Daimler bought the Brawn GP Formula 1 team on Monday and renamed it Mercedes GP. On Wednesday, Jensen Button said he was leaving to drive for McLaren. And today, a BBC Sport columnist is speculating that Michael Schumacher will drive for Mercedes in 2010.
The columnist, Eddie Jordan, bases his supposition on a conversation that he says took place at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. "Dr. Zetsche, for now the CEO of Daimler-Benz, Ross Brawn himself and Michael Schumacher were deep in conversation, and I believe it was to do with Schumacher possibly joining the team as a driver for the 2010 championship."
He argues that a Schumacher return would be part of a larger play to acquire Sebastian Vettel. "I think the comeback would be a one-year deal. I believe Mercedes wants Sebastian Vettel, but they can't get him -- he's in Red Bull and that's the key to all of this. I think the Schumacher contract will revolve around the ability to prise Vettel out of Red Bull, whether it takes a year or two years... the prize in all of this is Vettel."
Jordan dismisses the lingering neck injury that kept Schumacher from filling in for Ferrari's Felipe Massa. "I do not see the neck being a problem. I think there are more than enough people to sort that out."
If Schumacher doesn't work out, Nick Heidfeld, a refugee of BMW Sauber, is thought to be the next mostly likely candidate.
Photo: Schumacher and Vettel at the Race of Champions
sgude says:
02:44 PM, 11/20/09
The question is why would Michael Schumacher come out of retirement now? While he demonstrated he still has considerable speed and quickness at his last race (Brazil 06), why would he want to stake his short-term reputation against the likes of Alonso (who beat him twice to the championship), Hamilton, Vettel and even Massa? I think this was just a Brit play to sell papers.
rallyandbosox says:
03:54 PM, 11/20/09
A lot of times the best of the best do this because they can't handle life outside of it, look at Michael Jordan who did come back to the NBA after retiring. I agree with sgude though, just a ploy for headlines, perhaps he really does believe it will be happening though (Jordan, not Schumacher).