Quote:
Originally Posted by gringottsdirect
Norbert and MS were probably signing off the merchandising deals - I can't wait to buy my McLaren Schumi hat and t-shirt, complete with seven WDC stars !
MS has two undeniable strengths - winning F1 and earning mega-money, a move to McLaren could be his best decision on both counts.
From a marketing point of view MS driving a Mercedes will be ENORMOUS, particularly in Germany, North America, but everywhere else as well, though JPM is also very valuable. With FIAT not being in best of health, who knows what the future holds for Ferrari F1 budgets.
We have all become so familiar with MS as a multi-WDC, almost elder statesman figure that perhaps we are forgetting his passion for racing and winning that earned him all those championships ?
MS has a killer instinct - why would he want to wait for Ferrari to come good again - ignore all the bonding hype - MS will move to McLaren simply because it will be a better opportunity to win another title ?
Much as we love Kimi, from a marketing viewpoint he is not in the same solar system as MS, except in Finland - a small market. Even for Finns - half the flags are combined Kimi / Mika, another couple of years and Kimi will be right up there - but he isn't yet.
If Alonso wins WDC this year, KR will be motivated to switch teams, to drive for Ferrari will boost his profile enormously. If KR wins 2005 championship he will stay at McLaren long term, but MS will still join McLaren in 2007.
For 2007 I can see Schumacher at McLaren alongside Nico Rosberg or suchlike, with Kimi at Ferrari alongside Massa. JPM returning to race in the US.
I believe MS and KR are both more inclined to change teams than their PR would have us believe.
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Firstly, apologies for bumping up an old thread.
Most of us read from back I guess to see most recent posts so hopefully nobody will mind too much.
Its just that as we are perhaps on the brink of Schumi joining Rosberg at Mercedes GP, I am thinking now is a good time while we still are speculating, to revisit the comments posted in this thread way back in 2005.
Whilst the thread title relates to Schumacher joining McLaren, the draw would have been the Mercedes / Haug connection, something which has taken five years to happen... maybe.
Reading the various blogs / forums over the last few weeks pretty much all of the same arguments from this thread are still being used now.
The post directly under my quote above from Knowsley back then simply read...
Unlikely.
Not so unlikely now perhaps ?
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