Catch-up Session – Week No. 52
Fifty-second and last week of the calendar year, Motorsinside.com is still here to offer you this summary article of the past week. At the forefront and as the top news, the officialization of Michael Schumacher’s grand return to Formula 1. After three years of retirement, he’s coming back not with Scuderia Ferrari but with Mercedes […]
Fifty-second and last week of the calendar year, Motorsinside.com is still here to offer you this summary article of the past week. At the forefront and as the top news, the officialization of Michael Schumacher’s grand return to Formula 1. After three years of retirement, he’s coming back not with Scuderia Ferrari but with Mercedes GP. A German in a German team, what better way to delight fans from the most populous country in Europe. We will cover the details of this return with reactions from everyone involved. Another topic is the outright abandonment of the joint launch project for the 2010 cars. Why such a decision? Find the answer in this article. Finally, there are people like Stefanovic who don’t stop working even during the end-of-year holidays. Indeed, the Stefan GP project continues to fuel F1 news. Motorsinside.com offers you an update on the team’s progress before the new year…
The Return of King Schumacher as a Christmas Gift
The rumors had intensified since the beginning of December and were confirmed just hours before Christmas: Seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Michael Schumacher is back in the racing seat. To do this, he had to sever all ties with Scuderia Ferrari to join his new team. Mercedes GP, formerly Brawn GP, will have the honor of having one of the greatest drivers of all time in their ranks. For this, they had to write the checks, as his annual contract amounts to 7 million euros. His teammate will be the young Nico Rosberg, also German, and he will reunite with his former ally who participated in all his titles, Ross Brawn, as team principal. This return to competition was attempted last summer as a replacement for Felipe Massa at Ferrari. Unfortunately, an old neck injury prevented him. Between March 12th and 14th for the first Grand Prix of the season in Bahrain, Schumacher will indeed be part of the race! The reactions have been numerous worldwide, from fans, of course, but also from major players in Formula 1. These reactions are very positive, and the main person involved recognizes it himself: He is returning to claim an eighth crown. The answer will come in less than a year at the end of the 2010 season.
The official announcement of Michael Schumacher’s return
Les propos de Michael Schumacher
Reactions to Michael Schumacher’s Return
Launches That Will Be Done on a Case-by-Case Basis
First cold shower of the 2010 season revealed at the end of the year. The launches of the new single-seaters will not be done together at a grand event. The project had been initiated a few weeks ago by the members of the Formula One Team Association (FOTA). It wasn’t a lack of willingness that prevented the proper execution of this mega-launch in 2010 but technical difficulties among the 13 teams of the 2010 lineup. Indeed, the event was supposed to take place at the end of January in Valencia, Spain, and some teams wouldn’t be ready by then. Another feared issue was the excessive attention that might be given to some teams like Ferrari or McLaren compared to new entrants like USF1 or Campos. Nonetheless, and fortunately, the project hasn’t been completely scrapped. The teams have promised to revisit the plans for a joint launch of the 2011 single-seaters.
The abandonment of the project for a joint launch of the 2010 single-seaters
The Aftermath of the Stefan GP Project
All governing bodies have confirmed the presence of 13 teams in 2010 and no more. Yet, one team is still trying to enter the Formula 1 championship. This is Stefan GP, which gets its name from its director, Mr. Stefanovic. The project progresses a little more each day, but it seems that the director has finally realized there are no spots available for the next season. His motivation remains intact, and he is now aiming for the 2011 season. In the meantime, he intends to test his single-seaters for several months. This could still be done in collaboration with Toyota since Zoran Stefanovic has just visited the Cologne factory, stay tuned!
