Ferrari lost their competitive edge due to rule changes and so the former ace decided the time was right for him to step back from front line racing. He became an advisor to Ferrari and effectively Jean Todts number two in the team structure as he oversaw the Ferrari development programme at the Jerez circuit. He focused on testing electronics and tyres for the 2008 season.
Yet as is often the case with F1 champions, Michael felt he had unfinished business in the sport and was persuaded by the newly acquired Mercedes team to return alongside Nico Rosberg as one of their drivers in 2010.
Schumacher F1 return a flop
Yet unlike with Fernando Alonso, Schumacher’s return demonstrated a deterioration of his once highly honed skills as he struggled to beat his inexperienced team mate. In all three seasons together, Rosberg finished ahead of Schumacher in the drivers’ championship and in 2010 and 2012, Rosberg came close to scoring double the number of points of his more decorated team-mate.Â
The overall tally of points for the two over this time ended 324 to 197 in Rosberg’s favour. Then in 2012 Lewis Hamilton dropped the first of his F1 racing bombshells announcing he was leaving his life long sponsor and F1powerhouse McLaren to replace Schumacher at the fledging Mercedes outfit.
