http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2009/07/29/official-schumacher-returns-to-replace...

Quote:

I'm only posting this so that I can beat Craig when it comes to posting new Ferrari news.

I think my head has just exploded.
Well done TSC you've just made my day as I was busy playing monkey Island.

What a waste of a seat.

Nigel Mansell, 1995 anyone?

Nigel 1994
If schumi came away with a win at some point I'd be happy.
All I want to see is him bringing the car home for decent points. Secure third in the championship for Ferrari and give Kimi a good run. this is the chance everyone has been wanting to see. Kimi Vs Schumi in the same car. I'm not expecting anything from Valencia. Once we get to spa however. Thats where the serious business comes in to play.

romain grosjean.

This is shaping up to be an amazing season. I can't wait to see Schui up against the new crop of drivers. 

Gary Paffett deserves a chance to at least try for a seat. As does Ms Legge. I think the new teams could be an opportunity. Pedro DLR is apparently lined up for a drive somewhere next year. I still think if BMW aren't bought out and kept on the grid it will make the driver market very difficult for a lot of guys.
Renault could use a guy like Heidfeld. Technically gifted, consistant and will bring the car home. Could win given the right car. He's a good option to replace Alonso, if not as quick he is at the very least as good from a technical stand point. Brawn could use a guy like Kubica. He'd push Jenson and when needed could win a race if Button isn't able to.

when you look at the drivers looking at seats next year:
Kubica
Heidfeld
Piquet Jr
Senna
Hulkenberg
Davidson
Sato
Any more? lol its safe to say several big names could be left upset.

Hulkenberg is hit and miss. When things go right for him, he's a very quick driver. But its when things go wrong or not well, he doesn't seem to be able to drive for the points. Can remember several incidents in both A1 and Gp2 where he's been a little to opitmistic and ended up running himself out of a race.
Senna needs to be patient, his time will come and he'll be quick out the box when it does.
I thought PDLR was campos but wasn't sure so thanks for clearing it up
Frank isn't afraid to try a rookie because he hates paying too much for a driver. Look at Hill/Mansell/Montoya and soon to be rosberg no doubt.
I thought I'd read toyota was set next year to keep its current line-up. I know Trulli is in contract talks to stay and Glock has a multi year deal in place.

When aren't Toyota dissapointing?
They have the exact same problem as Honda did. Too many people back in Japan with no clue about F1 telling a bunch of yes men on the pit wall how they want things to go, while the people that know what is needed are ignored.
Too many cooks and all that.
BMW are the team I dont understand. Mclaren, Ferrari and Renault have all made big steps forward, BMW seem to be going backwards. Yet they have a strong technical team, and in theory a decent trackside group.
I know they put a lot of time into KERS, but so did the 3 teams above.

Funny but FOTA said had torro rosso asked, they would have been granted a test. The differance with Schumi was, he's never driven the F60, where as Jamie has driven this years torro rosso and also has been in competitive competition constantly. Schumi's done a couple of kart races.
However me thinks there is a little bitterness towards being booted from Fota involved.
Michael cant provide a serious testing return from a few hours of driving the car.
However personally I think it makes it all the more fun come friday practice 1 to see the looks on their faces when he comes in the top half of the table.
There was no harm in asking. You dont ask you dont get.
It just means he's back in the F2007 and getting in the simulator.
I doubt he's too bothered. FP1 will be based around learning the car, FP2 will be based around learning how to set the car up (maybe to the point that the last 20 minutes can be used for serious race or qualy prep) Then over night into FP3 will be spent getting ready for either qualy or the race. I would imagine more focus will go into the qualifying area. Michaels race pace is well known to be metronomic and perhaps unmatched, but these days its quali where races are won it seems.
Valencia to me has to be considered a test session. Results are not essential, Spa the week after is where he needs to be ready for. It's where he stands the best chance to win. And if Felipe is really healing like superman, then you have to expect him back in the car for Monza.
For me the biggest issue will be the team.
I might be wrong, but this will be the first time he's had to drive a race with no Jean Todt or Ross Brawn in his ear. I know he went without Brawn for his first couple of years at ferrari, but then he had todt. His race engineer will be new as well, Chris Dyer now being the main man on the pitwall and also Kimi's engineer. I dont recall Michael ever working with Smedley, and the "felipe baby" approach wont work with Michael.

straight line/fairly high speed turn round.

Have you heard how much he's reportedly being paid? $3 million a race. I might be wrong but over a season of races that would make him highest paid driver on the grid. Kimi currently highest at $51 million. or $2.8 million a race.

expat wrote on Aug 5^th, 2009 at 9:42am:

Apparently it was, but an unnamed team turned the request down. Williams again rumors say.