Report: Schumacher will be with Merc in 2010
December 11, 2009 by SJ Skid
Filed under People & Events, Top Story
There’s reliable word out today that the rumored Michael Schumacher return really could — I mean really — happen.
Andrew Benson at the BBC is blogging today that his sources say a deal is pulling together, and he notes a report that Mercedes has offered the seven-time champ a deal with a salary of 7 million Euros to partner Nico Rosberg.
Here’s more:
Bosses at the Mercedes team have all scrupulously avoided dampening down the speculation in the last couple of weeks, with the latest remarks coming from chief executive Nick Fry, who said a comeback by the seven-time champion would be “very interesting”.
And this morning, the German tabloid Bild reported that Mercedes had offered Schumacher a salary of seven million euros (£6.3m).
On top of that, my information is increasingly that Schumacher’s return as Nico Rosberg’s team-mate is looking like a done deal.
[snip]
One figure who until recently had a senior role at Ferrari, who would have to release Schumacher from his consultancy contract, is saying it is definitely going to happen.
And I received cast-iron information from a reliable source this morning about the plans of those potentially affected by Schumacher’s decision that, shall we say, points very strongly to him driving for Mercedes in 2010. (If that sounds vague, I’m sorry, but I was told in confidence and cannot reveal any more).
Armed with this mounting evidence, I phoned Schumacher’s media spokeswoman Sabine Kehm to ask her what was going on with her client.
She is normally very forthcoming – it was Kehm who gave me the information with which BBC Sport broke the story back in July that Schumacher would consider a return as a stand-in for Massa.
At the time of Jordan’s remarks she said a return was “highly unlikely”, but that she “would never say never”. But this time, although as friendly as ever, she was unusually reticent.
“I haven’t got any more to say,” she said. “I don’t want to tell you anything, for whatever reason. I don’t want to go into it any more.”
Is that because you have nothing to say, I asked, or because you can’t say anything?
“Because I can’t.”
I realise that none of this is definitive evidence that Schumacher will be back in F1 in 2010. But I have to admit that, after being initially sceptical about it, I’m now increasingly convinced that it could well come true.
Benson also writes that a examination of Schumacher’s injured neck is the remaining hurdle.
It all sounds pretty nearly done. The one bit of cold water I’d throw on it is lingering skepticism on my part that Schumacher’s neck injury was the only reason we didn’t see Michael at Valencia last year. [And I didn't see him at Monza!]
I can’t help thinking that a friendly engineer took him aside and said: “Hey, you really don’t want to have anything to do with this stinky pile of a Ferrari. Trust me. Don’t do it.”
One last thought, mostly a question for any European/German readers out there (or others who’d know): Would Mercedes coming in to the sport and winning, and winning with Schumacher, be a poke in the eye to BMW? Is there a Honda/Toyota thing there at all? I don’t feel like I’ve heard that, but in general they are competitive companies here in the U.S.
7 million Euros seems like a steal to get Schum back in a car. I’ll believe it when I see the Mercedes hat on Andy’s head
Would love to see it happen. As long as he can spend the winter getting the strength back in his neck. They are going to make a killing in merchandise this year.
I concur with James Allen, the name Michael Schumacher and Ferrari are so synonymous, that Ferrari and Luca D McXX will do everything to protect the brand value that has been created and grown over a long period.
What else was motive of Luca when in internal Ferrari Power struggle he broke the Schumi-Todt-Brawn trinity, made Ferrari F1 management “Italian” again but yet, in front of public kept Michael on Ferrari Contract, Apart from goodwill of Tifosi, that move was also with intention to keep him “Off market” (they did the something similar with Kimi for 2010).
I am not a Schumi fan but for his good it would be advisable to stay off the market and maintain Brand value.
Has anyone seen the latest Autosport Survey for Best Driver, Senna was chosen, his untimely death kept his brand value high amongst the fans. Imagine, if he had lived and would have been beaten in inferior equipment by his rivals and next generation drivers. Would the Senna Brand have been same ??
Schumi has never been one to delve too deeply into history. This is where he is very different from Senna. So, if he tarnishes his reputation by going to Merc GP and not winning the WDC, it may not really matter to Schumi.
Montezemolo is a different story. I can see where he would not want Schumi to go another team. Maybe the honeymoon with Alonso will mitigate some of his feelings.
The guy who really loses out is Rosberg. Here he gets his chance to go to a potential winner but may end up being the modern day Rubens. Nico, I hope you enjoy your future as race weekend tire tester.
my thoughts exactly regarding nico. whether it’s better for michael to have left while on top or to return to the sport has yet to be seen. it’s certainly good for the sport in the short term in terms of PR and ticket sales, but talk about being overshadowed. we know how brawn runs a team with schumi driving. nico who?
Here in italy there is a disbelief reaction, media announced the likely deal as a betrayal.. and this is the feeling of the tifosi.
Personally i’m really interested in his comin’ back, i’m still skeptical, this decision could be completely wrong for Shouey, he’ll struggle with Lewis and Alonso, and i agree he’ll lose his brand value, after many years as ferrari icon i don’t think he could become the image of mercedes in only 1 year of races.. but maybe, there is only a question of passion, of racing addiction..
Tomorrow i’ll visit for the first time maranello and the galleria ferrari! i’ll think to all you friends of f1blog!!