Michael Schumacher will return, predicts Timo Glock
Michael Schumacher is almost certain to race in Formula 1 next year, according to German compatriot Timo Glock.
Seven-time world champion Schumacher, 40, has been tipped to return to the sport with Mercedes next year.
"The flame is still there, it's still burning. For me, it is quite obvious he is coming back," said Glock.
Eddie Irvine, Schumacher's former team-mate at Ferrari, added: "He's been bored I think, very very bored and he's definitely up for it."
Irvine, who retired in 2002, suggested Schumacher has missed the competitive nature of the sport, telling BBC Radio 5 live: "I hope he comes back, it will be fantastic for Formula 1.
"In Formula 1, you're on show and got to perform, whereas in the real world it's moths or years before you can get the same rush. Michael has been karting since he was four or five so he knows nothing else.
"He tried the motorcycle riding which was sheer madness because he wasn't very good and wasn't getting paid so I never understood that one, but F1 makes sense."
However, Irvine added that while Schumacher would still have the speed to be competitive, younger drivers such as Lewis Hamilton could have a psychological edge.
"Lewis isn't going to back off, but Michael will have to because he'll be 41. The speed will be there, though he won't be as fast as he was seven years ago.
"He's not at the peak of his game, but he's still good enough to win races as he has such an immense talent. It's still four wheels, a steering wheel and an engine and there's never been anyone better than Michael."
Schumacher has been working as a consultant with Ferrari since his retirement, but the team has confirmed they will not block him from joining Mercedes.
And although Schumacher has yet to comment on stories suggesting his move to Mercedes is a done deal, Glock is confident he will be on the grid next season.
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"There's still a lot of speculation, but in the end he is a crazy race driver and he wants to come back to racing," added Glock.
"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.
"For Formula 1 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."
Schumacher almost returned this year as a temporary stand-in for Ferrari's Felipe Massa, but the plans were dropped as he had still to fully recover from a motorcycle injury earlier in the year.
However, his neck is now thought to be fully healed, paving the way for his potential return, BBC Formula 1 commentator Jonathan Legard saying: "He's kept himself very fit and this has been in the background for some time.
"I bet if he's keen to do this he'll have at least a month and a half of hard work done already. As I understand it it could happen before the end of the year."
Schumacher's spokeswoman, Sabin Kehm, refused to comment.
"I don't want to say any more, or talk about any plans he might have," she said.
While Schumacher would hope to be towards the front of the grid should he return, Glock has more modest ambitions for next season in a car making its championship debut.
"To beat Michael would be a good year for us, but we have to concentrate on ourselves, and not look at what others are doing," said the former Toyota driver.
"We have to focus on our job, that's what is important."
Source: BBC Sport - F1 - Michael Schumacher will return, predicts Timo Glock
Seven-time world champion Schumacher, 40, has been tipped to return to the sport with Mercedes next year.
"The flame is still there, it's still burning. For me, it is quite obvious he is coming back," said Glock.
Eddie Irvine, Schumacher's former team-mate at Ferrari, added: "He's been bored I think, very very bored and he's definitely up for it."
Irvine, who retired in 2002, suggested Schumacher has missed the competitive nature of the sport, telling BBC Radio 5 live: "I hope he comes back, it will be fantastic for Formula 1.
"In Formula 1, you're on show and got to perform, whereas in the real world it's moths or years before you can get the same rush. Michael has been karting since he was four or five so he knows nothing else.
"He tried the motorcycle riding which was sheer madness because he wasn't very good and wasn't getting paid so I never understood that one, but F1 makes sense."
However, Irvine added that while Schumacher would still have the speed to be competitive, younger drivers such as Lewis Hamilton could have a psychological edge.
"Lewis isn't going to back off, but Michael will have to because he'll be 41. The speed will be there, though he won't be as fast as he was seven years ago.
"He's not at the peak of his game, but he's still good enough to win races as he has such an immense talent. It's still four wheels, a steering wheel and an engine and there's never been anyone better than Michael."
Schumacher has been working as a consultant with Ferrari since his retirement, but the team has confirmed they will not block him from joining Mercedes.
And although Schumacher has yet to comment on stories suggesting his move to Mercedes is a done deal, Glock is confident he will be on the grid next season.
ANDREW BENSON BLOG
'My information is increasingly that Schumacher's return as Nico Rosberg's team-mate is looking like a done deal'
"There's still a lot of speculation, but in the end he is a crazy race driver and he wants to come back to racing," added Glock.
"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.
"For Formula 1 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."
Schumacher almost returned this year as a temporary stand-in for Ferrari's Felipe Massa, but the plans were dropped as he had still to fully recover from a motorcycle injury earlier in the year.
However, his neck is now thought to be fully healed, paving the way for his potential return, BBC Formula 1 commentator Jonathan Legard saying: "He's kept himself very fit and this has been in the background for some time.
"I bet if he's keen to do this he'll have at least a month and a half of hard work done already. As I understand it it could happen before the end of the year."
Schumacher's spokeswoman, Sabin Kehm, refused to comment.
"I don't want to say any more, or talk about any plans he might have," she said.
While Schumacher would hope to be towards the front of the grid should he return, Glock has more modest ambitions for next season in a car making its championship debut.
"To beat Michael would be a good year for us, but we have to concentrate on ourselves, and not look at what others are doing," said the former Toyota driver.
"We have to focus on our job, that's what is important."
Source: BBC Sport - F1 - Michael Schumacher will return, predicts Timo Glock
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