Schumacher 'unlikely to join Mercedes'

UNLIKELY: Michael Schumacher is unlikely to return to Formula One despite contact with new team Mercedes Grand Prix.

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Michael Schumacher is unlikely to return to Formula One despite contact with new team Mercedes Grand Prix.

"Michael is enjoying his life. A return to Formula 1 is not a subject for debate at the moment," said his spokesperson Sabine Kehm.

"For me, a return would be highly unlikely at the moment."

Schumacher's manager Willi Weber admitted there had been informal contact between the motor racing legend and Mercedes.

"I know Michael spoke informally to (Mercedes boss Dieter) Zetsche and Mercedes when he was at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix," Weber told Bild on Sunday.

"And, of course, he often speaks with Ross Brawn.

"But Michael has not said anything to me personally about contact with Mercedes over a driver's contract."

German car manufacturer Mercedes took over control of Brawn GP earlier this month and reports suggested Schumacher is set to link up with the new team having retired from the sport in 2006.

Having Schumacher drive for them would be a huge boost for the new outfit, but Mercedes motor sport director Norbert Haug said the idea is still very much a dream.

"It is clear there will always be speculation in this sport, particularly whenever cockpits are not yet occupied," Haug told Bild on Sunday.

"And some speculations are just dreams which will not come true."

Speculation grew over the weekend that Schumacher is poised to join the Mercedes team after BBC Sport pundit and former team owner Eddie Jordan insisted the possibility is being actively pursued.

The move would reunite Schumacher with Brawn, the team principal of Mercedes, who masterminded all of the Germans seven world titles at Benetton and Ferrari.

The German, who will be 41 in January, had to pull out of a temporary comeback to F1 last season as a replacement for the injured Ferrari driver Felipe Massa because of a neck injury.

- AAP