The schumi train kicks up a gear

[Craig.]

LOL I said it as a bit of a joke a few days back that schumi might be in line for brawn/merc.
Now Eddie Jordan has opened up his rectum and the train has picked up speed with everyone now running the story.
So does it happen?
I am hesitant to say no after the Button to mclaren thing. But still I cant see it happening.

[The Ruptured Duck]

whoever gets that seat is likely going to be in a deadly fast machine.

[Craig.]

I'm still a little uncertain on that.
Mercedes seem hesitant to throw money at this team, and Brawn have been developing the car on a fairly tight budget this year. Cant ever count Brawn out, but they will have a tough fight on their hands.
Willi Webber has said talks have taken place, Brawn says Michael has no interest in starting a new career, Sabine says he is unlikely to be driving next year. This stinks of the whole Ferrari return of the summer.
Nick Heidfeld would be my money man right now. Maybe Robert Kubica if the Renault thing goes down the crapper.

[Craig.]

Well apparently it's pretty much a done deal all bar the medical tests (where has that been heard before. ) It's in the region of $7 million for one season at Mercedes.
I am still not getting my hopes up and wont until he is sat there in Bahrain ready to take the green flag, but its at least promising.

[expat]

Well apparently it's pretty much a done deal all bar the medical tests (where has that been heard before. ) It's in the region of $7 million for one season at Mercedes.
I am still not getting my hopes up and wont until he is sat there in Bahrain ready to take the green flag, but its at least promising.

The German papers were full of this yesterday. I was a bit to busy to post it. Personally I was hoping that he was staying in retirement. It was getting to be boring, win after win after year after year. F1 is more than Schumi

Matt

[Craig.]

I think this may be the best time for him to return.
F1 still doesn't have a major name. Revenue is down, attendance is poor, the sport is as much as they may hate to say it, needing Schumacher to return.
Just look at the spike in ticket sales and merchandise sales last year when he was supposed to return.
The simple fact is. Not Lewis, Not Massa, not Alonso or Kimi, have taken the sport by the testicles and said, I am your superstar. Yes its meant some close championships, but at the same time, I think the sport needs a big name for people to chase.
At the same time, I dont see Brawn or Schumacher having a car that will be 2004/2002 like and dominating the season. And now the Lewis fans will get their chance to see the two up against each other.

[C]

F1 still doesn't have a major name. Revenue is down, attendance is poor, the sport is as much as they may hate to say it, needing Schumacher to return.
Just look at the spike in ticket sales and merchandise sales last year when he was supposed to return.
The simple fact is. Not Lewis, Not Massa, not Alonso or Kimi, have taken the sport by the testicles and said, I am your superstar. Yes its meant some close championships, but at the same time, I think the sport needs a big name for people to chase.
At the same time, I dont see Brawn or Schumacher having a car that will be 2004/2002 like and dominating the season. And now the Lewis fans will get their chance to see the two up against each other.

Utter tosh IMHO Craig. Part of the reason F1 has struggle so much over the past few years is the fact that it was effectively a one horse race for the best part of a decade. F1 flourishes with competition, not one man winning 75% of everything. Of course it did encourage a couple of manufacturers that they could do a Ferrari - and look what's happened to them.

As for attendance. Simple. At the British GPs of the early 90s they'd easily top 100,000 every year because it didn't cost a week's pay (after tax ) for the average wage earner to buy a ticket - and you could take your kids for a fiver. Sadly Bernie's probably responsible for that. Even F1 doesn't justify a 10-20fold increase on a normal event ticket price.

And revenue's down everywhere. 

[Craig.]

Like I said, see the sudden rise in sales when he annouced his return last year. People were willing to pay the extra to see him.
I guarentee you a jump again if he returns. Like him or not the simple fact is, he is a money maker. Not just in his home country but the vast majority on the calender.
I cant think of another driver right now who'd bring in the numbers he will, maybe Hakkinen. but none of the current crop.
Lewis/Jenson will bring the numbers in in the uk.
Alonso, spain
And so on..
Just watch..

[C]

Just watch..

It'll be a good year to be an F1 carbon-fibre component maker!

Are we taking bets on how many attempted punts he'll make at people if he comes back?

[Craig.]

LOL we'll see, get practicing the excuses when he starts showing up Lewis and co.

[C]

LOL we'll see, get practicing the excuses when he starts showing up Lewis and co.

Not a hope.

[expat]

LOL we'll see, get practicing the excuses when he starts showing up Lewis and co.

You mean after the first three races with no wins.......oh, oh my neck hurts

Matt

[CD.]

Mansell 1995 anyone?

[expat]

If the German papers are to believed today it is a done deal :-?

Matt

[C]

Mansell 1995 anyone?

I think Schumi will still fit in a car.