Mercedes is reportedly proposing to pay Michael Schumacher 7 million euros if he agrees to return to F1 as Nico Rosberg's teammate in 2010.

Bild newspaper said the offer, which is the same one offered to Jenson Button prior to the new world champion's switch to McLaren, will be made by the German marque's competition boss Norbert Haug.

Schumacher, 40, made much more money at Ferrari until 2006, and still makes 5m a year as an advisor to the Italian team, but Bild said Mercedes cannot afford to offer the German any more.

Niki Lauda told the newspaper he is certain "money will not play a role" in Schumacher's decision about whether to re-launch his 16-year F1 career.

Mercedes team chief executive Nick Fry said at the Motor Sport Business Forum in Monaco on Thursday that an announcement about Rosberg's teammate is not likely before Christmas.

"We might say something before Christmas, but it's more likely to be the beginning of January," he is quoted as saying by the Times.



Source: GMM

 

Maybe I'm wrong, but 7M doesn't actually sounds like enough for a person like Schumacher?

 

Personally, I think Schumie would be foolish to come back to F1. While it'd be fun to watch him race, his career could go one of two ways. Either it'd be like when Michael Jordan came out of retirement to play for the Wizards (fail) or when Brett Favre went to play for the Vikings (win).

Schumie just seems a bit long in the tooth to be mixing it up with guys half his age, although it seemed to work out just fine for Rubens Barrichello.

 

He still gets about $5mm salary from Ferrari as an adviser. He made $20+ a year as a driver for Ferrari with total earnings around $80mm annually.

 

I'd like to see Schumi drive again. screw the money I say, try it for a year to see if he has any juice left in the tank.

 

they are idiots to disclose the price tag this early on. If he comes back it won't be because of the money

 

lol

another rumor which will turn out as BS

as already mentioned ,

7 mil is a joke for Schumi and if he would ever decide to return to the F1 it would definitely not be because of the money...

 

He doesn't need the money as ECB pointed out... and FWIW, he still wins kart races against all the current guys, the up-and-comers, etc. He is still one of the best in the world - don't be fooled.

 

 

I would like to see it for no other reason than to shut down the new talent. Juice left in the tank? Even at 40, he would tear apart 99.99% of the guys racing now IMO.