24 replies to this topic

[HistoryFan]

Because of the comeback of Michael Schumacher, I thought about comebacks in F1 which never happened.

Monaco 1989: Berger was injured for the race and so Ferrari try to get Mario Andretti, although he was already 49 years old! But Andretti turned the offer down.

Japan 1989: Pierluigi Martini was injured for the race. Bernie Ecclestone tried to convince Minardi to commit Emerson Fittipaldi as replacement. But Fittipaldi and Minardi didn't want the deal and so Paolo Barilla drove the race. ´

Belgien 1991: Keke Rosberg wanted to come back in F1 and he talks with Jordan after Jordan needs an replacement driver for Bertrand Gachot. But then Michael Schumacher comes and the rest is history.

Japan 1994: Japanese sponsors wanted to see Kazuyoshi Hoshino in the Benetton Ford for the Japan GP 1994. But Benetton had no interest on this move.

Any more?

[RStock]

Because of the comeback of Michael Schumacher, I thought about comebacks in F1 which never happened.

Monaco 1989: Berger was injured for the race and so Ferrari try to get Mario Andretti, although he was already 49 years old! But Andretti turned the offer down.

Japan 1989: Pierluigi Martini was injured for the race. Bernie Ecclestone tried to convince Minardi to commit Emerson Fittipaldi as replacement. But Fittipaldi and Minardi didn't want the deal and so Paolo Barilla drove the race. ´

Belgien 1991: Keke Rosberg wanted to come back in F1 and he talks with Jordan after Jordan needs an replacement driver for Bertrand Gachot. But then Michael Schumacher comes and the rest is history.

Japan 1994: Japanese sponsors wanted to see Kazuyoshi Hoshino in the Benetton Ford for the Japan GP 1994. But Benetton had no interest on this move.

Any more?

Didier Pironi with AGS and Ligier tests . 1987 ?

[D-Type]

In the mid seventies there were rumours that Jackie Stewart might be making a comeback in a Brabham ?

[Ralliart]

In '81, there was mention of Hunt and Stewart coming back for '82. In '89, Hunt tested a DTM car and he spoke about either going DTM or CART in '90. When Reutemann briefly tested a Ligier during the off season in '82, there was talk of him returning the next year. After Depailler had his hang gliding accident in '79, Hunt was, apparently, in the mix for taking his Ligier seat but Peter Warr nixed those plans and Ickx got the drive.

[HistoryFan]

Now we can add Michael Schumacher.

[Rob G]

Wasn't Emerson Fittipaldi in the running for the Spirit F1 seat in 1984?

[Arjan de Roos]

In the mid seventies there were rumours that Jackie Stewart might be making a comeback in a Brabham ?

Didn't some of the Tyrrell demo runs he did link JYS with a comeback with Tyrrell?

[alansart]

Now we can add Michael Schumacher.

Perhaps not?

http://www.autosport...rt.php/id/77626

[HistoryFan]

Wasn't Emerson Fittipaldi in the running for the Spirit F1 seat in 1984?

Yes he was. But there was no money to pay Fittipaldi

[simonlewisbooks]

Geoff Lees apparently a deal to run an Arrows in the 1989 Japanese GP with backing by his regular Japanese F2/3000 series sponsors. They specified the need for a hospitality box at the event . None were available by that point so the deal foundered. I think Lees previous Grand Prix appearance had been in 1982 with Lotus.
Around the same time, 88 I think, Pirro's privateer Benetton-BMW entry was scuppered by the rules.

[HistoryFan]

Around the same time, 88 I think, Pirro's privateer Benetton-BMW entry was scuppered by the rules.

That sound's very interesting for me. Andy detailled information?

[WonderWoman61]

Mat Jackson was set to return to the British Touring Car Championship in 2020 with PMR but the COVID-19 pandemic put paid to that.

[chr1s]

Don't forget the almost messianic Kubica comeback that ran to 75 pages over on RC and amounted, predictably, to absolutely nothing.

[nmansellfan]

But Kubica's comeback did 'happen', it was just a year later than the RC hype train thread hoped for, and Kubica was no longer his former self.  To even get back into any racing car, let alone a GP car, after his rally shunt was an achievement itsef though.  And he did score the teams only point of the season (albeit after the Alfas were penalised post race at the German GP).

 

I submit Nigel Mansell's 1996 test with Jordan (yes, username checks out).  I've since read and heard in podcasts with EJ and Gary Anderson that it wasn't much more than a bit of a publicity stunt  woth no intention of a race deal being done, but I really, really wanted it to happen after '95...

[Secretariat]

I believe Alain Prost was contemplating this in the 1994-1996 period. I know he was doing some testing with McLaren.

[WonderWoman61]

Mika Hakkinen, Williams showed interest in him for 2005 until they tried and failed to prise Jenson Button away from BAR.

He also tested for McLaren as a possibility for 2007.

Edited by WonderWoman61, 12 June 2024 - 16:56.

[Gabrci]

I would have absolutely loved for Hoshino to drive in the 1994 Japanese GP. He was 46 but then he was the reigning Japanese F3000 champion, beating Eddie Irvine. I think it's not at all a given that he would have been nowhere. I would also have loved for him to have a proper go at F1 back in the 70's when he was at his prime. It is overlooked because of the championship drama at Fuji in 1976 but he was running third for a while having passed Regazzoni's Ferrari in an old Tyrrell...

[WonderWoman61]

Williams tried to bring back Keke Rosberg for the 1988 Italian GP as Nigel Mansell was still unwell and Martin Brundle wasn't available and Ferrari wouldn't release Roberto Moreno from his testing contract.

[HistoryFan]

I would have absolutely loved for Hoshino to drive in the 1994 Japanese GP. He was 46 but then he was the reigning Japanese F3000 champion, beating Eddie Irvine. I think it's not at all a given that he would have been nowhere. I would also have loved for him to have a proper go at F1 back in the 70's when he was at his prime. It is overlooked because of the championship drama at Fuji in 1976 but he was running third for a while having passed Regazzoni's Ferrari in an old Tyrrell...

yes that would have been awesome!

[WonderWoman61]

Ricardo Patrese could have returned to Williams after Senna's death in 1994 but he decided against it.

Understandable under the circumstances.

[F1matt]

Ricardo Patrese could have returned to Williams after Senna's death in 1994 but he decided against it.

Understandable under the circumstances.

 

I know Patrese was offered a role in the winter season as a test driver to help the team adapt from the active era but I thought that David Coulthard was announced pretty quickly after it was apparent that Mansell couldn't be released from his Indycar deal. My memory maybe fading after 30 years though. 

[WonderWoman61]

I know Patrese was offered a role in the winter season as a test driver to help the team adapt from the active era but I thought that David Coulthard was announced pretty quickly after it was apparent that Mansell couldn't be released from his Indycar deal. My memory maybe fading after 30 years though.

https://www.motorspo...ms-i-was-ready/

[WonderWoman61]

Wasn't there a possibility of Rubens Barrichello returning with Caterham towards the end of 2014 until they went into administration?

[bsc]

Wasn't there a possibility of Rubens Barrichello returning with Caterham towards the end of 2014 until they went into administration?

Yes - it was reported quite a bit at the time. I think the deal would have covered the Brazilian and Abu Dhabi races.

[WonderWoman61]

Yes - it was reported quite a bit at the time. I think the deal would have covered the Brazilian and Abu Dhabi races.

I thought it was for the last three races.