iSport's Motorsport Editor Kunal Shah wonders if Michael Schumacher would move to Merc GP in 2010. He attempts to connect the dots to probe if such a move is possible. Could this be Ferrari's biggest loss already?
Michael Schumacher is back in the news again! The F1 super achiever has been expressing his eagerness to make a comeback next season and almost every fan around the world believes that if he does actually make a comeback, it will be with his long term racing team, Ferrari. But will that really be the case?
Just a bit of history before we move on, Ferrari’s dream team of the 2000s is back in action. Jean Todt got elected as the President of the FIA and Ross Brawn went about winning both the titles for his team on debut. So will Michael Schumacher too make his move?
Last week, it was reported that Ferrari have re-negotiated Schumi’s contract and that his role would be limited to the development of road cars and would cease from playing ‘consultant’ for the F1 operations. Was this the first sign of Schumi making his move?
Immediately after, the new born Mercedes GP master Norbert Haug publicly claimed that there would be a surprise in their line up for 2010 and that they are looking for strong German drivers. Is this a ‘big’ clue too?
Going back in history again, it is well known in the motorsport circles that Michael Schumacher was a Mercedes driver before his F1 days and that Mercedes even paid for his debut drive with Jordan in 1991. Now that Mercedes has an independent works team in F1, who better than their former protégé and now a 7 times World Champion to lead them forward?
With Ross Brawn at the helm of affairs – an 8 times F1 World Champion in his own right, not just Michael Schumacher but any driver on the current grid would eye a Merc GP seat. So will Michael Schumacher really move?
Scribes have reported that Schumi met with Ross and the Chairman of Diamler Chysler post the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and they were chalking out a one year return for Schumi post-which he would hand over the mantle to yet another German prodigy, Sebastian Vettel. Now if one were to connect the dots between the rumour and the signs that have been visible, Michael Schumacher might actually end up joining Merc GP in 2010.
Or is this just another attempt to gain some publicity for F1? Whatever be the case, if Schumi does move, it will be a big blow for Ferrari – who are already missing the services of Ross Brawn and might also end up missing the experience and talent of Schumacher. 2010 has only gotten more interesting and Merc GP has already become the team to beat.
(The author is a former racer and currently works with Sport18 - a div. of Network18. Kunal can be contacted at
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Asif Khan
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... I guess that Schumi should just keep shut, not sure what he will be able to do on the grid again, but once out of the sport he should keep his dignity and stay out of the sport! |
Kunal Shah
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... Well I do agree - but you know these champions always have that hunger in them. And currently on the grid I still don't see a Schumi beater in anyone except for Vettel. Lets see what becomes of it. :) Will be a spectacle to watch him in action again. |
Kunal Ghate
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... Seems like another of off track drama to me! But I do want to see him race again! |
Asif Khan
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... I will say its not hunger but greed :) They just can't let go of the fact that their time if gone, they are done! They should let go and move into another role. That's the problem with Champions, they are the last ones to realize that they are over. As for Vettel I believe he is slightly overrated, if he was that good, he had so many chances to win the Championship this year and he couldn't. He probably needs to mature a bit more, before he can become a champion. |
Kunal Ghate
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... Donno if Schumi is actually thinking of returning or Merc GP is just making the media go nuts over them. These ppl are all bloody hungry for the attention and publicity.... :P |
Kunal Shah
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... Honestly, I would put Champions in two different categories. One would be the achievers and the others the super achievers. Athletes like Schumi, Armstrong, Loeb, Rossi are fellows who can very much make a return to competitive sport and successfully. Yes, beyond a point they should move onto another role - but if the urge is a little too strong, there should be an attempt of a come back. Look at what Lance Armstrong did in TDF this year. As for Vettel, he's an extremely mature driver for his age. He took on every driver, including the super quick Mark Webber this entire season. That he couldn't challenge for the title this year was more down to Red Bull who abandoned their 09 campaign almost mid-way through the season. The only person in Red Bull who believed that they could win was Vettel - so much for team work. But eventually we'll see Merc and Ferrari fight to get Vettel in their cockpit and soon! |
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