Ferrari Offer Michael A “Position”
Written by George Katinger · October 29, 2006
Ferrari’s top brass (Montezemolo and Todt) have offered Michael Schumacher a place on the team, allegedly evaluating up and coming drivers. Or whatever else Michael chooses to do.
sport.guardian.co.uk: Ferrari ask Schumacher to fill ’super assistant’ role
sport.scotsman.com: Ferrari plans new role for Schumacher
You can call it what you like, I call it getting the peeved seven time world champion out of the arms of another F1 team by getting him under contract, any contract, post haste. Out of the arms of any competing racing series that does not have “Ferrari” written on the bonnet.
Howcum, you may ask? The key is the “peeved” comment I dropped in the preceding paragraph, and Michael’s own reluctance to sign on. The peeved part as we all know, is over the simple fact that after five driver’s titles, and six constructors trophys the top brass essentially forced Schumi’s hand when he clearly was not ready to go. The way Michael studiously avoided Luca di Montezemolo after the Italian GP and prior to his post race announcement of retiring, spoke volumes about Schumi’s attitude about retiring. If he turned around you would have seen Luca’s boot print on his backside!
Michael has consistently stated he needs time off to be with his family and consider his future options. I’ll wager any reasonable sum that a big part of that consideration will be his attempt to come to terms with Ferrari “forcing” his premature retirement. Especially after the performance he put on in Brazil: Is there any doubt in anyone’s mind the man can still race?
He will not be pushed into a contract with Ferrari, as stated in the posted article, referencing Ferrari’s offer:
Despite this generous encouragement Schumacher made it clear he did not wish to finalise any commitment until he has had some time off to reflect.
“I’m very happy to be involved in this way but I look forward first of all to get some rest for a few months and then I’ll have a much clearer view.”
You know that once testing for next year begins Ferrari live in terror of the idea that part of Schumi’s “clearer view” will include the consideration of a return to F1 in another livery. After all Juan Manuel Fangio managed his five driver’s championships working for four different constructors; Alfa, Maserati (twice), Daimler, and Ferrari. There’s a record he can tie if goes and wins titles with Renault, McLaren and BMW. Wouldn’t that be a feat! Three two year contracts at each squad and he’d still be only 43.
Yeah, I know that’s really out there as far as a concept goes, but the thought of him coming back for McLaren or BMW is not that wild, in my humble opinion. And what the hell, it’s the silly season isn’t it? Why not get outright crazy right from the start!
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8 Responses to “Ferrari Offer Michael A “Position””
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Question, if Willy Weber were to saunter into the Toyota boardroom & offer MS’s services to the team as a “consultant”, how much coin do you think he could ask for?
I still find it interesting that despite having lost none of his skills - Brazil proved that - he is still not prepared to be matched with a rival talent. Pride, selfishneess??
For a man that is reportedly worth a cool half a billion dollars shouldn’t Schmi be offering Ferrari a “position?”
A cool Half a Billion?
It has been reported that Michael has made a cool One Billion during his career.
And there was a story going around (F1 Racing Mag) that BMW had offered MS a truck load of money and marketing potential for a “Farewell Tour”.
As for Toyota: if they could get Michael, they will actually have the Schumacher that they wanted in the first place. And they just might (Might?) take the fight to the top teams.
As to MS not being done! I think that the pass that Michael put on Kimi pretty much made MS’s statement.
To say that Michael was inspired last weekend would be an understatement.
Me personaly? I hope that Michael joins a ALMS team and decides to go after Lemans. Can you say Porsche or Audi?
A German SuperStar in a German Car. I think that would turn ALMS into “The Racing Series” and turn Tony (George) and Bernie purple with envy.
And with CART and ALMS running together at Long Beach this coming year, Whooeeee!
The ALMS boys may have trouble ‘coun’ da money’ with Michael on the scene.
No matter where he goes, I hope like hell that I get another chance to see him in a racing car.
Cheers
I still think it would be cool if Michael went to BMW. Poor Nick would have to get the shaft, but really, Michael and Kubica in a team, who could pass that up?
Everyone knows I love Ferrari, but I don’t like how they (meaning Luca) treated Michael. Luca’s speech yesterday seemed like over compensation. He actually said Michael’s name 23 times.
Here’s another possibility to ponder. After Ross Brawn’s “sabbatical” Ross and Schumi both go to another constructor as a new core of excellence. With all the rumors concerning MB buying out Ron Dennis and the other partner, McLaren may be a perfect fit for the resurrected and reinvigorated dynamic duo in ‘08.
I don’t think Toyota would be a consideration, but I could see the two of them working for Honda, to get them over the hump.
Maybe he’s considering NASCAR with Danica Patrick?
Michael wants top shelf team support if he is to continue in F1. If he does not return in ‘07, then he will come back as an owner in ‘08 (ALMS would definitely see me if he goes with Porsche or Audi though).