Jordan: Schumacher to Mercedes ‘will happen’
November 20, 2009 by SJ Skid
Filed under People & Events
I’m just getting this one to you. Don’t blame the messenger.
Eddie Jordan has told the BBC that he believes Michael Schumacher will return in 2010 as the lead driver for Mercedes GP.
I guess the neck is feeling better. Or maybe he knows the Mercedes car won’t be the dog that the F60 was in 2009:
“The possibility is being actively pursued and I believe it is going to happen,” said Jordan.
Schumacher’s spokeswoman Sabine Kehm told BBC Sport a return was “highly unlikely – but never say never”.
The plan is for Schumacher to be a stop-gap before Mercedes can prise German rising star Sebastian Vettel out of Red Bull, Jordan said.
[snip]
Jordan said: “It started with a meeting between Michael, Ross Brawn and Daimler chief executive officer Dieter Zetsche at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
“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 him being released – and that it will be approved because it is in the interests of F1.
“I believe that is being planned at the moment.
“I also believe Ross and Michael have spoken in recent times and that Michael likes the idea of driving a Mercedes run by Ross. It’s a mouth-watering idea.
“Schumacher was bitterly disappointed he didn’t get to come back to replace Massa – he’s keen to race again. And this is a dream for both parties.
“Michael and Mercedes go way back – he drove for their sportscar team before he raced in F1, and they were responsible for getting him in to F1. They paid the then Jordan team to give him his debut in 1991.
“He has won all these titles but never driven in F1 for Mercedes.”
The BBC story also suggests that, if Renault pulls out, Robert Kubica could be on Mercedes radar — and as a result, we aren’t likely to get any firm news on the Nick Heidfeld front until Renault’s future is clear.
I’m not sure what I make of this. Other than Enzo Ferrari, himself, is any one man more identified with the company than Schumacher? I understand the whole German connection, but I think the Ferrari relationship may be too strong.
Have at it F1Bers. Good move for Mercedes? Good move for Schumacher?
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Ahh, Eddie Jordan. The man who bends over and talks out of his behind. It could well happen, but the idea that EJ knows more about it than the rest of us is laughable.
balderdash.
There is only one question: Will Schumacher be fast enough? If Mercedes tests him, and he is, the issue of good moves or not is all over.
Believing something will happen doesn’t make it so. As a huge Mercedes fan, I’d love to see The Schum come drive one of those magnificent silver cars, but I won’t believe it until I see it. I remember the soul-crushing dejection that Ferrari fans went through after some had gotten their hopes up that Michael will fill in for Massa.
Could this be the surprise Nobert Haug was mentioning about!.
But also this way guys.
This could also be a tactical game to get back the centre of attraction esp after Button’s (stupid) move to mclaren. Even Mclaren with their WC golddust will never get the sort of publicity and sensationalism that a story with Micheal Mercedes and Ross Brawn in it. So in that case couldnt it be just a tool to generate negative publicity??
Im not saying its true, but possible
Even if its true, Im sure every F1 fan in his right mind would love to see this happen. Esp, if you remember that it was Merc who bought Micheal into F1 with Jordan
krisskross,
From a PR standpoint, this is the worst possible move. You can be sure this is EJ blabbing about his hunches or rumours he’s heard. This was not the result of anyone in the MS or Merc camp calling him up with a scoop.
First of all, to let it slip that MS might join the team only to have him back out and leave them with……..Rosberg and Heidfeld? Underwhelming, and I say that as a Rosberg fan, and not a Heidfeld supporter.
Second, a fee of 50-100 million is being bandied about. Right! Merc is going to pay him almost as much as or more than they paid for the entire team? With the Daimler board up in arms about the expense already? Hard sell when the factory floor is getting cuts.
Also, Ferrari’s DNA is so tied up with Schumacher that unless all of his contracts, including sponsorship deals are ending at the end of this year, there is no way he can get out of it.
I say EJ is blowing hot air, but you never know with that gang.
I think the only thing lending any credibility to this is the brawn factor. Remember that a good chunk of Michael’s most successful years were with Ross at the helm. Anyway after the Schumi-Ferrari debacle earlier this year I won’t hold my breath.
I will believe it when it happens… That is all.
If you wanted to get some big sponsor dollars and money quickly at the fledgling Merc team, hiring MS would be the way to do it. Regardless if it made much sense or not.
ever wondered why Luca wanted a third car on the grid for Ferrari?
Eddie Jordan.. baah..
Almost every predictions (except for the very very obvious ones) he made during the 2009 season turned out to be false
He was the most annoying person to listen to
The thought that Schumi can be anything other than a Ferrari man… he drives a fiat for pete’s sake!
Told you one of my previous post, that this could happen. Seems that Merc is awake. Really tho my thought was just off the top of the head. This really can’t be happening.
If schumacher wanted to break his ties with ferrari for driving with a German team, he could have done it while he was still racing ( mercedes always wanted him) but he is a old now and I don`t think he would like to return to a cockpit, other than that of a red car.