Why Schumacher is Back

He's testing again, and some aren't ruling out a full-time return. By STEVE COOPER

The concept of retirement always seemed strange for a man as relentlessly driven as Michael Schumacher. While he was hardly missed during the thrilling 2007 season, it was nonetheless intriguing to see him return to the cockpit during testing in Barcelona.

Given his performances, topping the timesheets on both his days of running and receiving the call-up for next month's Jerez test, there has been plenty of speculation as to his motives for getting back in a car.

Is a full-blown comeback on the cards, or are we simply seeing a man still in love with Formula 1 unable to resist the chance to get behind the wheel of the fastest car on the grid? Autosport investigates the possible reasons.

1 He can just ask Ferrari for a go

Schumacher conceded his return to the cockpit at Barcelona earlier this month was sparked by a brief outing in an F2007 at Fiorano in October. After sampling the latest car for only a handful of laps in rainy conditions, Schumacher admitted that his appetite had been well and truly whetted.

And given his close ties to the team, he simply made a few calls to the relevant parties, informing them of his availability for the Barcelona session. Ferrari jumped at the chance to utilise his abilities.

2 Bridgestone slick tyre evaluation

As Bridgestone prepares to evaluate the return of slick tyres at next week's Jerez test, it made perfect sense to bring in a driver whose development skills had given the Japanese rubber a competitive edge for almost a decade.

While Schumacher never raced Bridgestone slicks, he has enjoyed a close relationship with the Japanese manufacturer since 1999 and has been instrumental in refining the rubber. His test role is believed to have been personally approved by Bridgestone's director of motorsport tyre development, Hirohide Hamashima.

3 Ferrari gains from his experience

Schumacher's feedback was long harnessed by Ferrari. In Barcelona, the team was able to use Michael's experience of driving without traction control as it honed its new-for-2008 common ECU. Schumacher recently confirmed that his rekindled passion had the benefit of assisting Ferrari. "The plan was just for me to further develop the car and give as much input as I could," he said. "It's just about having fun and helping the team. Together, it's a perfect fit."

4 He's bored

Michael's competitive nature means inactivity rests uneasily on his shoulders. "I've been doing my parachuting licence and exploring new things," he said recently. "I'm kind of a restless guy. But I still do training, play football often and do as much as I can. I can't just sit on the sofa and grow love handles."

The loss of the intense, competitive environment of F1, wife Corinne's burgeoning interest in equestrianism and the growth of his children has given him a greater chance to indulge his whims - hence the recent test of a Ducati GP7 MotoGP bike.

5 He's warming up for the Race of Champions

Humbled by rookie Heikki Kovalainen during his last attendance at the motorsport all-comers' end-of-season bash in 2004, Schumacher will be motivated to redress the balance. The December 16 event at Wembley Stadium will be the only chance for British fans to catch Schumacher in action this year, and his win in a Felipe Massa-organised kart race in Brazil last weekend means he will be fired up for victory.

6 It's an ego thing

Observers have suggested that Schumacher's return also satisfies his ego. They claim he has no intention of returning competitively and a testing environment gives him the perfect opportunity to garner exposure without fear of humiliation. Surely, it can be no coincidence that Schumacher's Jerez test has been scheduled alongside Felipe Massa and not next to Kimi Raikkonen, who could have given him problems. The ability to wipe the floor with guys almost half his age must also give Schumacher satisfaction.

7 He's considering team management

In the same way that Alain Prost learned about modern F1 by testing for McLaren ahead of buying Ligier, Schumacher may be evaluating the current environment in order to expand his F1 interests through team ownership. It's an idea that has recurred throughout the German's career, and a Ross Brawn-Schumacher super- team has been mooted on more than one occasion.

8 He's considering a racing return

It's a tantalising prospect: the departed champion returning to face a new generation on his own terms. "He could still win a championship with Ferrari if he wanted," said former racer John Watson. "I'm sure Ferrari could turn to Michael if it needed a sudden substitute driver - but it's a question of whether he would be prepared to do it."

Schumacher has continually stated that a full-time return is not on the cards, but how many times have you heard those protestations uttered by hardcore racers who simply can't resist the lure back into the cockpit?