Schumacher to drive for Mercedes GP – Deal done.

Michael Schumacher's return to F1 is a done deal, according to Bild

Bild has reported that a deal has been done for Michael Schumacher to drive for Mercedes GP in 2010. The deal will be announced this week.

Will he, won’t he? Michael Schumacher drive for Mercedes GP next year, that is. It’s seemed clear for a while that it was going to happen, particularly after Eddie Jordan – fount of all knowledge F1 – declared the deal was as good as done last month.

But ever since we reported Eddie Jordan’s mutterings Michael and his management have been about as ambiguous as you can get. No confirmations or denials have been forthcoming, but it now looks as if the German press, in the form of Bild, have got the inside line and have declared that a deal has been done – subject to a final medical – and that Michael’s signature will be on the bottom of a one year contract to drive for Mercedes this week.

It seems clear that the deal has nothing to do with money – reported figures range from €3.5M to €7M – and everything to do with Michael’s insatiable lust to return to F1. But although the headline figure for driving looks paltry by Michael’s normal standards it seems likely that he will a also take on an Ambassador role for Mercedes – similar to the role he currently has at Ferrari – which will top those earnings up. But Michael is in the fortunate position where the money is immaterial. It’s all about the challenge – and working with Ross Brawn again.

Schumacher back in F1. The Silver Arrows running again. Button and Hamilton at McLaren. It could be a very good 2010 F1 Circus.