Mercedes has played down, without completely dismissing, media speculation that seven times Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher could come out of retirement as Jenson Button's replacement. “It's clear that there will always be speculation as long as one cockpit is still free,” said a spokesman for the German carmaker, which has taken over world champion Brawn, Saturday. “And some speculations are nothing but dreams which will not come true.” Britain's newly crowned world champion Button has signed for McLaren where he will have the No. 1 on his car as teammate to 2008 champion and compatriot Lewis Hamilton next season. Brawn, which will compete as Mercedes in 2010, has yet to name its driver line-up although Germany's Nico Rosberg is sure to be one of them. Former F1 team owner turned television pundit Eddie Jordan stoked the speculation when he told BBC radio that he was sure Schumacher, who will be 41 in January, was in the frame to replace Button. “It started with a meeting between Michael, Ross Brawn and Daimler chief executive Dieter Zetsche at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix,” he added. Schumacher's spokeswoman was not immediately available for comment.
