Berlin: F1′s greatest driver and seven-times Formula One champion Michael Schumacher has come out of retirement and agreed a one-year deal to drive for Mercedes in the 2010 Formula One season, Bild newspaper reported on Tuesday.
The newspaper said the 40-year-old German, who won his titles with Benetton(two titles) and Ferrari(five titles), was supported by Mercedes in the early part of his career and retired at the end of 2006.He signed the deal at the team’s offices in Brackley, England, after a month of talks, putting an end to weeks of speculation.
“I feel ready for some serious stuff.” “Three years of absence gave back all the energy that I’m feeling right now,” Schumacher said in a telephone conference. It’s thrilling and exciting,” he said. “I believe I can be absolutely competitive.” Schumacher, who will partner Nico Rosberg in an all-German team for the 2010 season, said he and Mercedes are in discussions about a deal through the 2012 season.
“We are talking about a three-year deal. It’s not a one-off thing,” said the former Ferrari ace of a contract that had been expected to be for just one year. “We are looking for continuation.” Financial terms were not disclosed, but Germany’s Bild daily – which first broke news of the deal — reported that Schumacher would earn $10 million under an initial one-year contract.
Schumacher won the F1 driver’s championship in 1994 and 1995 and five straight years from 2000-2004. Schumacher competed in 249 F1 races from 1991-2006 with Jordan, Benetton and Ferrari. His records of 91 race wins and several other milestones in the sport still stand.
Moving to Mercedes would reunite Schumacher with team principal Ross Brawn, who was part of each of Schumacher’s record seven titles and 91 race wins. “I am happy to be able to give something back that Mercedes gave in the early days,” Schumacher said.
“Our aim can only be to fight for the championship,” Schumacher said.
“What do you expect? I have won it (the title) seven times; I’m now with the team that won both titles last year, we have on top Mercedes as a partner and team owner,” he told the British Broadcasting Corp. “So you cannot expect anything else than to go for the world championship, and that’s what we’re aiming for.” Schumacher had planned a short-term comeback with Ferrari last season to fill in for the injured Felipe Massa, but he had to call that off due to a neck injury from a motorcycle accident.
Source:[Arabnews,Ibnlive,AlJazeera]