Schumacher got an offer already this year

Michael Schumacher admitted he was contacted by Lotus to fill in the seat of Raikkonen for the last two races, but he gave a away a tiny litte information that is quit interesting, he was already contacted this year and had an offer. It is only this small piece of information, it's doesn't say he got an offer for a Formula One racing seat, but why on earth should he talk about something else in this context? But who contacted him in the middle of the season or was it at the beginning of the season? I find it rather amusing that a over the hill Schumacher was still rated by team bosses, surely he would have gotten a seat this year if he would have went for it. Which team contacted him? Does anybody know more?

The whole story, here

http://www.formel1.d...-kimi-vertreter

Ahhhhh Schumi, why didn't you take it?

If a team offered him a position it'd probably be Ferrari.

Can you translate it?

Edited by Schumster, 13 November 2013 - 21:39.

I'd take an 'over the hill' Michael Schumacher over half of the current grid we have today.

I'd take an 'over the hill' Michael Schumacher over half of the current grid we have today.

Schumacher bettered Rosberg last season and this is the same Rosberg who's matching Hamilton. Fair comparison? Considering there was only a difference of 6 months between the two I'd say it's very valid. He was a tier below Alonso/Vettel/Raikkonen and a hungry + focussed Hamilton but I'd still have him over Button/Rosberg/Hamilton '13/Webber/Massa.

Schumacher bettered Rosberg last season ...

Maybe Luca wasn't joking when he said they are going after Schumacher when Kimi to Ferrari rumors started.

The Lotus offer wouldn't make sense for him to accept, Schumacher works for Mercedes doing promos etc if he went on to drive final two races for Lotus that would probably be contract breach with Mercedes. Unless he wanted to race next year which he clrearly doesn't.

Edited by BiH, 13 November 2013 - 21:47.

I really wish he'd taken it, it would be so nice to see him even if its only for two races, and in a decent car.

He could have given the Mercs a good thrashing

Come on Michael.. change your mind!

I think the team that offered him a contract was probably Sauber because they were disappointed with Gutierrez. Can't think of any other team.

Schumacher had 7-8 retirments last year how many did Nico have?

I followed him throughout last year and he suffered from horrible bad luck at the start and if you take a look at the "Schumacher vs. Rosberg 2012" thread you can see that the consesus is that Schumacher bettered Rosberg last year.

If you take away all the mechanical dnf's and stupid errors by the team, he would have been ahead of Nico in the points and thats a fact.

I think the team that offered him a contract was probably Sauber because they were disappointed with Gutierrez. Can't think of any other team.

Ferrari...Gutierrez was/is bringing Sauber big money, it can't be any of the pay drivers.

I think the team that offered him a contract was probably Sauber because they were disappointed with Gutierrez. Can't think of any other team.

Possibly, but they needed money from that guy, there were rumors Michael had contacted with Sauber before 2013, after Hamilton was announced as Mercedes Driver..could have been Sauber

If you take away all the mechanical dnf's and stupid errors by the team, he would have been ahead of Nico in the points and thats a fact.

Forgive him, he thought he could have a little laugh and be condescending but alas it's not pulled off for him and he's been found. Better luck next time, old chap!

Remember how long it took red bull to announce Ricciardo even when the Kimi negotiation was already over. Horner also said you wouldn't believe the options they were considering, i think it was at belgium.

Maybe Michael signed for McLaren next year and doesn't want to spoil his preparation by driving for lotus in two races.

Edited by Longtimefan, 13 November 2013 - 22:16.

Edited by spacekid, 13 November 2013 - 22:45.

Remember how long it took red bull to announce Ricciardo even when the Kimi negotiation was already over. Horner also said you wouldn't believe the options they were considering, i think it was at belgium.

Yes, yes, yes, I didn't want to mention out of fear of sounding ludicrous but I truly believe that Schumacher was a candidate for the RB drive. Schumacher still being one of the better drivers around, being a stop gap to further assess future talents/allow Ricciardo to progress further and Vettel having a word did lead me to believe that it was a possibility.

I always felt that even after '12 that with how the chips were going to fall for '14 that opportunities were still going to come his way. Kehm says "a few prospects" which I guess are Sauber for sure, Lotus + Ferrari this year and possibly RB for '14. Who knows, maybe even McLaren? The name pays for itself, a team branding the "Schumacher" name is a huge, huge boost. The need for a stop-gap, to allow for the likes of Ricciardo/Magnussen/Hulkenberg before a level up, was there.

Huge shame.

Edited by Schumster, 13 November 2013 - 23:02.

Yes, yes, yes, I didn't want to mention out of fear of sounding ludicrous but I truly believe that Schumacher was a candidate for the RB drive. Schumacher still being one of the better drivers around, being a stop gap to further assess future talents/allow Ricciardo to progress further and Vettel having a word did lead me to believe that it was a possibility.

 

I always felt that even after '12 that with how the chips were going to fall for '14 that opportunities were still going to come his way. Kehm says "a few prospects" which I guess are Sauber for sure, Lotus + Ferrari this year and possibly RB for '14. Who knows, maybe even McLaren? The name pays for itself, a team branding the "Schumacher" name is a huge, huge boost. The need for a stop-gap, to allow for the likes of Ricciardo/Magnussen/Hulkenberg before a level up, was there.

 

Huge shame.

I don't know if a big team really had Schumacher on their papers, I would not rule it out, but can not believe it, he said goodbye last year, was clearly past his prime, as team boss I wouldn't dare to think about Michael, because he has no long term perspective, he will not get better, and there is a probability that he would have off the pace more than just a tenth. Last year was supreme, but even if you one of the best ever, you can't fight your age, it's good he stayed retired (for the two races), without practicing, no chance against Grosejean, even Hamilton or Vettel would have problems to beat Grosjean, you need your time to get the grip in these cars. My heart would say yes to Schumi 2014, my rational mind no - the best for all parties   

I don't know if a big team really had Schumacher on their papers, I would not rule it out, but can not believe it, he said goodbye last year, was clearly past his prime, as team boss I wouldn't dare to think about Michael, because he has no long term perspective, he will not get better, and there is a probability that he would have off the pace more than just a tenth. Last year was supreme, but even if you one of the best ever, you can't fight your age, it's good he stayed retired (for the two races), without practicing, no chance against Grosejean, even Hamilton or Vettel would have problems to beat Grosjean, you need your time to get the grip in these cars. My heart would say yes to Schumi 2014, my rational mind no - the best for all parties   

But it's precisely the reason that he's a short-term option which would have made the prospect so appealing. One more year for Magnussen before stepping up a level, before Raikkonen's emergence who was on the horizon for Ferrari? Massa was in poor form, Hulkenberg yet to prove at a big team and why not give Schumacher a year before opening up options? Again, for RB, one more year for Ricciardo at TR would have done him the world of good before taking on Vettel.

"There have been quite a few requests in the past." - Kehm, quite a few suggests to me at least 3-4, Lotus & Sauber taking up 2, leaves 2 others and I think Ferrari/RB are the only viable options. Williams or FI were gonna make an attempt? Anyone lower than Mercedes would have known it to be a pointless exercise.

Edited by Schumster, 13 November 2013 - 23:24.

If you take away all the mechanical dnf's and stupid errors by the team, he would have been ahead of Nico in the points and thats a fact.

No that's conjecture.  I would agree that, subjectively, Schumacher looked to be the better driver over the season but you can't re-imagine the points tally.

In other news, I'd like the trolling to stop please.  Rows of smileys are not discussion.

Did Schumacher turn down the offer before or after Alonso had his ear tweaked?

It would have been massive if he accepted the offer.

But remember what he said back in Japan '12: "(...) and MAY this time even be forever."

Not much of a surprise either, opportunities were going to come his way and he performed v.well.

Anyone who has retired for a 2nd time as always had opportunities come their way, Prost '96 Ferrari, Mansell Williams/Jordan & Lauda.

Schumacher bettered Rosberg last season and this is the same Rosberg who's matching Hamilton.

I think it's for the best that he sticks to his decision to stay away from F1. It took a whole year to come up to speed and then another one to get to a grip over single lap performance. Jumping into a Lotus with no preparation whatsoever would be opportunistic to say the least. Sure it pains how 2012 did not work out despite promising start but 2 races in an unknown car is not the way to fix that.

Lotus

If Schumi did take the seat, he will not getting up to speed in time let alone fit enough hence no use for Lotus.

Schumacher will be offered seats at least until he hits 50, nothing weird about it. He's the most successful driver of all time (for now). The question he will face is, will he get bored and decide to come back someday? 

It would have been McLaren. 

Someone who wins as much as he did, is not to be trifled with... sure, there are Armstrongs and Johnsons every now and then, but for the most part it is talent, and talent is always in demand with people who know their stuff!

But it's precisely the reason that he's a short-term option which would have made the prospect so appealing. One more year for Magnussen before stepping up a level, before Raikkonen's emergence who was on the horizon for Ferrari? Massa was in poor form, Hulkenberg yet to prove at a big team and why not give Schumacher a year before opening up options? Again, for RB, one more year for Ricciardo at TR would have done him the world of good before taking on Vettel.

 

 

"There have been quite a few requests in the past." - Kehm, quite a few suggests to me at least 3-4, Lotus & Sauber taking up 2, leaves 2 others and I think Ferrari/RB are the only viable options. Williams or FI were gonna make an attempt? Anyone lower than Mercedes would have known it to be a pointless exercise.

Then again, which team has the time and cash to bring long-term drivers? Most of the teams including McLaren are using stop-gaps all over the place. The next best thing is always around the corner.

Obvioulsy would have loved to Michael in an F1 car once more, but even with Lotus being a decent car, it just doesn't feel like that strong enough of an incentive. Knowing his stance on any potential comeback from his previous statements/interviews this year, I never really got my hopes up to begin with. 

What makes you think that Michael could jump into a Lotus and be competitive? It takes time to get to speed, even for Michael.

One of the few records left to break is the oldest WDC, which Fangio has held since winning in 1957 at the age of 46.  Part of me thinks Schumi would like to add that one to his collection, which would mean a 2015/16 comeback from him.

When would Vettel have to still be racing in F1 to beat that one?

What makes you think that Michael could jump into a Lotus and be competitive? It takes time to get to speed, even for Michael.

I'd rather have seen him than a perpetually average Kova. Having said that, I'd rather have seen Bruno Senna than Kova, and I've not been a lifelong Senna fan..

If the comeback suggested anything to me, it's that Schumacher's legendary powers of adaptation were either myth, or massively diminished. He was still very quick (if not as quick as in his prime), and had excellent racecraft (at least when going wheel to wheel with skilled, experienced drivers and not crashkids), but it took him a long time to adapt to the current cars enough to show these skills.

Not that I think any driver could be dropped straight into a new car, mid or end of season, and blow the field away after 4 hours of practice sessions. Look at Mansell in 94, he might have done quite well, but it was in a car that was capable of doing extremely well. And he was struggling to match Damon Hill...

One of the few records left to break is the oldest WDC, which Fangio has held since winning in 1957 at the age of 46.  Part of me thinks Schumi would like to add that one to his collection, which would mean a 2015/16 comeback from him.

He ain't coming back now, '14 was his last opportunity unless someone like Red Bull/Ferrari/McLaren come calling it's finished.

I don't think he'd like to risk his healthy future just for 2 races where he probably couldn't do anything done. 

-Haven't touched F1 cars in a while

-Neck most likely wouldn't be able handle such track as Austin. Even active F1 drivers are complaining of bad neck-pain after first days of winter tests, no matter how much they are training in the winter. Might sound stupid but it's quite difficult to drive when after few laps you can't keep your head straight.

I'm sure that if he'd do few races, then he would begin to pick up the pace but no one with such a break won't be able to keep up with others as fast as needed.

Edited by Miggeex, 14 November 2013 - 10:19.

Schumacher bettered Rosberg last season and this is the same Rosberg who's matching Hamilton. Fair comparison? Considering there was only a difference of 6 months between the two I'd say it's very valid. He was a tier below Alonso/Vettel/Raikkonen and a hungry + focussed Hamilton but I'd still have him over Button/Rosberg/Hamilton '13/Webber/Massa.

Hamilton has already beaten Rosberg in qualy with 2 races left and has a healthy points lead over him. In what way is Rosberg matching Hamilton? If 'Hamilton 13' is as second rate as you say he is, it doesn't reflect very well on Schumacher who was beaten by Rosberg every season at Mercedes.

I'd take an 'over the hill' Michael Schumacher over half of the current grid we have today.

I'd take him over all but 5 or 6. 

It would have been McLaren. 

That's the first team I thought about when I read the the heading of this thread.

I think MS would of been better than Perez at both driving and giving feedback to the engineers.

Michael certainly had it last year, espeically in the first half. He would have been nearly at the top of the list in points at the 2012 Canadian GP.  I am not surprised that he has been contacted. However, he most likely made the right call by staying retired because everything would be all too new for two races.

Would he be as good as his vintage self? of course not. it would have been insane to expect that right away.

Edited by George Costanza, 15 November 2013 - 01:23.

I don't think he'd like to risk his healthy future just for 2 races where he probably couldn't do anything done. 

 

-Haven't touched F1 cars in a while

-Neck most likely wouldn't be able handle such track as Austin. Even active F1 drivers are complaining of bad neck-pain after first days of winter tests, no matter how much they are training in the winter. Might sound stupid but it's quite difficult to drive when after few laps you can't keep your head straight.

 

I'm sure that if he'd do few races, then he would begin to pick up the pace but no one with such a break won't be able to keep up with others as fast as needed.

Plus his age.  Think back to 1999 F1 season when he came back. But that was a much shorter layoff. And he was in his prime of his career. What a lap he did, though at Sepang 1999. And I'd argue the cars of 1999 were tougher to drive than today.

Edited by George Costanza, 15 November 2013 - 01:24.

I think it sorta shows how much the lack of testing has hurt young drivers. Not saying that Schumi is bad, but his years at Merc were not stellar. 

I think it sorta shows how much the lack of testing has hurt young drivers. Not saying that Schumi is bad, but his years at Merc were not stellar. 

Because it was a different era which vintage Michael Schumacher had raced in. And I am certain a 30 year old Schumacher would beat anyone today.

Because it was a different era which vintage Michael Schumacher had raced in. And I am certain a 30 year old Schumacher would beat anyone today.

You might be right. Might not be. Hard to really say in F1 given the relative strengths of the cars. 

I followed him throughout last year and he suffered from horrible bad luck at the start and if you take a look at the "Schumacher vs. Rosberg 2012" thread you can see that the consesus is that Schumacher bettered Rosberg last year.

To finish first, first you must finish.

Because it was a different era which vintage Michael Schumacher had raced in. And I am certain a 30 year old Schumacher would beat anyone today.

Schumacher wasn't even beating everyone back then when he was 30.

If you take away all the mechanical dnf's and stupid errors by the team, he would have been ahead of Nico in the points and thats a fact.

No that's conjecture.  I would agree that, subjectively, Schumacher looked to be the better driver over the season but you can't re-imagine the points tally.

 

In other news, I'd like the trolling to stop please.  Rows of smileys are not discussion.

Schumacher, imho, did a solid job in 2012 and was certainly better than in 2010 and 2011, but I also think he was kind of flattered by an unlucky and perhaps not über motivated Rosberg. Or let me put it differently: I think Lewis arriving at Merc has caused Nico to step up (again).