As unlikley as it seemed when the rumour first started, there is now a rising belief that Michael Schumacher, the 7-time F1 Champion is about to make a sensational return to the sport linking up with the new Mercedes Grand Prix team. In doing so Schumacher would partner up with Nico Rosberg, the talented German to form a dream 'Team Germany' drivers line up at the team formerly known as Brawn GP.There is now a strong sense amongst the Formula 1 Community that the move is going to happen. Both Schumacher and his manager Wili Webber have not come out and denied it something that would have happened by now if there wasn't any substance to the story. For Mercedes who today it's been announced have lost around €90m due to a mix up in a sponsors deal with German consumer products group Henkel - it would be not only a great marketing ploy to have Schumacher on board. The guy makes millions alone in terms of sponsorship and in terms of generating publicity and attention the team would get it all back.
It would also be a fascinating prospect for the team and with Mercedes engined cars winning the last 2 F1 drivers titles it would also be a great prospect for the new team to have the experience of Schumacher on board. Also it would be great for Nico Rosberg, who almost like Jenson Button this time last season just looks like a driver that is only a complete car package away from challenging for wins in the sport.
Schumacher's return would also make this coming season even more hotly anticipated and you know for a fact that the media would be imagining all the scenarios that the German's impact would have on the sport. Increased coverage and money for the sport, more battles on the track, higher viewing figures and most importantly the driver's return would bring back more 'feel good' factor to a sport that has suffered in the last couple of years. I'm speaking about Spygate, Liegate and Crashgate here of course!!!
Although Schumacher would be 41 when the new season starts, his age wouldn't matter. Yes the German made mistakes in the past that thankfully he's admitted now he wouldn't have made at the time but imagine what it would be like for the drivers to compete againgst him again. Never mind how some of the new drivers who have come into the sport since the German retired would feel racing againgst one of their idols.
Yes perhaps the move would be somewhat unlucky for Nick Heidfeld who is also in contention for the seaet, a driver who has never perhaps got the move that his early talent derserved. But the move would throw up so many talking points it would be brilliant for the sport. When Felipe Massa got injured last season during qualifying in Hungary and was ruled out for the season, Schumacher was called upon by Ferrari to replace him. At the time Schumacher stated he had no intrest beforehand to get back in a race seat and was only coming back because he loved the team and Massa so much that he'd do them this favour. Of course there were issues regarding his back problems so Schumacher had to pull out leaving Luca Badoer and then Giancarlo Fisichella to fill in for the Brazilian.
It seems that those back problems that stopped the return have only relit the hunger in the german's stomach and made him want to return to the sport for what is perfectly summed up as one last hurrah in the sport. If it does happen, which after reading the various f1 websites is probably more than likley of happening - it would be a fitting end for the F1 Champion. Yes he tasted success with Ferrari who he has a special relationship with, but his first significant steps into world motorsport were with Mercedes as part of their junior racing programme in the World Sports-Prototype Championship.
Add the fact that Ross Brawn is running Mercedes Grand Prix, who has helped the german to all 7 of those world titles and the small rumour that started when Button left the team begins to sound a very likley option. On Monday Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo said that Ferrari won't stop Schumacher from moving on should a chance become availiable. Though of course nothing's certain in F1 and I and many others could be proved wrong meaning that you've wasted your time reading this article and that Nick Heidfeld will get that seat alongside Rosberg.
Posted by Adam Dennehey SportTrades Report Manager
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