Multiple F1 World Champion Michael Schumacher is going to test the new 2012 Mercedes DTM car. Mercedes Benz boss Norbert Haug said that a DTM drive could be on the cards, if “Michael no longer wants to drive in Formula 1.”
Haug said: “Michael is full of respect for the DTM drivers. At some point he will definitely test our new DTM coupe for 2012.
Michael says he is staying in F1 in 2012.
joeblogsf1 
Well then Joe, any ideas who will replace him at Mercedes? Di Resta?
Ian,
You can suggest whatever you like… If I were you and had that little respect then I would not bother to read my stuff, let alone make comments on it.
May I suggest a slogan for you?: “Joe – always LAST with news”
I think I’m right in saying that Michael has said in the past (whilst appearing at the Race of Champions if memory serves) that he’s not keen on competing in cars where he can’t see the front wheels.
Therefore I’d guess that Mercedes are probably more keen on the idea than Michael.
I know, I know, we all want him to continue but maybe Michael just wants to retire with only a couple dozen WDCs after 40 years in F1.
Michael says he is staying in F1 in 2012.
Right ho. We all know what this means.
I’ve heard to many spins and lies coming out of Michael’s mouth over the years to believe this would be a simple promo test.
Michael says lots of things that have turned out to be not quite accurate…
Isn’t DTM a German phrase that means “place Mercedes drivers go when their F1 days are over”?
Good, but I think this is after the 2012 season. He will race in F1 next year. Also, a big landmark has been reached by him this weekend by racing in F1 for 20 years. And, 20 years of breaking all the records, no less. How many drivers are out there that race for countless of seasons without any major achievement (Barrichello and Patrese comes to mind). Also very impressive that after his comeback, like it or not to many, he is in the TOP 10.
My admiration to his long and successful career.
I wouldn’t say MS return has NOT been successful because Mercedes must take a lot of the blame. Personally I don’t think Niko or MS are gong to get anywhere in that car unless it suddenly becomes competitive with the likes Mclaren and Red bull. Why people can’t understand that is beyond me.
On average he’s finishing around 7-8 which means there’s a lot of people behind. Finishing 7th, 8th 9th is not shabby.
I hope to god he doesn’t give up and hope Merc can sort that damn car out.
Makes sense, allows them to keep Michael in a Mercedes and opens the door for di Resta who is immensely quick. Rosberg is mature enough to fill Schumacher’s racing boots as team senior, if not now, in 2013.
M-B is offering Michael a graceful way out of F1 if he “elects” to take the DTM seat offered.
If he doesn’t it just may be sack time for Michael.
I admittedly don’t stay current in DTM, is brother Ralf still an active driver in that series?
Starting the shuffle off. Not before time.
Love him or loathe him, i like seeing Michael back in F1.
He is like a bridge connecting us to the past…
let’s hope he’s on the podium soon.
I wonder what Ralf thinks of this.
I wonder what Ralf and DC think about this – getting their rears wipped once more if/when Michael shows up in DTM …
Not sure if it’s ever going to happen (Michael always said he doesn’t really enjoy closed cockpit/wheel cars), but I’m sure every racer would take the chance to test cars from other racing series if there is an opportunity.
http://www.gpro.net/?id=235195
Try to be a successful team manager like Dennis, Todt or Briatore. Manage your grand prix team to success by building good cars, developing good race strategies, hiring the right drivers and staff and planning for the future. But all must be done within the limits of your financial and worktime budget and with the fierce competition breathing down your neck!
Joe, I think Ed (not Ian) was pointing out that you trash GMM and then use their translation of this news word-for-word several days after they reported it. Pretty hypocritical, especially as you are never reluctant to criticise others. Sometimes you have to cop it too.
Just-in,
I do not use GMM stuff. End of story.
And word in today that Schumacher’s engineer at Mercedes is taking a factory job. Why now?
I agre that this is a clear sign of him hedging on 2012 and I think Michael’s past successes have been significantly flattered by the quality of cars he had at certain times (Ferrari, 2000-2005), the absence of a peak rival to fight against (the two championships after Senna’s death and his domination after Hakkinen’s retirement), and most significantly the almost uniform functioning of Ferrari to support him in the Todt-Brawn years, with Barrichello umistakably relegated to second-class driver in the team and Luca Badoer pounding out thousands of test miles to set up Michael’s Ferraris precisely how he likes them. Did Michael drive superbly and make the most of the advantages give him during that stretch? Sure. But his mid-pack performances in a mid-pack car that hasn’t suited him well this last season and a half, against a younger, hungrier driver who was scoring more points regularly, tell me that without the special advantages he once enjoyed exclusively that Michael Schumacher is no more capable of breaking out of the mid-pack than any other talented, skilled driver trying to ply their trade in cars not named McLaren, Ferrari or Red Bull.