Ralf Schumacher to Toro Rosso?
Schumacher, 34, has this week been back in the F1 headlines, revealing an offer from one of F1's new teams that he turned down.
The winner of 6 grands prix, who lost his Toyota seat in 2007 and now drives in the German touring car series DTM, said he would happily accept a better offer, leading to the link with Toro Rosso.
He knows team boss Tost well not only from their days at BMW-Williams, but from when Tost managed the German's formative career in Japan.
Austrian Tost, 53, was also employed by Ralf's former manager Willi Weber to look after the driver when he entered F1 with Jordan in 1997, and subsequently switched to Williams in 1999.
German reports also said Ralf is friends with Toro Rosso's team boss Dietrich Mateschitz, who also lives in Salzburg, Austria.
But Auto Motor und Sport on Wednesday quotes Tost as saying: "I know nothing about it. It's not true and that's that. As far as I am concerned, it's nonsense."
Former F1 team owner and boss Eddie Jordan, however – who gave Schumacher his grand prix debut in 1997 – is still a fan of the German.
"I would sign Ralf Schumacher immediately," he is quoted as saying. "In formula one he was always underestimated."
12/29/09 (GMM) Ralf Schumacher has refused to deny speculation linking him with Toro Rosso's vacant race cockpit for 2010.
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| Ralf Schumacher |
The 34-year-old German, who races with Mercedes in the DTM series, has this week been back in the headlines, revealing an offer from one of F1's new teams that he turned down.
Reports said Toro Rosso, Sauber and Renault remained possibilities for a return to the sport for Schumacher, a six-time race winner who lost his Toyota seat at the end of 2007.
Red Bull-owned Toro Rosso is often billed as a team for young drivers, fielding rookies Sebastien Buemi and Jaime Alguersuari in 2009.
But while Swiss Buemi has been retained for next season, Spanish youngster Alguersuari's future is less certain.
Schumacher, who is six years younger than his famous brother, knows Toro Rosso's team principal Franz Tost well not only from their days at BMW-Williams, but from when Tost managed the German's formative career in Japan.
Austrian Tost, 53, was also employed by Ralf's former manager Willi Weber to look after the driver when he entered F1 with Jordan in 1997, and subsequently switched to Williams in 1999.
"Franz Tost and I are very good friends," Schumacher told Germany's SID news agency this week. "But it should be understood that I am not going to name any teams.
"It is all speculation," he added.
F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone told Bild newspaper in a new interview that it would be "good" if Ralf Schumacher returns to F1.
12/27/09 (GMM) Michael Schumacher's brother might also have made a return to formula one in 2010, it has emerged.
After 40-year-old Michael's sensational comeback with Mercedes GP was announced last week, his younger brother Ralf said: "Honestly, I also would not have hesitated for a second."
Six-time GP winner Ralf, 34, left F1 after losing his Toyota seat at the end of 2007, and now races in the German touring car series DTM with Mercedes.
The newspaper Bild quotes an unnamed friend as revealing: "Ralf had a concrete offer (to return to F1 in 2010) but it wasn't the challenge he wanted."
Bild said the offer was with one of F1's four new teams, Lotus, Virgin, Campos or USF1.
Ralf Schumacher said: "With Mercedes in the DTM I feel very good, but I am sure I would get right back up to speed in a formula one car."
Bild claims Renault and Toro Rosso have internally discussed the possibility of signing the German for 2010.