• Schumacher Comeback

Fry hints Schumacher return is on

Schumacher has not denied a comeback © Getty Images

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• Drivers:
• Timo Glock
• |
• Michael Schumacher

• Teams:
• Mercedes

Speculation that Michael Schumacher will return to Formula One hit its highest point yet after Mercedes CEO Nick Fry hinted Schumacher was at the top of his list to partner Nico Rosberg at the German team.

Schumacher has been linked to a race drive at Mercedes for 2010 with some sections of the German press saying that a deal is all but signed. On Monday Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo said that Schumacher was free from his Ferrari contract to seek a drive elsewhere, meaning only the German's neck injury - which ruled him out of a return in 2009 - could prevent him from making a comeback.

Now Fry has dropped the biggest hint yet that a comeback could be on the cards for 2010. "He would be very good for our team," Fry said. "The view from inside F1, not just my team, is they all hope it will happen. I can't tell you at this stage [if it will happen], unfortunately. A number of drivers are still available if Michael were to decide not to drive. Then there are alternatives that we would be happy to go with."

Schumacher's compatriot Timo Glock has said he thinks the seven-time world champion will not be able to resist a return to F1.

"It's not enough for him to just do go-kart races, or go to the Race of Champions at the end of the year," Glock said at Virgin Racing's launch. "The flame is still there, it's still burning within him, and it will be great for F1 if he comes back. For me, my personal feeling, it is quite obvious he is coming back."

He added: "For F1 and the fans it would be a big boost, a seven-time world champion coming back after three years out. It would be a mega highlight - and to drive for Mercedes, you would have a German driver in a German car."

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