I hasten to celebrate the news too much. I jumped at the story a few months ago that he was going to return to Ferrari to replace the injured Massa only for him to pull out at the last minute. I was gutted thinking the chance had past to see one of my sporting hero’s competing again and regretted celebrating the move so much in the first place. So now that the rumors have broken that Schumacher has signed with Mercedes I do not want to jump around with joy too much that I will indeed get to see one of my sporting hero’s compete again until it is made official.

Schumacher joined Ferrari in 1996 and helped transform the struggling iconic team. By 2000 he was drivers champion again and they were constructers champion and it started a spell of dominance unmatched in the history of the sport. He won title after title until 2004 but remained competitive all the way until his retirement at the end of 2006. He remained with Ferrari in retirement in some form of consultancy capacity and so it will be a huge blow to the Ferrari brand to lose their most iconic driver of all time to a big car rival. Bad enough losing him to a private team but to a fellow constructor…

Schumacher started his racing career with Mercedes so this will see him come full circle in his driving career and also see him reunite with Ross Brawn, the mastermind behind his F1 titles with Ferrari. Brawn took on the Honda team when they pulled out at the end of 2008 and guided the rookie team to an incredible drivers and constructers championship. It was one of the great fairy tale stories of the year but left many fans wondering if they could continue the impressive results into 2010, especially considering they tailed off quite a bit towards the end of 2009. But Schumacher is probably the most intelligent driver in the history of the sport, as well as one of its greatest, and will not sign up with a team unless he feels it gives him a chance to be competitive. I know he’ll get a huge pay pack, but he doesn’t need the money and is doing this for as a hobby, so challenging for wins will be important.

Following the 2009 season Mercedes left McLaren (though they will continue to supply engines) and bought over the Brawn team, renaming it, though the key personnel have remained. Adding Schumacher will sell tickets, add to the TV audience, be a huge marketing coup for Mercedes but also give them a legitimate competitor following the loss of Jenson Button, their World Championship driver, to McLaren.

If the news breaks officially I’ll write something and begin my dance and thank Formula One for such a fantastic Christmas present, but until then, I’m trying to contain my emotions. Roll on 2010.

Read more about: F1 Rumors, Ferrari, Mercedes GP, Michael Schumacher, Ross Brawn, Sporting Comeback | ALL SUBJECTS |

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