Could Michael Schumacher really return to F1 as a Mercedes driver?

The possibility of Michael Schumacher returning with Mercedes has caused a media furore where facts are thin on the ground but a torrent of speculation unstoppable. Management at the car giant have called it “a media dream”. So what’s the truth? Let’s go on a flight of fancy and examine whether the German legend really could return to the cockpit – or whether Mercedes are trying to pull off a different coup altogether and grab themselves a new Uber Ambassador… Can Michael Schumacher really return to Formula 1? And at Mercedes? A German legend – no an icon – in a German racing team? For all their denials by Norbert Haug, Nick Fry and Ross Brawn it’s a Mercedes management wet dream. And the chances are good that the seven-times world champion will one day end up in Mercedes colours. When, and whether he is in the cockpit, is a different question altogether. I understand the seven times world champion has been offered a variety of jobs within the structure at Mercedes. A sort of “take your pick, Michael”. And if you pause for a moment and reflect, from his perspective, the idea must have a great deal of attraction. Schumacher would be signing up to The German Team. There is every chance that, for all their denials, Mercedes’ ambitions are to turn their team into something akin to what Ferrari has in Italy: an operation revered in its native land. It is already a German-owned team with a German lead driver and a winning German engine. Most onlookers cannot see past Schumacher in the cockpit – the racing legend. Victor of an unparalleled 91 Grands Prix and seven world championships. But there is much more at play than most realise; why can’t Schumacher be the ‘father’ to a whole new generation of German racers? Why can’t he have a significant role OUT of the cockpit instead? His activities and motivation would be far more fundamental than it could ever be at Ferrari, for all their success together. Schumacher could satiate his need for speed by helping develop their F1 cars from time to time. He could either race DTM fulltime or make guest appearances in a Silver Arrows. Although his experience would quickly become outdated in real F1 racing terms his general advice would be invaluable. Then the team could have a far more important role for him: Schumacher…

Source: Lewis Hamilton News

Posted by admin 24 November 2009

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