Rosberg Announced As Mercedes Driver

Nico Rosberg was unveiled this morning as Mercedes Benz GP’s first new driver for the 2010 season.

The highly rated German youngster left Williams after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and was connected with the team before Brawn sold out to Mercedes.  When this happened, it became almost 100% certain that Rosberg would join Benz as the manufacturer looked to German drivers.

“I am really happy to be a part of the Silver Arrows re-launch in 2010 as a driver for Mercedes,” said Rosberg.

“No other brand in Formula 1 can look back on such a long and successful tradition in motor racing. I am very proud that I will now drive for the new Mercedes team and work with Ross Brawn.

“I am more motivated than ever and can hardly wait to start testing with the new Silver Arrow and for the first race of the new season at Bahrain in March.”

Speculation is mounting as to who his team mate will be.  With internet (and Eddie Jordan’s) finger pointing at Michael Schumacher, lets not forget Nick Heidfeld the “maybe” man has been linked with the drive, could this re-spark his career?

Photo from BrawnGP

BREAKING NEWS: Michael Schumacher To Mercedes Benz?!

Eddie Jordan, former team owner and BBC Sport pundit has said Michael Schumacher is going to Mercedes Benz for the 2010 season.

The outspoke Irishman says that meetings are in progress as I write these words to release Schumacher, 41, from his contract with Ferrari.

The most successful driver of all time to make a massive return to the sport with the new team for 2010 and be reuinted with his former top technical man Ross Brawn.

It is unknown how much Mercedes will pay Schumacher, but it could be around £50million-£100million.

“It started with a meeting between Michael, Ross Brawn and Daimler chief executive officer Dieter Zetsche at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

“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.

“I also believe Ross and Michael have spoken in recent times and that Michael likes the idea of driving a Mercedes run by Ross. It’s a mouth-watering idea.

“Schumacher was bitterly disappointed he didn’t get to come back to replace Massa – he’s keen to race again. And this is a dream for both parties.

“Michael and Mercedes have go way back – he drove for their sportscar team before he raced in F1, and they were responsible for getting him in to F1. They paid the then Jordan team to give him his debut in 1991.

“He has won all these titles but never driven in F1 for Mercedes.”

the idea is that Schumacher will drive for 2010 before Sebastian Vettel is brought in for 2011.

I can’t believe Schumacher is coming back, and I am down right sad that he must have lied about his injuries and the fact he would never drive again back before Valencia after Massa’s accident.  If Schumi showed loyalty to his team then he wouldn’t even be considering this.  To Ferrari and to Ferrari fans he is a God, but not coming back on minute and then accpeting a massive salary to drive a whole season the next looks a bit dodgy.

As of the moment it is 100% unconfirmed.

Germany Win Race of Champions With Schumacher and Vettel

Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel have won Germany their third straight Race Of Champions Nations Cup victory this afternoon.

The annual race-off between the best drivers of nations of the world was held in the Beijing Bird’s Nest stadium, which hosted the 2008 Summer Olympic Games.

Germany raced against Great Britain in the final, with Schumacher beating Jenson Button in round 1, before Andy Priaulx beat Vettel in round 2.  The final race off between Schumacher and Priaulx led to Michael, the most successful F1 driver of all time, winning by over one second.

It means Germany are now the most successful country ever in the Race of Champions.

The home crowd had a good cheer for Ho-Pin Tung when he delivered a remarkable win over Mikko Hirvonen in the buggies.

Massa On Road To Recovery – Fisichella To Ferrari??

Felipe Massa visited a top doctor in Miami, Florida yesterday afternoon for a prognosis of his condition and recovery time, and the results were good.

The doctor suggested following plastic and skull surgery, Massa should be 100% to return to the cockpit in 2010.

“Obviously, the results of examination has been warmly welcomed in Maranello, in the sense that the team can count on Felipe 100% for the start of next season,” said a Ferrari statement.

Meanwhile Massa told Autosport “I’m very happy with the outcome of the tests.  After the small operation I’ll undergo in the next few days, I’ll finally be able to start doing gym exercise to get back in shape a bit and, after that, I’ll be able to start doing some testing on karts.  On track with an F1 car? Let’s go one step at a time: now I’m focused only on starting over with physical activity, which is already a nice step forward.”

The rumour mill now starts the search for a permanent end-of-season replacement for Massa, with Luca Badoer being unlikely to continue after 2 shocking races.  Giancarlo Fisichella looks favourite at the moment, especially with Vitantonio Liuzzi suggesting to Italian media he will be racing in Italy.  Unless of course he means Ferrari not Force India.   Robert Kubica is a name that has been banded around La Gazetta and the like but is totally unconfirmed right now.

Ferrari Consider Replacing Badoer After Spa

Scuderia Ferrari’s racing director Stefano Domenicali has suggested that Luca Badoer could be replaced after the Belgian Grand Prix next weekend.

Badoer, 38, is standing in for the injured Felipe Massa.  He has been a test driver for many years, and previous to today his last competitive Grand Prix was the 1999 Japanese Grand Prix.  Badoer has underperformed all weekend and finished  alowly 17th today.

Ferrari cannot afford to finish in that position, nor can they afford the consistent fines and penalties Badoer was recieving.  When Badoer crossed the white pitlane line on the track and got a pitlane penalty, Michael Schumacher shook his head slightly and everyone’s hearts dropped.  Badoer said this weekend was a wake-up-call, but he must improve massively in Belgium.

“What I said exactly, to be precise, is that for us the first priority is to understand when Felipe Massa will come back,” Domenicali told reporters after the race.

“For sure it is an important race for Luca Badoer next weekend. We are expecting a big jump from him and then we will see.”

“As I have said before, Ferrari cannot be satisfied with a car in last position,” he continued.

“That is pretty clear, but we need to consider all the circumstances and everything that has happened. I think if you look behind it, for sure it was a difficult weekend for him.

“In terms of race pace, if you look to compare to the other young drivers, you can make your opinion.

“He did a great start and then he was touched from behind so he lost a place, and then in terms of rhythm – everyone was worried this morning about his health, worried about that it was not possible for him to get to the finish and that he would have to go to the hospital. But he was very good.”

European GP 2009: Barrichello Fastest In FP1

Rubens Barrichello was the fastest man in the first practice session at the Valencia street-circuit this morning.

He was ahead of the usual top suspects of team mate Jenson Button and the McLaren’s.  Adrian Sutil made a good effort into 6th for Force India.

New boys Romain Grosjean and Luca Badoer did not fare to well, Grosjean was 17th and Badoer was a lowly 20th some 3 seconds off the pace of the leader.

Pos Driver        Team                      Time             Laps
 1. Barrichello   Brawn GP-Mercedes    (B)  1:42.460           19
 2. Kovalainen    McLaren-Mercedes     (B)  1:42.636  +0.176   16
 3. Hamilton      McLaren-Mercedes     (B)  1:42.654  +0.194   18
 4. Button        Brawn GP-Mercedes    (B)  1:43.074  +0.614   19
 5. Vettel        Red Bull-Renault     (B)  1:43.088  +0.628   17
 6. Sutil         Force India-Mercedes (B)  1:43.209  +0.749   13
 7. Nakajima      Williams-Toyota      (B)  1:43.225  +0.765   25
 8. Webber        Red Bull-Renault     (B)  1:43.243  +0.783   19
 9. Alonso        Renault              (B)  1:43.345  +0.885   18
10. Raikkonen     Ferrari              (B)  1:43.384  +0.924   23
11. Buemi         Toro Rosso-Ferrari   (B)  1:43.389  +0.929   30
12. Kubica        BMW Sauber           (B)  1:43.419  +0.959   20
13. Alguersuari   Toro Rosso-Ferrari   (B)  1:43.637  +1.177   30
14. Rosberg       Williams-Toyota      (B)  1:43.746  +1.286   22
15. Heidfeld      BMW Sauber           (B)  1:44.040  +1.580   23
16. Fisichella    Force India-Mercedes (B)  1:44.126  +1.666   17
17. Grosjean      Renault              (B)  1:44.356  +1.896   23
18. Trulli        Toyota               (B)  1:44.638  +2.178   26
19. Glock         Toyota               (B)  1:44.732  +2.272   28
20. Badoer        Ferrari              (B)  1:45.840  +3.380   25

Rossi Denies He Will Replace Injured Massa For End Of ‘09

Valentino Rossi has denided rumours circulating in Italian presses that he will fill in for the injured Felipe Massa at one of the remaining Formula One races in 2009.

Massa was injured in a horror shunt in Hungary, and looks set to miss the final races of the 2009 season, one which has been relatively disappointing for both Massa and Scuderia Ferrari.

Michael Schumacher was set to replace Massa but has pulled out with fitness problems.  Ferrari turned to Luca Badoer just one week ahead of the new GP in Valencia.

Rossi has often flirted with the idea of racing for Ferrari, and has tested on two occassions but once again denied he has been approached stating meerly that he could not with Yamaha commitments, and how much of a shame it was that Schumacher would not be racing now.

“It is a true shame not to see Schumacher back with Ferrari,” the Italian rider said in the Czech Republic, ahead of this weekend’s round of the MotoGP series.

“In my opinion he could have been in the fight for victory by his second race.”

“I have spoken a lot with Stefano Domenicali in these last days about the return of Schumi,” he is quoted as saying by Italy’s Tuttosport, “but I have not received an offer.

“Anyway, I cannot go: I can’t race motorbikes and F1 at the same time,” Rossi added.

Schu and Barrichello Happy With Massa Progress

Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello have both declared that they are happy with the progress that Felipe Massa is making in his recovery from that horrific accident in qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Schumacher spoke of Massa’s slow, but successful recovery in a press conference, haistly called in Geneva yesterday after Schumacher, 40, decided not to return to Formula One afterall.  He had been conscripted back into Ferrari after Massa’s crash, but has been unable to get fit in time.

“At the time I gave him [Massa] my cockpit I was tired and I wanted him to take over. The good thing is to see that his recovery is going well, he’s very motivated – he’s working not very hard because he’s not allowed to – but it’s good to see his progress and I’m very happy about that.” Schumacher said

Rubens Barrichello of Brawn GP too has spoken of how Massa is recovering after seeing the Brazilian at home.  On his official Twitter feed, Barrichello wrote two posts;

“I spend the afternoon with Felipe…he is fine and exactly the same person as before..thank God.”

“On Felipe’s come back we need to be patient…he has to be 100% before driving again,”

Luca Badoer Will Now Take Ferrari Seat

Ferrari’s long term Italian test driver Luca Badoer will now take the seat at Ferrari vacated from Michael Schumacher who was brought in to deputise for Felipe Massa.

Schumacher pulled out of the drive this morning complaining of neck problems.

So it is now up to Badoer to sort things out.  Luca has been a test driver with Ferrari since 1998, and last raced a competitive Grand Prix in 1999 with Minardi.  His drive with Ferrari means he will only ever have raced with Italian teams.

At 38 he will too be the oldest driver.  And after some 48 Grand Prixs he has NEVER scored a single championship point, making him a record holder of being the longest number of GP’s raced to no point scored ratio.

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo said: “I am very unhappy that a problem means that Michael [Schumacher] cannot return to racing.

“In the past few days, I could appreciate his great efforts and extraordinary motivation which had spread through the team and fans around the world. No doubt his return would have been good for Formula 1 and I am sure it would have seen him fighting for wins again.

“In the name of Ferrari and all the fans, I wish to thank him for the strong attachment he displayed for the team in these circumstances.

“In agreement with Stefano Domenicali, we have therefore decided to give Luca Badoer the chance to race for the Scuderia after he has put in so many years of hard work as a test driver.”

Luca Badoer testing back in 2008

Michael Schumacher Cancels F1 Comeback

Michael Schumacher has made the unprecedented step of cancelling his Formula One comeback after he claims to be suffering from neck related problems.

The German 7 time world champion was announced as being Felipe Massa’s substitute driver after the Brazilian was forced to miss the Hungarian GP after an accident in qualifying.  So severe was this accident, he has only recently left hospital and returned home in Sao Paolo.

Schumacher had a motorbike incident in February which caused him some neck problems, and after testing an F2007 Clienti machine he found his neck unable to withstand the G-Forces put upon it.

Its a bitter blow for the German, and for his legions of fans and adversaries who were looking forward to the return of the “meister”.  Indeed ticket sales for the otherwise unloved Valencian race skyrocketed, but many will be left feeling mis-sold and disappointed.

“Yesterday evening, I had to inform Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo and team principal Stefano Domenicali that unfortunately I’m not able to step in for Felipe,” he said.

“I really tried everything to make that temporary comeback possible, however, much to my regret it didn’t work out. Unfortunately we did not manage to get a grip on the pain in the neck which occurred after the private F1-day in Mugello, even if medically or therapeutically we tried everything possible.”

“The consequences of the injuries caused by the bike-accident in February, fractures in the area of head and neck, unfortunately have turned out to be still too severe,” added Schumacher.

“That is why my neck cannot stand the extreme stresses caused by Formula 1 yet. These are the clear results of the examinations we did on the course of the past two weeks and the final examination yesterday afternoon.

“As there were no improvements after the day in Mugello, I decided at short notice on Sunday to do that thorough examination already yesterday.

“I am disappointed to the core. I am awfully sorry for the guys of Ferrari and for all the fans which crossed fingers for me. I can only repeat that I tried everything that was within my power. All I can do now is to keep my fingers crossed for the whole team for the coming races.”