Schumi Returns with Mercedes, to Finish Off His Career in the Most Logical Way

In the last few weeks, ever since the saga of Jenson Button's future has been resolved, one name was constantly circulated in the world of Formula, and that was the name of former 7 time world champion Michael Schumacher and his possible coming out of retirement. Earlier in the year, as we all know, Schumacher was bound to replace severely injured Massa behind the Ferrari, the team he once pledged to support forever, but then a neck injury was the maybe necessary brake for his return and gave him some time to reconsider his choices. Lately, the medias were coming up daily shocking and unbelievable stories about the possible contract between the German megastar and German based team, Mercedes Grand Prix, who took the charge from last year's double champions Brawn GP. And of course, as is usually the case with those stories in F1 in the last years, there was somewhat of a truth, because we knew from previous mega contracts of Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso that what is sometimes bound to be secret is actually the real truth. And as in other cases, the story progresses, with the main players coming up with comments one after the other - 2 weeks ago it was Bernie [Eccelstone] who had to repeat once more that Schumaher's return will be the best thing that has ever happened to F1 (or at least lately) and that it may as well be not just a rumor. Then, it is time for Ferrari's team boss Luca di Montezemolo to grant Shumi a formal, but predictable permission to drive for any other team, and it was Luca also days before the contract was signed who signaled that Michael had confessed to him that the move is imminent. Of course former stars, from NIkki Lauda, to Nigel Mansel and Jackie Stewart didn't miss the chance to comment on the rumor and give predictions about Schumi's possible form when he returns from total failure, to winner contender and maybe even fighting for the crown once again. In short, everybody had a say in the matter of Schumi's return, and it was something that excited the world of Formula 1 more than even the final of the season and the crowning of new world champion Jenson Button and his subsequent, almost immediate, move to McLaren. But at the end it was up to only one guy, and this was Michael Schumacher himself, and he choose to come back with a one year contract to try and win the title for Mercedes, the company that launched his career in F1 in the early 90s. So what will be the consequences of that, and is Schumi's return coming in a moment when Formula 1 overflows with young and super fast drivers the right move?

Schumi has lots of strive to drive again, as it was evident in the past 2 years, when he was continuously doing challenging stunts with motorcycles and carts. He was always trying to feel the thrill from Formula 1, but without any success it seems. That's why when he was given the chance to replace injured Massa by the Ferrai boss Luca Di Motezemolo, he jumped at the opportunity and started exercice right away. Not that he wasn't keeping a fantastic shape for the past few years since his exit from Formula 1, but the level of pressure in the sport is so big, and drivers are subjected to such high G-forces that as soon as someone extis, they would fall down in their shape. Later on, Di Montezemolo revealed that he actually had to plead with Michael to come back and help them because he was the only one who could do the job in those difficult time, which is not surprising having seen the subsequent performance of GIancarlo Fissicela who ended up taking Schumi's place. But Schumi didn't need any persuasion, even if he probably didn't respond positively the first time to Luca, deep down in him he knew that the return to Formula 1 was something bound to happen, maybe it was destiny. So when the announcement was made, it seemed that everything fell in place, and Schumi was bound all along to finish his career with Mercedes, the team who was his ticket into Formula 1, and who tried to contract him into then 50% owned McLaren Mercedes, on 3 occasions in 1995, 1998 and 2001, as Norbert Haug the revealed. A finish with Ferrari was no more spectacular and breathtaking, but as a German national, and as Mercedes being maybe the most famous German automobile brand worldwide, this reunion and a almost certain final farewell for Schumacher, is something that beats the class out of almost anything that has happened in Formula 1 in the latest years.

On the opposite end, however, there will be a multitude of drivers in Formula 1, who won't feel such sympathy towards such a return, and this is due to different factors. First, there will always be the drivers that at one point or another felted threatened by Michael's race ethics, and that included once loyal teammate Rubens Barrichelo who had to conceal a victory in favor of Schumi, and double world champion, and current Ferrari frontrunner, Fernando Alonso, who has fought a fierce and often scandalous battle with Michael in the two years that he won his world titles. Then, there will be all those new and very confident drivers who are capable of fighting for the championship, and who would likely feel an enormous pressure to fight not only between themselves, but also with the arguably best driver ever in Formula 1. Those drivers include Sebastien Fettel, Nico Rosberg and even Lewis Hamilton, who even though he says the season will be great, can't help but be put himself in a fierce battle position because he knows this challenge may be his greatest yet. And lastly, drivers like Nick Heidfeld and maybe even Heikki Kovalainen, who were displaced from their teams for one reason or another, and could have used very well the extra place in Mercedes because they deserve it, will feel nothing but animosity towards Schumcaher because of the latter's maybe inconsideration for their future.

So, to what point does a driver to Schumacher need to consider his return and is he responsible for other drivers not finding jobs when they have proven themselves they deserve a fast car? In the case of Kovalainen, it is arguably not directly Schumi's fault because officially he wasn't the reason for Button's signing with McLaren and Kovalainen's departure from there, but of course we all know that Schumi met with Brawn as far back as Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which proves that Ross Brawn was considering to hire the famous German in a future Mercedes team instead of taking a younger and proven fellow such as Heikki or Nick Heidfeld. Heidfeld is someone who must be really be angry at Schumacher's selfishness right now since he declined several offers because he was given an almost sure offer from Mercedes and now is without a job, while Heikki managed to find another team. As someone who has proven himself a leader in Formula 1, and an inspiration to younger drivers such as Felipe Massa, Schumacher must have considered this, because this may as well be Nick's last chance to make it big in Formula 1. While he himself have won everything there is to be won in F1, broken every record, finished first the most times out of any driver, and won the admiration of both the public and the fans. What more does he want, can't he satisfy his thirst for racing in NASCAR or the World Rally Series? Of course he can, but I think that the question of whether those series are better and most exciting than Formula 1 comes into play here, and the answer is undoubtedly NO. Only Formula 1 could have provided him with the necessary strive to be on top of his capabilities once again, and here is the tribune that will display in the best way his gladiator battle with the car once again.

So finally, maybe Schumacher did block some other progressive drivers from having a seat in the excellent Brawn/Mercedes car, but he may be the only person in Formula 1 who has all doors open, and who is allowed to do something like that just because of his past (and maybe) successes. So I have no doubt that his determination is big, and he will make it into the next season fighting at least for Grand Prix. Whether there will be a lot of stars cannot be said at the moment, but there are never enough stars when we are talking about the world's most famous motor sport. So even if his return and final farewell are not as glorious as his Ferrari career, Michael Schumacher will be there because he belongs there and he knows it is his destiny to finish the final flag of his career with Mercedes Grand Prix.