Mercedes Confirm Petronas Sponsorship
All the ducks lined up in a row to complete the nearly $10M one-year deal that sees the return of a Formula One legend for the 2010 season. Seven-time World Champion, Michael Schumacher will return to racing with Mercedes, who coincidently also announced Petronas will take over as sponsors from Brawn-GP, and the Germans’ excitement was evident as he exclaimed “After three years I have the energy back and I’m ready for some serious stuff”.
Schumacher will turn 41 at the start of next month, but that hasn’t diminished his confidence any, “I wouldn’t have entered all of this if I wasn’t confident,” Schumacher explained, and when challenged on the fact that 70% of Germans believe he’ll be crowned 2010 World Champion, he went on to say “I have won the title seven times and the team won both titles last year, so what do you expect,”. Not really a whole lot could be offered up in response to a statement like that, and I guarantee bookmakers will not bet against him either.
It is worth noting, Isle of Man native, Nigel Mansell at 41, stepped in for four races behind the wheel of Williams in 1994 after the death of Ayrton Senna and managed to take the Australian Grand Prix. Argentine, Juan Manuel Fangio, took his fifth World Championship at 46.
Continue for BBC exclusive interview with the clearly ecstatic Michael speaking about his return.
YouTube Clip
Source: BBC
