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November 27th, 2009

Schumacher won’t return to F1 - Lauda

Former world champion Niki Lauda does not believe Michael Schumacher will make a full-time return to Formula One with Mercedes next season.

Speculation has linked retired seven-time champion Schumacher with a return to the sport he once dominated following the German manufacturer’s takeover of reigning constructors’ champions Brawn GP earlier this month.

Reflecting on the rumours, Lauda told the official Formula One website, www.formula1.com: “I don’t believe that there is one single grain of truth in them, at least from all the signals that I get.”

Mercedes’ bosses in Stuttgart are thought to favour an all-German driver line-up for next season, following the departures of Rubens Barrichello to Williams and world champion Jenson Button to McLaren.

Nico Rosberg has been confirmed as one of Mercedes’ drivers for next season, and both Schumacher and fellow German Nick Heidfeld have been linked with the other seat.

Schumacher, who retired at the end of 2006, almost returned to the sport last season as understudy to the injured Felipe Massa but was forced to abandon his comeback due to a neck injury, but Lauda does not expect to see the 40-year-old on the grid in 2010.

Lauda added: “There was a window of opportunity after Felipe’s accident and had Michael been fit he would have taken up that chance to race for three or four races - to prove himself, get the adrenaline rush, and see where he stood in the pecking order.

“But I cannot believe that he would be up for a full season. Why then he did stop racing in the first place?”