Speculations and rumours about seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher joining the new Mercedes Grand Prix Formula 1 team in 2010 have intensified when “Schumi’s” agent Willi Weber said that there were in fact “some kind of talks” going between the former Brawn GP team and the German retired driver.
But few people are aware that Schumacher early career was immensely facilitated by Mercedes-Benz.
Schumacher was racing in the German Formula 3 Championship when Mercedes-Benz - seeking the next generation of German Grand Prix drivers – included him to their “Mercedes-Benz Junior Team”.
The German car manufacturer seized upon a trio of promising young drivers: Karl Wendlinger, Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Michael Schumacher.
Mercedes-Benz support gave the three drivers the chance to gain huge testing experience in very powerful endurance cars, boasting some 900 horsepower. The three drivers were rotated between the Sauber-designed, Mercedes V-8 turbocharged cars in 1990, entering selected races.
During that season, the young Schumacher was paired with Jochen Mass, the German veteran of 104 Grands Prix. Schumacher said his time at Mercedes taught him how to look after his tires and think strategically about his fuel load during a race.
Will we see Michael Schumacher and Mercedes-Benz reunited in 2010?
Facing the media, Mercedes-Benz' Norbert Haug and team chief executive Nick Fry stirred the speculation by refusing to issue clear denials.
Asked to categorically rule out Schumacher, Fry said: "When will you ever say categorically anything in F1?"
Fry, who said he wants the identity of Rosberg's teammate to be known by Christmas, added: "We are here today to talk about Nico Rosberg and we should stick with that subject."
photo:WRI2
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But few people are aware that Schumacher early career was immensely facilitated by Mercedes-Benz.
Schumacher was racing in the German Formula 3 Championship when Mercedes-Benz - seeking the next generation of German Grand Prix drivers – included him to their “Mercedes-Benz Junior Team”.
The German car manufacturer seized upon a trio of promising young drivers: Karl Wendlinger, Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Michael Schumacher.
Mercedes-Benz support gave the three drivers the chance to gain huge testing experience in very powerful endurance cars, boasting some 900 horsepower. The three drivers were rotated between the Sauber-designed, Mercedes V-8 turbocharged cars in 1990, entering selected races.
During that season, the young Schumacher was paired with Jochen Mass, the German veteran of 104 Grands Prix. Schumacher said his time at Mercedes taught him how to look after his tires and think strategically about his fuel load during a race.
Will we see Michael Schumacher and Mercedes-Benz reunited in 2010?
Facing the media, Mercedes-Benz' Norbert Haug and team chief executive Nick Fry stirred the speculation by refusing to issue clear denials.
Asked to categorically rule out Schumacher, Fry said: "When will you ever say categorically anything in F1?"
Fry, who said he wants the identity of Rosberg's teammate to be known by Christmas, added: "We are here today to talk about Nico Rosberg and we should stick with that subject."
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photo:WRI2