Schumacher turns down F1 return with Lotus

[Massa_number1]

I really wish he took the offer I know roman would have beaten him but it would have added a bit more fun to the end of the season plus the Lotus is very competitive im sure he would get some good points

[wnut]

Originally Posted by Massa_number1

I really wish he took the offer I know roman would have beaten him but it would have added a bit more fun to the end of the season plus the Lotus is very competitive im sure he would get some good points

Have you got a citation for this, just interested to know if he was in fact asked!

[Aysedasi]

I believe so after Jackie Stewart and John Surtees declined.......

[JeremySmith]

Link

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula-one/24935646

[wnut]

Originally Posted by JeremySmith

Link

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula-one/24935646

Thanks Jeremy, very interesting to see where they rate him against their current options.

Pity he didn't take up the offer!

Maybe, just maybe Mario is free!

[mountainstar]

I can't see there would be much in it for him. Probably a wise choice.

[JeremySmith]

Your welcome

I am glad he declined to be honest...

[Massa_number1]

I don't understand why anyone wouldn't want to see him in the lotus for the last 2 races it's not like we have much else to look forward to....

Still he has his reasons for declining shame

[davyboy]

Originally Posted by Massa_number1

I don't understand why anyone wouldn't want to see him in the lotus for the last 2 races it's not like we have much else to look forward to....

Still he has his reasons for declining shame

Massive kudos for Lotus... and I wouldn't be surprised if Bernie offered to dip into his pocket to underwrite the costs. You can't begin to compare Kovalainen or Valsecci with Schumacher. In term of marketing draw, there's nobody bigger. Having him on board was one of the reasons Mercedes returned as a manufacturer.

Though nowhere near his peak, he certainly kept Rosberg honest at Merc. and there's no reason to suspect he wouldn't have kept Grosjean honest at Lotus either.

I felt he was mad to come out of retirement and do the Merc thing... and accepting this offer would be even crazier... from his point of view.

[steve_r]

Lets look forward by bringing in a young up and coming star, instead of looking backwards at the past. It's a perfect oppertunity to see how their test driver copes with a couple of races, instead of just having them mess around in the simulator.

[Massa_number1]

I see his point of view that he has more to lose than gain coming back I mean its still a risk for little reward I think he would put his life on the line for a world title but not for 2 races with no importance.I would just have loved to see him come back in a consistent stable car and maybe grab a podium place in Brazil after getting to grips with the car in Austin

Maybe its the nostalgia thing for me his comeback didnt work out but when you look at it for a 40+ yr old to come and even compete with these 'kids' was actually damn impressive but thats for another thread of course..

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by davyboy

Massive kudos for Lotus... and I wouldn't be surprised if Bernie offered to dip into his pocket to underwrite the costs.

I wonder just how much it would have taken to tempt him......?

[Paradise City]

Schumacher back where he...almost..started..with Benetton..almost.

I don't think I could stand the stress of another return.

[davyboy]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

I wonder just how much it would have taken to tempt him......?

He has more money than he could ever spend, so I don't imagine anything financial would be tempting. From the moment he retired [the first time] he seemed to be suffering 'need for speed' withdrawal symptoms. He did quite a bit of kart racing - at high level - then had his foray into bike racing - that almost did for him. The MB return seemed to have been done to placate his hunger to race again. Unless he's suffering similar withdrawal symptoms, I don't think anything could tempt him to return, which is a good thing in the bigger scheme of things.

[Massa_number1]

maybe he looked at fisichella's little ferrari stint and thought better of it?

just wondering lets say he did accept where do you realistically think he would have finished? Id say roman would have beat him in quali given his form against kimi and schumachers vs nico as for the race i feel he would have struggled to 8th-10th on paper and in Brazil 4th or a podium

[davyboy]

Originally Posted by Massa_number1

maybe he looked at fisichella's little ferrari stint and thought better of it?

just wondering lets say he did accept where do you realistically think he would have finished? Id say roman would have beat him in quali given his form against kimi and schumachers vs nico as for the race i feel he would have struggled to 8th-10th on paper and in Brazil 4th or a podium

You never know what he might have done If he did beat Grosjean, however, his career would be toast.

[Knowlesy]

With the lack if testing, why not give a young driver a go? What is the point of trying to get retired drivers back all the time?

[Adam43]

For internet fun. There are loads of posts that people are dying for the opportunity to type again.

[Knowlesy]

Well I don't like it. *grumble*

[vincegail]

Originally Posted by Knowlesy

With the lack if testing, why not give a young driver a go? What is the point of trying to get retired drivers back all the time?

Just because of the lack of testing. Better to bring in a experienced driver who needs less testing, than a rookie driver. This lack of testing is killing the opportunities for new drivers!

[Aysedasi]

It would have been ludicrous. Might as well not bother having any young drivers trying to come through if the old boys are going to be invited back, again, and again.......

[davyboy]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

It would have been ludicrous. Might as well not bother having any young drivers trying to come through if the old boys are going to be invited back, again, and again.......

From a driving perspective it's nuts. But as we know Lotus are in all sorts of financial difficulties and I'm sure this had something to do with offering the drive to Schumacher. There's no question that there would be huge marketing value in having him in the seat... and Lotus must have had some way of turning that into $$$.

But I agree with what others have said... we want to see new blood coming through and not a reprise of people who've had their opportunities to shine. However until/unless F1 costs are brought under control and new driver testing can return, I can't see this happening any time soon. Sad.

[wnut]

Originally Posted by davyboy

From a driving perspective it's nuts. But as we know Lotus are in all sorts of financial difficulties and I'm sure this had something to do with offering the drive to Schumacher. There's no question that there would be huge marketing value in having him in the seat... and Lotus must have had some way of turning that into $$$.

But I agree with what others have said... we want to see new blood coming through and not a reprise of people who've had their opportunities to shine. However until/unless F1 costs are brought under control and new driver testing can return, I can't see this happening any time soon. Sad.

All the new blood stuff aside.
Lotus needs points to finish as high as possible in the WCC as possible, to attract sponsors and earn money for points off Bernie.
Which driver that is not currently under contract would you choose to get the job done Davyboy?

The added marketing and PR would be just another added bonus!

I suspect that the reason for Schumacher's refusal would be some Mercedes contract or other!

[chunterer]

I can't believe that this is getting so much coverage evenu though it was never going to happen.

Schumacher's rep is still clearlt vefy strong!

[Massa_number1]

if the season wasnt already finished then I wouldnt care if he came back or not as id be too interested in the title fight going on in the last 2 races but as theres nothing left to look forward to he would really make it worth watching

HATERS!! if senna was alive and in his 50's and 10 seconds off the pace you would all still want him to comeback you just all hate SCHUMI!!!!