Brawnista - 19 November 2009 12:08 AM

Has this ever happened before ? A WDC/WCC winning team ending up with neither of its drivers in the following yr ?

Benetton in 95.

If any of this is true...is it possible that Ferrari's requesting a third car for MS a plan to stop just this scenario and keep him at Ferrari, rather then competing against it?

I've never been much of a conspiracy theorist, but I never really understood Ferrari's desire to run a third car, when presumably they couldnt get any points with it. Or course, this would all assume that Ferrari had got wind of MB's plans to buy Brawn earlier in the season.

Brawnista - 19 November 2009 12:08 AM

Has this ever happened before ? A WDC/WCC winning team ending up with neither of its drivers in the following yr ?

Williams 1992 won both championships with Mansell / Patrese and went into 1993 with Hill and Prost. Also Benetton won both with Schu / Herbert in 1995 and started 1996 with Alesi and Berger.

I bet you Brawn wishes he kept Rubens around right now and Rubens is probably kicking himself as well.

I'll ask Michael today if I get a chance. He's racing a kart here in Vegas. Maybe getting in shape for his comeback? ...

In all honestly I doubt it, but who knows?

Who's got two thumbs and is jealous he can't go to Vegas and watch the karting? This guy......

Eddie Jordan believe Schumi will race for Mercedes next year:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8368107.stm

If Michael Schumacher goes back to Formula One, which I seriously doubt, it will be for one of three reaosns:

National Pride -- racing with a Mercedes branded team.

The Love Of The Sport -- He misses it so much he can't stay away.

He's An Idiot -- 'Nuff said. Schumacher's a sharp fellow, but even he can be swayed by a seductive sales pitch.

Beyond that, he really has no reason to go back to Formula One. He's set or broken just about every record in the sport, he's won at every track he's raced on at least once and between his Ferrari contracts and endorsement deals, he's richer than God. Or at least some small countries. Now days, his racing on bikes and karts is purely for the fun of it. Mind you, his wife may have "other ideas" that would make him think twice...

"At the moment, it is not possible for Michael to drive for Mercedes because he has a consultancy contract with Ferrari.

"But I understand he was due to meet Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo with a view to him being released - and that it will be approved because it is in the interests of F1.
"I believe that is being planned at the moment.

IF this is true Luca will not be happy but I don't see how he could refuse to let him go.

According to James Allen it WON'T happen:

Mercedes boss Norbert Haug has hinted optimistically that there could be surprises in the driver line up, which has got people thinking that he might mean Michael Schumacher, but Brawn has squashed that one today, “When I last spoke with Michael. I did not get the impression that he wants to make a long-term comeback,” said Brawn. Schumacher is contracted to Ferrari and it is staying that way.

http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/

"Schu to drive for Merc"---Eddie Jordan is sure about it.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8368107.stm