[F1] 舒馬克再臨...車神復出!!!－soul flash

from http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/12/10301.html

Schumacher to race for Mercedes in 2010

German firm welcome back their former 'apprentice'

After weeks of speculation Mercedes confirmed on Wednesday that Michael Schumacher
will make a comeback to race for the team next season alongside fellow German Nico Rosberg.

Schumacher, who retired at the end of 2006, has signed a deal that will see him return
to the Formula One grid at the age of 41, bidding to add to his record tally of 91 wins
and seven world titles.

It follows a planned comeback earlier this year for Ferrari - the team with which he won
his last five drivers’ championships - to replace the injured Felipe Massa. Those plans
had to be abandoned because of a neck injury from a motorbike accident.

Now fully fit, Schumacher will revive his relationship with Mercedes, a company with whom
he had close ties earlier in his career. The German carmaker recently purchased the 2009
title-winning Brawn GP team, retaining team principal Ross Brawn, who previously helped
lead Schumacher to title glory at Benetton and Ferrari.

"Mercedes GP Petronas represents a new challenge for me both in a sporting and a
personal context,” said Schumacher. “It is a new chapter in my racing career and I am
really looking forward to working with my old friend Ross Brawn and my companions from
my days with the Mercedes Junior Programme.

“I am convinced that together we will be involved in the fight for the Formula One World
Championship next year and I am already looking forward to getting back onto the race
track. For me, this partnership closes the circle. Mercedes supported me for so many years
when I began my Formula One career and now I can hopefully give something back to the
brand with the star."

Ross Brawn commented: "I am delighted that we can confirm today that Michael will make
his much-anticipated return to Formula One next year and drive for our Mercedes GP
Petronas team. As seven-time world champion, Michael's outstanding record in Formula One
speaks for itself and I am looking forward to working with him again.

“With the completion of our driver line-up, I believe that we now have the most exciting
partnership in Formula One with Michael and Nico, who provide the perfect mix of talent,
experience, speed and youth. We can now turn our full attention to the preparations for
the new season and everyone at Mercedes GP Petronas is extremely excited about the
challenge ahead.”

Explaining Schumacher’s previous Mercedes relationship, Norbert Haug, Vice-President of
Mercedes-Benz Motorsports, added: "In April 1991, when I had been in charge of the
Mercedes-Benz Motorsport programme for just six months, Michael was standing beside
me on the balcony one evening. Without the slightest doubt, he said in a low voice: ‘It's
about time that I got into Formula One’. Michael had just turned 22 years of age and four
months later, he made his debut at Spa in a Jordan. Mercedes-Benz helped him to this
point and the rest is history: seven world championship titles, more than any racing driver,
91 Grand Prix wins, more than any racing driver. Michael has more of everything than every
other driver.

“As part of the Mercedes Junior Programme, Michael had raced in Group C sports cars and
competed in a few DTM races. Ross Brawn, then our opponent at Jaguar, quickly realised
Michael's talent and they went on to win all seven of his drivers' world championship titles
together at Benetton and Ferrari. Our sporting ambition has always been that Michael
should drive again where his professional career had started and Michael knew that. We
often joked about it after the races and discussed the prospect seriously several times
during the last 14 years in Formula One. It didn't happen in 1995, it didn't happen in 1998
and it didn't happen in 2005. I am delighted that it will now happen in 2010. I am very
much looking forward to working with Michael and everybody at Mercedes-Benz and Daimler
extends a very warm welcome to our 'apprentice' of 19 years ago. That apprentice is now
the most successful racing driver of all time."