It finally happened, He is coming back:
Schumacher agrees to drive for Mercedes - USATODAY.com
Schumacher agrees to drive for Mercedes
Posted 1h 46m ago | Comment | Recommend E-mail | Save | Print |
FRANKFURT (AP) — Formula One great Michael Schumacher reportedly agreed to come out of retirement to drive for Mercedes in 2010.
German newspaper Bild said on Wednesday the seven-time champion, who retired in 2006, signed a one-year contract at the team's offices in Brackley, England, on Tuesday. Schumacher will reportedly earn euro7 million ($10 million).
Schumacher, who won five championships for Ferrari, has been heavily linked with a move to the former Brawn GP team, which won last year's drivers' and constructors' titles.
Schumacher would join Nico Rosberg to form an all-German lineup after 2009 champion Jenson Button left for McLaren and Rubens Barrichello joined Williams.
The 40-year-old Schumacher attempted a temporary comeback in August to replace injured Ferrari driver Felipe Massa but a serious neck injury sustained in a motorcycle accident kept him from driving then.
Schumacher, who won his two earliest world titles at Benetton, will also be reunited with team principal Ross Brawn, who was part of each of Schumacher's championships.
Schumacher is F1's most successful driver with 91 race wins in a 16-year career. He had been working as an adviser to Ferrari since his retirement, although the Italians said he was free to return.
The news will spark major interest in motor racing's premier series with 2008 champion Lewis Hamilton ready to measure himself against Schumacher, who will face familiar foe Fernando Alonso in his old Ferrari car.
"It's a human interest story of someone who is 40 years old coming back to race ... it would be amazing," Mercedes chief executive told the Associated Press last week. "Can someone (win the championship) at that age? Absolutely.