[Iceman]

Originally Posted by lili

Kimi will be back..

Am not bad.. haven't been on as much as before to be honest.. too much ****wittery on here.

Yeah The Iceman needs a year to cool off

I think ive become more active lately especially with Elimination.....

[lily.]

I don't tend to do the games on here... besides the ones in the arcade, and there's only a handful of people I want to talk to, so some days I'll have a look in and then leave without posting.

[Iceman]

Originally Posted by lili

I don't tend to do the games on here... besides the ones in the arcade, and there's only a handful of people I want to talk to, so some days I'll have a look in and then leave without posting.

Yeah I know what ya mean!!!! So will you be supporting Schumacher if he returns????

[lily.]

Hmmm... dunno bout that. I'm fickle with my allegiance. Ma other half is a Massa supporter... and he'll definitely support Schumacher if he returns, so I may just do the opposite to be arsey. :P

[James]

Eddie Jordan seemingly being the source for this story makes me believe it less.

I think Schumacher would only go back if he thought Brawn/Mercedes are going to be one of the top teams next year.

[Iceman]

Originally Posted by James

Eddie Jordan seemingly being the source for this story makes me believe it less.

I think Schumacher would only go back if he thought Brawn/Mercedes are going to be one of the top teams next year.

I know but his manager (Willy someone i think) said that he's been to doctors to get the go ahead. Apparently he will be released from Ferrari in the next 48 hours, if that happens it's a done deal. Ive always said he wanted a break from the sport and would come back, now i think this is his chance, he's 41 in January and wont have many more oppprtunities to do this again...(as you can tell im a tad *********g eager for this to happen)

[Iceman]

As the F1 world finds itself embroiled in another "will he, won't he" scenario regarding a possible return by seven-time champion Michael Schumacher, sources close to him took slightly differing views yesterday.

His spokeswoman Sabine Kehm was adamant he would not make a comeback as Jenson Button's replacement at the Brawn team, since renamed Mercedes Grand Prix. The last time he planned a return was in July as the stand-in for injured Felipe Massa at Ferrari, and that was stymied by a neck injury.

"Michael is enjoying his life," Kehm said. "A return to Formula One is not a subject for debate at the moment. For me, a return would be highly unlikely."

Meanwhile, Schumacher's manager Willi Weber said guardedly yesterday: "I know that Michael spoke with Dieter Zetsche and Norbert Haug at the season's finale in Abu Dhabi," referring respectively to the CEO of Daimler AG, the parent company of Mercedes-Benz, and the vice president of motor sport at Mercedes, who gave Schumacher his big chance in sportscar racing early last decade.

Haug himself told Germany's Bild am Sonntag newspaper that such speculation would always be rife and that some of it was just dreams that would not come true. But he also said: "You will be surprised, but I think your readers will like our driver line-up."

It is inconceivable, however, that Mercedes would sign Schumacher, who turns 41 in January, without further testing to ensure that his damaged neck is up to the rigours of Formula One cornering and braking.

arggh i wish he'd just say now (so if he doesnt i can pick a driver for next year)

[pinkmichk]

Originally Posted by Schumacher

arggh i wish he'd just say now (so if he doesnt i can pick a driver for next year)

you know its lewis

[Iceman]

Originally Posted by pinkmichk

you know its lewis

crap i forgot our deal!!

Cant believe how the hype of Kimi went so quick once Eddie started all this....Im praying for Schumi's return!!

[Iceman]

Mercedes Grand Prix bosses Norbert Haug and Nick Fry have done little to end speculation about Michael Schumacher’s prospects of returning to Formula One in 2010.

Fellow team boss Ross Brawn tried recently to stop such suggestions by claiming that the German did not want a full-time comeback. However, while taking questions on Monday about Nico Rosberg’s arrival at the team, Brawn’s management colleagues said nothing to kill the story, and Haug once again hinted that the eventual decision would be good news for F1.

Following that logic, it is hard to imagine that a Mercedes deal with, say, Nick Heidfeld would fall into the “hold the front page” category, although to be fair, 2007 world champion Kimi Räikkönen also is a possibility.

Schumacher spent last weekend at a karting event in Las Vegas, while Brawn is “on holiday.” It is not known whether he too is enjoying a break in Nevada.

“I’ve really got nothing to add to that,” said team CEO Fry of Brawn’s reported comments on Schumacher. “We’re here today to talk about Nico and we should stick to that subject. I think Ross has answered the question extremely well.”

When given the chance to state categorically that Schumacher was not an option Haug said, “When will you ever say categorically anything in F1? I mean, I think Ross made it quite clear, I think Nick pointed it out. I really have nothing to add, and that’s why we live with probably ongoing speculation.”

Asked whether the team needs a proven winner next year, Haug said, “Not necessarily. It comes to judging the capabilities. Look back at Lewis Hamilton and how soon he won a race. Certainly he’s an exceptional driver. But hopefully we have the right expertise to find the right guy.

“I’m sure that we have a very, very strong driver in Nico, and we will have another driver--and I specifically am not saying a second driver--we want to have the same basis for the drivers. Let’s just wait and see a little bit.”

He then added more fuel to the Schumacher fire.

“Last Monday’s was a very good story, Nico’s story is a very good story, and hopefully we can deliver a third one [next],” Haug said. “That’s in our interest, that’s in your interest. It is mainly in the interests of F1, because F1 needs some positive news right now, and hopefully we can help to create this news.”

Meanwhile, Fry said that he hopes a decision will be made before the holiday season.

“We don’t really have huge time pressure on us at the moment, except that once one goes beyond Christmas and the New Year, logistically it becomes slightly more difficult with seat [fittings] and time for the engineers to talk to the driver.”

Taking the piss right there, they could have said No or Maybe.......

[Wildcat!]

Hehe! I think this is just a dream. Schumacher aint coming back! Sorry iceman, it looks like youre gonna have to change names again.

[Iceman]

Originally Posted by Wildcat!

Hehe! I think this is just a dream. Schumacher aint coming back! Sorry iceman, it looks like youre gonna have to change names again.

Until he categorically denies it I have faith! (even though they've pretty much denied it anyway)

[Wildcat!]

I would be dissapointed, and blame you!
If it wasnt for you, I wouldnt get my hopes up!

[Iceman]

See how i havent posted any of the stuff where its nearly denied......i have my rose tinted glasses on

When Schumacher himself denies it then ill post until then well.....wohhoooooo!

[Iceman]

Nico Rosberg's unveiling as a Mercedes driver yesterday felt like Hamlet without the prince.

In this instance, the absent player was Michael Schumacher, the man Mercedes most want to drive for them next season.

And, yes, they really do want to sign him, despite apparently contradictory quotes from team principal Ross Brawn surfacing yesterday.
Nico Rosberg

New signing: Mercedes unveil Rosberg as one of their new drivers for next season

In them, he described the notion as 'a dream'. However, the comments pre-dated last week's well-sourced reports linking Mercedes to the seven-time world champion and should not be taken at face value.

If there really was no truth in the story, why would Norbert Haug, the head of Mercedes motor sport, turn down an invitation to end all the speculation?

Instead, his reply was: 'When would you ever say anything categorically in Formula One? I have nothing to add.'
Michael Schumacher

'Dream' signing: Mercedes have not ruled out making a move for the seven-time champion

In a sport where doublespeak is the norm, it appeared to mean: talks are ongoing.

The off-stage noise was a regrettable distraction for Rosberg, 24, who said he was 'a little surprised' not to be partnering Jenson Button, whose move to McLaren has left a space for Schumacher.

If Schumacher cannot be persuaded out of retirement at 40, Nick Heidfeld and Kimi Raikkonen are contenders.

'I don't mind who my team-mate is,' said Rosberg, German through his mother despite being the son of 1982 champion Keke Rosberg of Finland.

'It's just important he is quick and a team player.'

[Iceman]

Norbert Haug, a German former motorsports journalist, is an old-timer in the Formula One paddock and knows the rules when it comes to hot stories: if you do not deny claims, you are as good as admitting them to be true.

During a conference call from Germany yesterday to announce Nico Rosberg as a new driver for the Mercedes Grand Prix team — formerly Brawn GP — the vice-president for motorsport at Mercedes-Benz was asked if he was ready to end speculation about Michael Schumacher making a sensational comeback with the team by categorically ruling him out.

Haug, who was once described in this newspaper as Formula One’s answer to Henry Kissinger, a slightly tongue-in-cheek reference to his behind-the-scenes role in trying to solve last summer’s budget-capping crisis, avoided doing exactly that.

“When [can] you ever say anything categorically in Formula One,” he replied from his office in Stuttgart. Later he added: “We have to live with these speculations . . . I fully understand that these speculations are ongoing so long as we don’t announce who is driving in the other car, but that’s what we have to live with.”

Even Kissinger would have understood that the uncertainty in this case could be removed by denying that Schumacher remains a target for the team. Thus, not surprisingly, the general consensus among those who heard Haug yesterday was that Schumacher is still a possibility and contacts with him are likely to continue.

Whether the 40-year-old German legend goes for it is another matter and it may take several weeks for a decision. In the meantime this hare is running, which is no bad thing for a team who are still smarting from losing Jenson Button to McLaren.

In the same conference call Nick Fry, the Mercedes chief executive, was also coy on the Schumacher front, but he said that he wanted to sort out the second driver before Christmas. He added: “It may not be possible, but from an operational point of view, it would be better and we’ll try for that.”

The reference to it being “possible or not” could be a reflection of the likely time Schumacher may take to decide and sort out his contractual issues with Ferrari, but it could be a reference to Renault and the uncertainty over its future in Formula One. The French carmaker has still to announce whether it is continuing in the sport and has said that a decision will be made before the new year. If it pulls out, Robert Kubica, freshly signed to Renault from BMW Sauber, would be attractive to Mercedes.

Rosberg refused to discuss Schumacher but said he was a “little surprised” by Button’s move. He hoped to win races with Mercedes in 2010, when he becomes the first German driver at the wheel of a “silver arrow” since 1955. “The aim is going to be very high for me,” he said. “I want to win races and then we’ll see. We need to wait a few months to see how the car turns up but I’m very confident that we are going to have an extremely strong package.”

It is debatable whether Rosberg, who has not won a grand prix, has the personality and ability to lead the Mercedes team or whether his new managers feel a need more fire power on the track, fire power that they would get from Schumacher, from Kimi Raikkonen, with whom they are also in contact, and from Kubica.

[Wildcat!]

Live reverand Jesse Jackson would say, Keep hope Alive!

[Iceman]

Originally Posted by Wildcat!

Live reverand Jesse Jackson would say, Keep hope Alive!

well F1 has always been about rumours.....

[Iceman]

MICHAEL SCHUMACHER edged closer to an amazing Formula One comeback last night.

The new Mercedes-backed Brawn team refused to rule out his retrun after confirming Nico Rosberg as one of their drivers.

Schumacher would form a potent all German line-up with Rosberg.

Mercedes chief Norbert Haug, when asked to definitely quash the Schumacher link, said: "When will you ever say categorically anything in F1?

"Hopefully we can deliver another good story as F1 needs something positive right now."

Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...#ixzz0Xj0qlREP

[Wildcat!]

So this is what I dont get. How does Mercedes make the difference between the 2 cars? Since they both manufacture the engines for both cars, whats the difference between the 2 teams? And if thy make corrections for the one team, dont they do the same for the other?
I could never grasp that concept in Formula one.

[Iceman]

What will happen is Mercedes will now give Mclraren an engine that is a very basic one, the Mclaren engineers will have to update it as best they can. Mercedes will use the same engine but because they've built their own engine they will know what will work better and what wont...

hope that makes sense...

[Wildcat!]

OH I see. So basically The Mclaren team have their own engineers, that have nothing to do with Mercedes, but get a Mercedes engine. And the Mercedes team has their own engineers as well.
SO the mercedes engineers, have nothing to do with any modifications, Mclaren does to their initial engine, is that right?

[Iceman]

Originally Posted by Wildcat!

OH I see. So basically The Mclaren team have their own engineers, that have nothing to do with Mercedes, but get a Mercedes engine. And the Mercedes team has their own engineers as well.
SO the mercedes engineers, have nothing to do with any modifications, Mclaren does to their initial engine, is that right?

Yup ya got it now! However Mercedes if they think Mclaren are doing something illegal can call for the engine to be spot tested to make sure it doesnt break any rules!

[Iceman]

The car manufacturer last week took a 75.1 per cent stake in Brawn GP, only to see world champion Jenson Button depart abruptly for McLaren in acrimonious fashion.

While both sides accused the other of a lack of loyalty, it emerged that Schumacher had met Dieter Zetsche, the chairman of Mercedes' parent company Daimler, and team principal Ross Brawn in Abu Dhabi a few weeks ago.

But while Brawn said over the weekend that the speculation was a "fantasy of the media", and Schumacher's agent, Sabine Kehm, described a return as "highly unlikely", Mercedes-Benz Motorsport Vice-President Norbert Haug declined the opportunity to kill the speculation dead.

"What Ross pointed out, I think we have to respect that," Haug said during a telephone conference to confirm the arrival of Rosberg. "I fully understand that these speculations are ongoing as long as we don't announce who is driving the other car but that's what we have to live with."

When asked whether he wished to state categorically that Schumacher would not be joining the team in 2010, Haug said: "When will you ever say categorically anything in F1?"

So will it happen? It is worth noting that the Schumacher speculation is not exactly hurting Mercedes, whose moment of glory last week was soured by Button's decision to sign for their erstwhile partner.

Mercedes managed to reclaim the PR initiative by being linked to the German star and they are clearly happy for that to continue.

"If you can have good stories every week it is good," Haug admitted.

Ultimately, the only certainty is that an approach has been made and the decision rests with Schumacher, for there is no doubt Mercedes would be prepared to stump up the cash for such a massive marketing coup if the seven-time world champion wanted to return.

At 40, and with a dodgy neck, Schumacher's desire is less certain, although it must be said that he too benefits from the continued conjecture, with numerous sponsors of his own to satisfy.

The safer bet for the second Mercedes seat would be Kimi Raikkonen, if he can be convinced of the team's financial and sporting competitiveness, or else Nick Heidfeld. Mercedes GP chief executive Nick Fry said the team hoped to announce the other driver before Christmas "purely for logistical reasons".

Rosberg, meanwhile, said it would feel "incredible" to be the first German to race a Silver Arrows grand prix car in more than 50 years. The 24-year-old son of Finnish former world champion Keke Rosberg was born in Wiesbaden although he was brought up in Monaco.

Silverstone managing director Richard Phillips is “pretty convinced” that a deal for the British Grand Prix to return to Silverstone in 2010 is imminent. It is understood the latest revisions of the contract are with F1 commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone and Phillips said last night he did not see “any real stumbling blocks”.

Flavio Briatore, the former Renault team principal who exited the team under a cloud in connection with race-fixing allegations in September, will have his case against world motorsport's governing body heard on Tuesday.

According to leaked reports earlier this month, the Italian will accuse the FIA of being "blinded by a desire for personal revenge" when it punished him for his alleged role in the conspiracy that saw Nelson Piquet Jnr crash deliberately during the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix. He is demanding £900,000 in compensation for the damage to his reputation.

[Wildcat!]

So what happened to Barrichello in all this?