Never Say Never Again

A few weeks ago I stated that the Michael Schumacher to Mercedes rumour was put out there as publicity for a team which had just lost their World Champion's services for the coming year but it seems I was wrong. Is this really about to happen?!

Thing is that back in October when Button sealed the title Ross Brawn stated that their new champ was 99% certain to drive for him next year. I think that he firmly believed this, what's more I think that Button also wanted to reach an agreement. Button could have stayed and partnered Nico Rosberg for 2010 (and made more money than he will at McLaren next year) but the problem was that Mercedes see the future in Sebastian Vettel (who doesn't) and so Jenson refused the single year Mercedes were offering in favour of 3 years at McLaren.

Rumours started to fly about who would fill the void left by Button with the press leaping on any driver out of a contract. Thus the Michael seed was sown, the smart money was still on Heidfeld though. Mercedes, aware that it may take up to half a season for Rosberg to reach the podium's top step wanted a proven winner to lead the team - but someone who won't mind moving over as soon as they can prize Vettel from Red Bull. Michael sees Vettel as his successor as Germany's motorsport hero (ok Rosberg is 'German' but its Vettel who has won 5 GPs already and sits alongside Schumi at the annual Race of Champions) so won't mind moving when the time's right.

hy would Michael want to race again? Quite simply, he retired before he wanted to. Kimi Raikkonen was singned to be a Ferrari driver in 2007 before Michael announced he was going so he had two choices; race against the (then motivated) Finn or quit while ahead.

He chose the latter but only after he won the Italian Grand Prix, this was significant because it was that race which brought him back into the title fight (Fernando Alonso's Renault had just blown up whilst running third - in fact winning the following race in China levelled the scores at 116 a piece making it a 2 race shoot out for the title). It wasn't to be. Fernando outscored Michael 16 - 5 in the final two races to retain his title. Schumi had all the momentum and still lost, 'Nando was hailed as the new king. Had the title gone the other way I don't think Michael would even be considering a comeback.

Don't get me wrong - it has been evident ever since leaving that Michael misses motorsport; he's tried his hand at bikes and still races karts but the lack of F1 testing has left him with a hole. He jumped at the chance of replacing Massa (where he could have raced for fun - without the pressures of a title fight) but his neck was too weak from a biking accident.

A single season, warming the seat for Vettel is therefore quite attractive. If the car is one of the best out there he can become the first 8 time champion, take his win tally to 100 (currently 91) and beat Fernando when Fernando is driving for the Ferrari team that HE built and made world beaters again. Not to mention the chance to race Lewis Hamilton - the two have never raced (lest we forget Hamilton beat Alonso). If the car is not one of the best then he can do what he was going to do last year; race for fun with nothing to prove.

The more I look at this the more likely it seems. There is clearly strong motivation from all sides. Drivers and pundits are becomming convinced (what have they heard?). At the weekend Germany's version of the Sun stated that a contract had been agreed. Yesterday Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo said that he would not stand in Michael's way if he wanted to race for a competitor and Nick 'poker face as good as a Cheshire Cat' Fry (Brawn GP CEO) has been all too vocal "the view from inside F1, not just my team, is that they all hope it will happen."

There are personal sponsors that would have to agree - lots of them link Scumi to Ferrari but they could move with him or equally switch support to Alonso; I don't see this as a problem. The final piece of the jigsaw is a medical check that will determine whether his neck is now fully healed.

All that remains is for the man himself to speak. Expect an announcement imminently (Renault are stating their future plans tomorrow so maybe Thursday?).

I think the GOAT (greatest of all time), statistically at least, is about to make a comeback...