DFiaA
I told you so
- Liittynyt
- 7.2.2001
- Viestit
- 14430
Schumiko väteytyvän Renaultin vetäjäksi :doubtful:
EJ PREDICTS 'TEAM SCHUMACHER'
Last Updated: Saturday, 18, February, 2006, 16:38
Most of the speculation about Michael Schumacher’s future plans has assumed that he will either retire at the end of this season or renew his contract with Ferrari.
But former team boss Eddie Jordan has suggested an intriguing third possibility – that Schumacher will set up his own team, probably in partnership with close colleagues like Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn, whose contract also runs out at the end of this year.
“I’m not saying it’ll definitely happen – but I believe the idea is being discussed, and I can imagine Michael doing it,” EJ told F1 Racing magazine, on sale next week.
Jordan sees a putative ‘Team Schumacher’ having no trouble attracting interest from large German corporations.
“He’s still a very powerful figure, and his name carries huge weight in F1,” he said.
“Schumi could certainly open doors that other people would find locked.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if he encouraged Volkswagen, perhaps using their Audi brand, to come to the F1 table.
“’Team Schumacher Audi F1’, or ‘Team Schumacher Volkswagen F1’, would immediately attract a huge following in Germany – and worldwide.”
As regards the logistics of setting up a new team, Jordan reckons that Renault is likely to pull the plug on its F1 operation at the end of the season – presenting Schumacher and Brawn with the opportunity to take over a turn-key organisation.
It was at the Enstone-based squad (in its former guise of Benetton) that the two men began their remarkable working partnership, winning the 1994 and 1995 world championships.
“I believe Renault will soon announce…that they won’t stay in F1 beyond ’06,” Jordan said.
“None of this is certain, but I could see Michael and Ross basing their new team at the Enstone facility they had so much success at before.”
A spokeswoman for Schumacher admitted that the idea was not wholly implausible – but stressed that there was no substance to it.
“This is a new rumour, although it’s not too full of fantasy considering the link between Michael and Ross,” she told F1 Racing.
“But it’s pure rumour – Michael has said countless times that there are few things he would be less interested in doing.”
Brawn also denied any knowledge of the proposed team.
“I cannot comment on Michael’s plans for the future because I don’t know them!” he said.
“But as far as I know, there’s no truth in the rumour, especially the bit concerning me.”
Nonetheless, there will be many in the F1 paddock who conclude that Jordan knows whereof he speaks – and, having launched Schumacher’s F1 career in 1991, has a better understanding than most of what makes the maestro tick.