“I spoke to Michael and he told me there is a very strong possibility,” but that it was not 100% decided, Di Montezemolo told reporters.
Schumacher, who retired in 2006 after dominating Formula One for twelve seasons, tried to return to Formula One in 2009 as the replacement driver for injured Ferrari pilot Felipe Massa. However, he was unable to pass medical exams, due to a neck injury he sustained while racing motorcycles.
The 41-year-old Schumacher recently underwent a full physical exam with sports doctor Johannes Peil. Schumacher’s manager, Willi Weber, said “Michael is super-fit. Dr Peil said he has made giant progress,” since his failed test with Ferrari in August.
No Room at Ferrari
There is no place for Schumacher on the 2010 Ferrari team Ferrari has signed two-time WDC Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa will be returning as the number two driver.
“Schumacher … will remain forever part of the Ferrari family,” said Montezemolo on the Ferrari.com website, “but it seems we have nothing to offer him: we have two young drivers in Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso, on whom we are counting to deliver a lot next year.”
There is some discussion about whether Ferrari forced Schumacher to retire before he wanted to, because Ferrari felt that Schumacher was aging, and wanted to sign rising star Kimi Räikkönen.
Schumacher joined Ferrari in 1996, after winning two championships with the now-defunct Benetton team. He remains at Ferrari in an advisory position, though that would change were he to sign with Mercedes.
Mercedes took over the World Constructors’ Championship-winning Brawn GP team at the end of the 2009 season. Mercedes has already signed German driver Nico Rosberg and apparently would like to sign Schumacher to have an all-German line-up.
Schumacher drove sports cars for Mercedes in 1990 and 1991, competing in the World Sportscar Championship series. Also in 1991, Schumacher drove one race for the Jordan F1 team and five races with the Benetton F1 team. He won two championships with Benetton, in 1994 and 1995.
