Will Schumacher return to F1 with Mercedes?

So, will he or won't he? The tantalising prospect of Michael Schumacher returning to Formula 1, which almost came to pass last season when he was slated to temporarily replace Ferrari's Felipe Massa after his crash at the Hungarian GP, is back on the agenda.

Speculation mounted over the weekend that he was on the verge of signing for the newly branded Mercedes GP team.

If true, it would see the 40-year-old hook up with Ross Brawn, who was Schumacher's team principal at Benetton and Ferrari during the German's seven drivers' championships. Eddie Jordan, the former F1 team owner who gave Schumacher his debut in a car in 1991, claimed last week that a deal might have been concluded during the final race of last season.

"I believe the Brawn team will have Michael Schumacher in it next year," Jordan said. "At Abu Dhabi grand prix, Dr [Dieter] Zetsche [chairman of the Daimler board], Ross Brawn and Michael Schumacher were deep in conversation and I believe it was to do with possibly joining the team as driver for the 2010 championship."

Schumacher's agent, Willi Weber confirmed that the two camps had held initial discussions, saying: "I know that Michael spoke with Dieter Zetsche and Norbert Haug [Mercedes' motorsport VP] at the season's finale in Abu Dhabi." However, Sabine Kehm, the driver's spokeswoman, said on Friday: "You can never say never in this sport, but to me [a comeback] is highly unlikely at the moment."

Another voice of caution came from Bernie Ecclestone, the sport's ringleader, who told BBC Radio 5 Live that "I would think it's most unlikely. I don't see any reason why he should. I would be very doubtful it would happen." Schumacher's attempt to return this season was derailed by a long-standing neck injury, and there is no guarantee that after three years out of the sport he could return to his previous form.

Ecclestone also expressed his surprise that Jenson Button, the newly crowned world champion, had left Brawn/Mercedes GP for McLaren: "He obviously knows what he's doing and he must be satisfied with the arrangements he's got in hand. I must confess I was a little surprised to see it happening. I suppose he feels confident enough to take on Lewis and that's it. It's a bit of a task to take on, that's all." ·