From GMM and Crash.net
Speculation that Michael Schumacher is planning a full return to formula one is continuing to build.
So far the rumours are being played down by the 40-year-old's spokeswoman Sabine Kehm, who nonetheless conceded that it would be wise to 'never say never', and officials for Brackley based Mercedes GP and its parent Mercedes-Benz/Daimler.
But British television pundit Eddie Jordan, who gave the German his formula one debut more than 18 years ago, is commenting with apparent authority that a deal for 2010 is very possible.
He revealed that Schumacher, who recently signed a new Ferrari consultancy contract through 2012, met with Ross Brawn and Daimler chairman Dieter Zetsche in Abu Dhabi three weeks ago.
"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," Jordan is quoted as saying by the BBC.
“The possibility is being actively pursued and I believe it is going to happen,” he added.
Mercedes is understood to be eager to secure Schumacher's services on a one-year deal only, prior to prising young hot-shot Sebastian Vettel away from Red Bull Racing for 2011, when there will still be a season left to run on the 22-year-old's current contract.
The move would make sense in that Schumacher and Brawn collaborated together extremely successfully both at Benetton and Ferrari with the Englishman helping to engineer the driver to all seven of his drivers' world crowns.
Speculation that Michael Schumacher is planning a full return to formula one is continuing to build.
So far the rumours are being played down by the 40-year-old's spokeswoman Sabine Kehm, who nonetheless conceded that it would be wise to 'never say never', and officials for Brackley based Mercedes GP and its parent Mercedes-Benz/Daimler.
But British television pundit Eddie Jordan, who gave the German his formula one debut more than 18 years ago, is commenting with apparent authority that a deal for 2010 is very possible.
He revealed that Schumacher, who recently signed a new Ferrari consultancy contract through 2012, met with Ross Brawn and Daimler chairman Dieter Zetsche in Abu Dhabi three weeks ago.
"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," Jordan is quoted as saying by the BBC.
“The possibility is being actively pursued and I believe it is going to happen,” he added.
Mercedes is understood to be eager to secure Schumacher's services on a one-year deal only, prior to prising young hot-shot Sebastian Vettel away from Red Bull Racing for 2011, when there will still be a season left to run on the 22-year-old's current contract.
The move would make sense in that Schumacher and Brawn collaborated together extremely successfully both at Benetton and Ferrari with the Englishman helping to engineer the driver to all seven of his drivers' world crowns.