schumacher's racing career and his efforts to improve safety and the sport, he was awarded an FIA Gold Medal for Motor Sport in 2006. In 2007, in recognition of his contribution to Formula One racing, the Nürburgring racing track renamed turns 8 and 9 (the Audi and Shell Kurves) as the Schumacher S, and a month later he presented A1 Team Germany with the A1 World Cup at the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport 2007 awards ceremony. He was nominated for the Prince of Asturias Award for Sport for 2007, which he won both for sporting prowess and for his humanitarian record.

In 2008 the Swiss Football Association appointed Schumacher as the Swiss ambassador for the 2008 European football championship.

[pinkmichk]

Originally Posted by Iceman

well rallying is better than nothing i suppose, at least he'll still be driving so he wont lose the bottle for it or the hunger.....i think in retrospect it will be good for him....

this is true lets hope button at mclaren ends up being much like piquet jnr and one of the redbulls who got dismissed half way through for shocking performance so kimi can take seat

[Iceman]

Originally Posted by pinkmichk

this is true lets hope button at mclaren ends up being much like piquet jnr and one of the redbulls who got dismissed half way through for shocking performance so kimi can take seat

I mean its a complete joke, if they had of given Heikki the right car then it would have been great, Lewis will outplace Button in every qualig#fying and race session...


also schumacher thing might not happen...more on that when i get a proper source...

[MissKittyFantastico]

Next season looks like it's shaping up to be really exciting with Schu coming back, if that happens.

I really hope Jenson falls flat on his face at Mclaren, makes me sick him being WC.

[Iceman]

Originally Posted by MissKittyFantastico

Next season looks like it's shaping up to be really exciting with Schu coming back, if that happens.

I really hope Jenson falls flat on his face at Mclaren, makes me sick him being WC.

You took the words right out of my mouth......jenson has to be the worst world champion in the sports history.....he just managed to get a lucky car at an unlucky time in F1...thats all, not good at driving, not consitent...

[MissKittyFantastico]

Originally Posted by Iceman

You took the words right out of my mouth......jenson has to be the worst world champion in the sports history.....he just managed to get a lucky car at an unlucky time in F1...thats all, not good at driving, not consitent...

Exactly! Brawn just had an unfair advantage early in the season, it was that that led to him winning races, not his skill as a driver. Once the others caught up he went to ****...urgh I just can't stand the guy, his attitude stinks! And the fact that he compared himself to Schu...arrogance beyond belief!

[Iceman]

Originally Posted by MissKittyFantastico

Exactly! Brawn just had an unfair advantage early in the season, it was that that led to him winning races, not his skill as a driver. Once the others caught up he went to ****...urgh I just can't stand the guy, his attitude stinks! And the fact that he compared himself to Schu...arrogance beyond belief!

as i posted before they are schumi's records, button has none and only won 7 races out of nearly 150...

schumacher started 150 races and won 96....it speaks for itself...

[MissKittyFantastico]

Well let's just hope that he falls flat on his face at Mclaren, and gets humiliated by both Lewis and Schu next season.

Is it definite that Kimi is taking a sabbatical?

[Iceman]

Originally Posted by MissKittyFantastico

Well let's just hope that he falls flat on his face at Mclaren, and gets humiliated by both Lewis and Schu next season.

Is it definite that Kimi is taking a sabbatical?

yeah he announced it yesterday, he said he'd go to mercedes if they have a competitive car but if Schu comes back then thats done with....either way Schu or Kimi and i'll be a happy man....

[Iceman]

According to AutoCar, seven time World Driving Champion Michael Schumacher will return to Formula One competition in 2010 driving for Mercedes GP. So says Eddie Jordan, former F1 team owner, who gave Schumacher his first Formula One drive back in 1991. Michael went on to race with Benneton before moving to Ferrari, where he teamed with Ross Brawn to win multiple world titles.

You may want to take notes at this point, as Formula One is an incestuous business and the plot gets complicated. Prior to his debut with Jordan, Schumacher drove sports cars for Mercedes, which actually paid Jordan to give Schumacher a race seat. Now, almost 20 years later, Mercedes has bought controlling interest in the Brawn GP team, formerly the Honda team, which will now be known as Mercedes GP. So if Eddie Jordan is correct, Michael will be back where he started - driving for Mercedes. Are you with me so far?

Good, because here's where it gets tricky. After winning his unprecedented 7th world driving championship, Schumacher was literally forced into retirement by Ferrari. Their total dominance of the sport for several years was actually a bad thing, because the racing became so predictable, it was boring. The fans turned to other things and sponsors reacted by snapping their wallets shut. Something had to be done and that something was forcing Schumacher out of the team. Who said so? No one knows for certain, but suspicion focuses on Formula One major domo and master manipulator Bernie Ecclestone.

Yet even after not driving for two years, Michael Schmacher remains one of the most popular figures in grand prix racing and his return will create a wave of excitement for a sport that has suffered several black eyes recently from internal wrangling and cheating scandals. He is currently under contract to Ferrari as a consultant, but Jordan says "I understand he was due to meet Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo with a view to him being released - and that it will be approved because it is in the interests of F1." And who holds the "interests of Formula One" nearest and dearest to his flinty little heart - and his wallet? Why, Bernie Ecclestone, of course, whose nefarious little fingerprints are all over this deal.

The only sad note is that, according to reports, Schumacher's wife is adamantly opposed to his return to racing and has announced that she will file for divorce if he does so. My old Irish grandmother used to say: "Be careful what you wish for. You just might get it." I hope you know what you are doing, Herr Schumacher.

haha schumi returns and gets divorced!!!!!!!!!

[Iceman]

The BBC are reporting that the newly formed team, Mercedes GP, are trying to sign seven time world champion Michael Schumacher for 2010. The new owners of Brawn GP are aggressively chasing Schumacher to join the team.

F1 pundit, and former team owner, Eddie Jordan believes that the German will race for the team.

"The possibility is being actively pursued and I believe it is going to happen," said Jordan.

"It started with a meeting between Michael, Ross Brawn and Daimler chief executive officer Dieter Zetsche at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix."

Jordan has many close sources within the GP circus, and is usually well informed about the rumours that float around the F1 paddock.

The rumoured plan is that Schumacher would be a stop gap to allow the Mercedes team to steal Sebastian Vettel from Red Bull Racing.

Schumacher's spokesperson, Sabine Kehm has commented on the subject.

"A return would be highly unlikely, but never say never."

Mercedes would have to try and lure Schumacher from the illustrious Ferrari team. Although Schumacher does not race for the team, at the moment, he plays a large role in advising the team, as well as helping to set up the prototype road cars at the factory. Schumacher is still currently linked with Ferrari with a lucrative contract.

But Eddie Jordan also had something to say about that too,

"At the moment, it is not possible for Michael to drive for Mercedes because he has a consultancy contract with Ferrari."

"But I understand he was due to meet Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo with a view to being released - and that it will be approved because it is in the interests of F1."

The evidence that is giving credence to this rumour is that Schumacher would be re-united with technical genius, Ross Brawn, who assisted all of Schumacher's seven world titles.

Schumacher has also previously raced for Mercedes, in his early racing career in sportscar racing, and so has already established a relationship with the company.

Mercedes GP has already said, many times, that the team will be an international team, not a German team, but if they succeed in signing Schumacher, or Vettel, then alongside Rosberg they will have made a German team.

If Schumacher does join Mercedes for a year or two, it would give him the chance to re-sign for Ferrari, bringing a legendary driver back to legendary team.

The F1 community was very excited about Schumacher's return in early August '09, but the plans were scuppered by a neck injury that was aggravated by testing an F1 car. At the time, Schumacher refused to comment on if he would be racing in 2010 or not. This lead to a lot of rumours suggesting that he would return for Ferrari in 2010.

Ferrari president, Luca Di Montezemolo, also added fuel to the fire, by saying that he would love Schumacher to return. The last time Montezemolo said that he wanted something to happen, it was Fernando Alonso to join the team. He also wants the German driver, Sebastian Vettel to join the team in 2012

This also suggested that Ferrari would push hard for a change in the rules to allow the teams to run three cars, instead of two. However, as of yet there has been no signal from Ferrari that it is pursuing this idea.

If Ferrari doesn't push for the third car in F1, then Schumacher may join the Mercedes team in order to get a race seat for 2010.


Its on liike donkey kong!

3rd car would be great, Massa, Alonso and Schumacher on the same team amazing!