Schumacher signs one-year F1 deal with Mercedes

German legend is back on the race track after signing a one-year deal with Mercedes

Schumacher signs one-year F1 deal with Mercedes

German legend is back on the race track after signing a one-year deal with Mercedes

WELCOME BACK: Michael Schumacher will drive for Mercedes in the 2010 Formula 1 season. PIC/GETTY IMAGES

Having retired in 2006, Schumacher, who turns 41 on January 3, will be paid seven million euros (9.9 million
US dollars)

to be on the grid for Mercedes, who bought Brawn GP, the team that won the championship last year, when the new season starts with the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 14 2010.

It will be 1239 days after his last Formula One race in Sao Paulo at the Brazilian Grand Prix and Schumacher joins Mercedes in an all-German racing team after compatriot Nico Rosberg, 24, signed up last month.

Bild report Schumacher signed the deal yesterday at Mercedes headquarters in Brackley, England, to return to Formula One having won 91 of his 250 Grand Prix races and started in Pole Position 68 times.

He was due to make a remarkable return last season for Ferrari for whom he is a consultant as a replacement for the injured Felipe Massa but was unable to because of a neck injury he suffered in a motorbike accident earlier this year.

Schumacher's return will also see him reunite with Ross Brawn, the team principal.

Brawn guided Schumacher to all his seven titles as technical director and master strategist at Benetton and then with Ferrari.

Schumacher also drove for the Mercedes sportscar team before breaking into Formula One.

Support from Lauda
Meanhwile, racing legend Niki Lauda dismissed the views of those who believe the Michael Schumacher may struggle to mount a comeback as a 41-year-old after a three-year absence.

"His level is that of a seven time world champion," the Austrian, who returned from retirement in the 1980s and won a third world championship, told Kicker magazine.

"When Schumacher drives again, he will be immediately competitive, because he was the best on another level," Lauda said.

No fitness troubles
A recent medical check with his sports doctor Johannes Peil showed Michael Schumacher to be in a high state of health, the German's manager Willi Weber has revealed.

The Cologne newspaper Express said the outcome of Schumacher's recent checks with Peil was "positive."

"Michael is super-fit. Dr Peil said he has made giant progress," said Weber, referring to earlier this year when Schumacher had to call off his return to replace the injured Felipe Massa due to neck pain.

Weber revealed that Schumacher is currently skiing with his family in the French Alps.

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