It's very sad that F1 feels it needs to bring back the legend that is Michael Schumacher. To me it's telling the young drivers that they are not good enough.

Maybe Michael is training like crazy bcs... he is crazy

Theyre not, Schumi would still beat the whole feild

As a fan of Michael, I have split feelings about his rumored return. On one side he doesn't has to do it; he has nothing to prove to me anymore. I am very much grateful to him for all those years letting me to come back to TV screen every second weekend with excitement, yet today on the other side, how can I refuse to see him back? I would not expect miracles, but just having him again on the track would be a joy in my heart. His call, and nothing will change in my admiration of this extraordinary man.

+1

When he wanted to come back in the summer I thought he was crazy. But right now I have ambivalent feelings on this. I too don't expect miracles but I don't want him to make a fool of himself. On the other hand seeing him in a Mercedes. Him teaming up with his old buddies, Ross Brawn and Norbert Haug - very tempting. I wouldn't want him to come back with Ferrari, because what for? He's been there, done that. But Mercedes+Schumacher - it somehow has a special flavour to me.

I'm not a fan of his at all, and I hated many of the things he did on track, but I'm still hoping that he makes a comeback.

Oh the blind belief he can walk on water
Given a massive advantage and a number 2 teammate he can of course but let's not get carried away.

I still remember those "He could score points with a Minardi" talks back in the days... lol.

He hasn't raced since 2006, and it was clear that year that he isn't what he used to be.

He would do well to beat Rosberg let alone win races and the WDC imo.

Having said that I would love to see him come back and race against Hamilton and Vettel but it won't happen.

Those were the days.

One of the field has already beaten Schumacher in what most people regard as evenly matched machinery. There are at least two drivers in the current field who are a match for him.

Guys, they are waiting on the Renault situation to clear, Haug even said today that they will now wait into next year if need be, kinda coincidential given Bernie just said Renault could take into next year to resolve. Sometimes the simplest explanation is correct.

http://www.monstersandcritics.com/sport/fo...umacher-rumours

Don't forget the first slick tyre test when he p1ssed all over the other drivers. The guy will never lose his superhero talents behind the wheel. I want to see him do it for a 3rd time and make Mercedes amazing.

I take it you knew the exact testing programs of all other drivers and teams which allowed you to make that valid conclusion he pissed all over them? Wishful thinking perhaps?

He's been quoted in a public press conference to say 'who knows' on a direct question. Well, we know he's not coming back in a Ferrari, and it will be no team other than Mercedes if next year then. Or Massa's seat in 2011 perhaps. But an ambassador to Ferrari should not be letting himself be used to promote Mercedes. That's no good. Unless there is a consideration and he can't make the denial as yet. It's not the same as Trulli or Heidfeld. Schumi is under contract, of a different sort perhaps, but a contract nonetheless. So that's very odd, if you're right in your certainties.

The question of why he'd want to return is coming up again too.

For me, it would be:
For fun
To see if he can still be competitive when he feels it
To maybe have a punt at the WDC
To maybe appear to make another team the Ferrari he created before
To maybe blitz most of the field again and assert the legend - akin to his Malaysia return in 99
To show it was the car in 06, not the man.
To show it is the man in 10 not the machine - Schumi unshackled from Ferrari can beat Alonso shackled to one.
To have a more fruitful commercial tie up once the helmet is hung up for good - with Mercedes and the Middle East who are building his towers.
To be able to build two or three more towers?!
For fun!

The denialists are all very serious on this thread. Those that are open to the possibility seem to be having much more fun. I'm for fun. It's why I like the sport. It's not all whips and chains anymore.

Good post black cat
Just about sums the situation up perfectly.

MS is waiting to see the performance of the new merc car before he decides?

It would be fun if Schumacher comes back. But please (the same with Alonso to Ferrari, Button to McLaren, Kubica to Renault, Villeneuve to Lotus) when the unexpected does happen and 2010 is over... When Button appears to be better than Hamilton, or Alonso less than Massa, when Schumacher is spanked by Rosberg, etcetera, etcetera or other things that would drive the fans of respective drivers crazy)


NO EXCUSES! NO EXCUSES! NO EXCUSES! NO EXCUSES!

good luck with that

Perhaps we can start an internet civil movement. The two of us start. Everytime in 2010 when someones starts to whine: 'Yeah but Schumacher has to get used to... or Alonso has to get used to... Or Hamilton is not used to..., we will post only these four words. No excuses. No excuses.

I was excited about this return for Massa this year – I;m not so sure that joining Brawn – which has been overtaken IMO by Redbull and McLaren – would be the right thing to do

In what way are baseless rumours damaging to Ferrari? Are you not going to buy a Ferrari now because of this rumour?!

I guess we all believe or not each rumour on the basis of our own sense of merit, funded by all else we know, or think we know! For example, I believed Spygate from the first moment, (I was a conspiracy theorist on the subject after the race in 08) but didn't think a bit of rallying or whatever it was would get in the way of the Kimi-McLaren deal. On this one, I'd love it to be true, but its just too Hollywood for my money - and I've confirmed it in my mind by reading key the quotes from people like Haug and Weber as a bit of a piss-take to the media in all honesty. Could be wrong, mind!

it is anything but baseless, but it is a rumour

My brother just brought a mercedes a month ago, a OMEN! I'm liking some of their cars, liked the fact they are away from Ron Dennis NOW, the reason that kept Schumi away from Mclaren most likely.

I always love ferrari, always will, and michael and ferrari will always be a great combo, but life is life, it's short, f1 records and history don't mean nothing when the world ends, Schumacher from blue at Benetton, Red at Ferrari and some silver and black at Mercedes-where he started off, he did say life is a cycle, I would enjoy it, but equally would hope if he doesn't come back, then Kimi at least needs to be at Mercedes, and me thinks, with Kimi confirmed for rallying, and Button running from Brawn, maybe Schumacher really is coming back, even Bernie isn't sure, this speculation about a liiving legend is pure honour to be apart of on the forums, no one created discussion like Schumacher does, we probabley have written thousands of books worth of content about him this decade alone on the forums. Every bit of emotion, from joy, anger, hate, love, laughter, pride, you name it has been explored through Schumacher times on the forums, seen some great debating from forumers of the past, present and maybe future. To be lived up


I still miss Senna, but we have Schumacher still, were lucky, and Bernie knows and the world knows there is no else like him, ferrari president was right, Schumi is from another world. The speculation alone is a honour to be apart of.

^ true that

Implicitly. The fact is, one of Ferrari's treasures are linked with another team. Now, he's not giving ferrari publicity, but giving a rival publicity. Schumacher is under contract to ferrari. Now there are rumours about him going to another team (it doesn't need to be true, people will believe what they want. And if they want to believe he's moving to merc, they will). How does that make ferrari look? For someone that believes this rumour, it makes ferrari look like fools. First, they loose their a lot of their key staff. Think Todt and Brawn. Their top driver retires. They CLEARLY aren't the team they were 3 - 4 years ago. They haven't won a WDC in 2 years. And now, shock and horror, their main man is leaving them for a rival (in the public's perception)!!!! It kinda looks like they're unravelling, doesn't it? And no company would like to be perceived by the public as in the process of unravelling.

Michael schumacher leaving Ferrari is just diabolical PR. People will ask why. And no matter what they are told, they will still believe what they want in situations like this. Especiallly after Brawn left and Todt left. It just makes them look bad.

refuelin ban will be a problem for schumi!
91-93 .... in 38 races......2 wins and 0 pole position ....poore statistic for so big name ;)

Agree. I would love Schuey but fear it will be Kubica instead. How boring...

The question is if Schumacher is ready to cut ties with Ferrari. Because once he goes to Mercedes he will not be retained as Ferrari ambassador and PR man any more and of course he won't test Ferrari road cars either. You cannot do PR for Ferrari and Mercedes at the same time.

I think the road car development is a job he enjoys, so I don't know if he is ready to give it up (and the good money from Ferrari, of course) just to give it another try with Mercedes. If he gives it up all just for one more year in F1, he is really itching to race again.

At least he will be free to drive every type of cars at the next ROC...

I'll be sick as a dog if Kubica gets that drive, he maybe very mentally resilient but he really isn't anything special. He has no flair or charisma at all and just makes up the numbers.

Sounds like a perfect fit for Mercedes then.

Schumacher does hear his homeland calling.........................................


...............................does he return the answer? ..............................

what did refuel ban have to do with 0 poles in that time?
they were qualyfing on fumes, with no parc ferme

And fail to perform ending up in silly side job, in comparison to the great after champion-life he has now.

can anybody guarantee him a greater life after, in case if, he fails to perform?

No, he hangs up and continues to roll around in his Ferrari cash pile.

I disagree. I am now accepting bets via PayPal for Kimi Raikkonen to win the WDC at 100-1. Contact me via PM for info.

And I accept bets via certified check for You to win WDC AND Indy 500 in the same year at 100000000-1. Contact me via PM for info.

Verry funny... not

Mercedes to confirm second driver within two weeks.

http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2009/12/08/...thin-two-weeks/

so they've given Schumacher a deadline to make decision....what's taking him so long to decide anyway, if he has hesitations, he shouldn't do it.

Think of how many people bought tickets this year when there was word of MS returning. I can only imagine how many people are on the verge of buying [b]Merc[\b]handise at the very idea that MS will be in that car....

Haug said he can't promise an announcement before Christmas. The article has also been edited now:

Well surely neither MS nor Merc would dream of signing on the dotted line until some test laps have been turned?!

I think they are trying to convince Kimi, JV or Mansell, MS has Felipe to protect from Alonso so it's a no go.

Schumacher to Mercedes would be fun, but I don't see it in the cards after the disastrous wannabe comeback of this summer.

By the way it's high time for Heidfeld to get a good car. Finally.

This is interesting if the quote was real:

http://www.mibz.com/3218-rumors-saying-mic...t-stronger.html

"Even the seven times Formula 1 champion’s father adds fuel to the fire speaking for Cologne newspaper Express: “Michael is training every day like crazy. He’s not doing that for nothing.”


But Bernie's quote is real:




BREAKING NEWS!!!!!!!!!


ROSBERG SPEAKS OF SCHUMI TEAMATE POSSIBILITY FINALLY!!!!


http://www.crunchsports.com/category/Motor...e-200912080028/

"It would be a very interesting challenge, and a super lineup," Rosberg, who has already been named as Mercedes' first driver for the 2010 season, said.

You are getting your hopes too high. Didn't Kimi mention something like that in reference to MS' botched return this summer? At the end, the challenge was nowhere to be seen and wisely stayed at home.

If MS couldn't find it in himself to just drive for fun in a few races in 2009 when no one would have judged him too harshly even if he put a Badoer-like performance, why would he risk his reputation over a whole season?