Michael Schumacher is back in Formula 1

Michael Schumacher will be behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car in 2010. But not with Ferrari. This time he is coming back with Mercedes GP.

Mercedes took over Brawn GP at the end of the season and have announced an all German outfit with Nico Rosberg, son of 1982 world champion Keke Rosberg, as the second driver for the season starting in March.

Schumacher was apparently left out in the cold by Ferrari in 2006, when the team decided to opt for Kimi Raikkonen. The move had paid off as they won the both the drivers and constructors championship. But it went downhill after that.

Schumacher was serving as a Ferrari consultant since his last drive with the team. He was to make his comeback in August this year to replace the injured Felipe Massa, but a neck injury due to a motorcycle accident in February ruled him out.

Incidentally, Schumacher made his professional motorsports debut with the Mercedes sportscar team. He was being groomed by Mercedes for their entry into Formula 1 in 1994. However, their plans were delayed and he ended up with Ferrari.

Mercedes GP is managed by Ross Brawn, the nemesis in chief, when Schumacher had his halcyon days with the Italian outfit. And with the Germans connections revived with his Mercedes stint, it will be interesting to see how the partnership and results develop into. Brawn also engineered a constructors and a drivers championship this year.

Michael will be 41 when he restarts his career. The age limitation is debatable considering that Gabrielle Tarquini won the 2009 WTCC championship at 47 this year.

Formula 1 is set to make up for all the recessionary losses of the year. This year McLaren has two world champions in their line up. Ferrari have usurped twice champion Fernando Alonso and Red Bull has Baby Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel.