Michael Schumacher is back in Mercedes GP

Michael Schumacher and Mika Häkkinen

I never thought I would become a Mercedes fan. Ever since I started watching Formula 1, I am a solid Ferrari and Michael Schumacher fan. That was way back 1996 when Schumacher moved to Ferrari from Benetton and became a champion for 5 consecutive years (2001 to 2005).

Today, Michael Schumacher is back in the drivers seat but driving Ferrari’s number one competitor through the years. Michael will be driving the Mercedes GP team (formerly Brawn GP) for the next three years after Mercedes GP confirmed their second driver for 2010 season.

Michael has been linked to Mercedes GP after it bought Brawn GP on November. He finally concluded to drive for them after a little persuasion from Ferrari’s former technical director Ross Brawn which is a close friend at the same time.

“The motivation I think is pretty straightforward,” Schumacher said. “The call I got from Ross at the end of November concerning the chance to go racing, Mercedes being involved, I felt great.”

“I never left the race track. I was tired of F1 by the end of 2006, but in three years of absence I got back all the energy that I am feeling right now. I played around with motorbikes and I feel ready for some serious stuff now.”

Schumacher retired from F1 at the end of 2006 season which his best season without winning the drivers championship. He made a great comeback to challenge Fernando Alonso for the title but had a bad engine failure in Suzuka to end his title hope. Nevertheless Michael Schumacher drove like a mad man in Brazil, the last race of 2006 season and showed everyone why he is the only 7-time world champion.

There was a speculation that he was forced into retirement to make way for Kimi Raikkonen joining the Ferrari squad. The rumour was, Michael wants to stick with Felipe Massa as his team mate for the 2007 season and informed Luca Di Montezemolo about it. It looks like Luca has made up his mind with Kimi and wants Kimi to drive for Ferrari by hook or by cook giving up Schumacher and forcing him to retire in the process. I think this was the reason why Michael was so emotional on his post race conference after winning the Monza GP and announcing his retirement.

The past three years, Michael kept himself busy by playing an ambassadorial role with Ferrari, and his on-track activities revolved around outings in a kart and a move to motorcycle racing.

Schumacher almost made a come back a few months ago to stand in for the injured Felipe Massa. Unfortunately, Michael’s neck injury from his motorcycle crash wasn’t healed yet and wasn’t given a go signal by his doctors.

“It is obviously a topic that I understand is questioned, and I want to understand,” Schumacher said when asked about his neck. “Before I gave a final okay I made sure that I was sure myself, and I can say 100 per cent the neck is no further issue”.

“Unfortunately it was too close to the accident in the summer when I tried for Ferrari, but the time now is enough to have healed completely. I can do everything I used to do, and no problem.”

Schumacher became the favorite to replace Jenson Button when Brawn GP failed to make a deal with Jenson.

Michael Schumacher’s move to Mercedes GP marks a reunion between himself and the German car maker that helped push him into F1. He raced for Mercedes-Benz as part of its junior driver program, competing in world sportscar events during 1990 and 1991.

Now I can say, I am a Mercedes fan. How about you?