29/12/2009
NEWS STORY
Just days after Michael Schumacher confirmed a sensational return to F1, brother Ralf has admitted that he too would be willing to make a return.
The German, who contested 180 Grands Prix in an 11-season career, left F1 at the end of 2007 having 'resigned' from the Toyota team. Eager to remain in the sport, and having been turned down by McLaren, Ralf approached both Toro Rosso and Force India with a view to securing a drive for 2008. The German tested with the Silverstone-based outfit however, his times were disappointing and he subsequently claimed to no longer have any interest in remaining in F1, the drive eventually going to Giancarlo Fisichella.
However, on announcing a Mercedes DTM drive for 2008, Ralf was a little more forthcoming about his decision to turn his back on F1. "Of course I know that neither the media nor the spectators consider me the greatest race driver of all time and this is not what I'm aiming for," he said.
"During my last three seasons in F1, I didn't have much success and it almost sounded strange to me when Norbert (Haug) mentioned in a conversation that shortly before this time I had managed to win two Grands Prix within only eight days. However, I am still the same Ralf as at those times, the same racer who has fun in motor sports and who wants to compete with the best."
With Mucke Motorsport, Ralf, who in 2007 was the second highest paid driver on the F1 grid, finished 14th in the overall DTM standings, finishing 11th this year with H.W.A.
Now, in the wake of his brother's sensational return to F1, and with vacancies at Renault, Toro Rosso, Campos, Sauber and US F1, Ralf has admitted that he too would consider returning to the pinnacle of motorsport.
Talking to Germany's DPA news agency, Schumacher said that he would "seriously consider an interesting and attractive offer to drive in a competitive Formula One team."
Asked about the prospect of racing against his brother again, he replied: "Competing against Michael is not that important for me".