The momentum behind a possible return to Formula One by Michael Schumacher gathered pace Monday when Ferrari announced it would not stand in the seven-time champion's way. Schumacher has acted as a consultant for Ferrari since his retirement in 2006, a position he would have to relinquish if he took up the reported seven million euro deal to drive for Mercedes in 2010. Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo said the 40-year-old German's role was “not binding,” a statement that removed yet one further obstacle to what would be a dream return not only for new outfit Mercedes and F1 fans but also for the sport's organizers. Di Montezemolo, in comments on the BBC's website, added: “If he takes another road our agreement will no longer be valid. “You can't work with a competitor and with us at the same time. “I still haven't spoken to him about it. He is only a dear friend, not a team member. He is a consultant for our road cars.” Schumacher was all set to return to the fast lane in August as a replacement for the injured Felipe Massa at Ferrari, only for his comeback to be thwarted by the neck injury he sustained in a bike accident in February. Schumacher's neck injury is now understood to have fully healed. On Sunday reports from Germany suggested Schumacher had agreed a deal to drive alongside Nico Rosberg at Mercedes, the team that powered Jenson Button to the drivers' title racing as Brawn GP. Mercedes bought out the British-based outfit which rose from the ashes of Honda, with Ferrari's former chief engineer Ross Brawn as its guiding light. Rosberg, who has already been signed up for Mercedes, is excited at having Schumacher as his teammate, the drive having become available with Button's move to McLaren. “I hope that my teammate will be sorted out pretty soon and at the moment the rumors are very strong for Michael Schumacher,” the 24-year-old said. “I have no idea if it is true or not but obviously if he would join that would be an absolutely fantastic move.” Former world champion Damon Hill weighed in to the ‘should he shouldn't he' debate over a possible comeback by Schumacher at the weekend - urging the 41-year-old to go for it. “If I can win a race when I was 37 in a Jordan, then Michael can defrinitely win a race in a Ross Brawn car at 41,” the Briton who won the title in 1996 wrote in The Times Saturday. If he did return Schumacher would be by no means the oldest driver to start a race - that distinction is held by France's Louis Chiron, who was 58 years and 288 days when he lined up for the 1958 Monaco Grand Prix. And should he return and actually win a race then Schumacher will be some 12 years younger than Luigi Fagioli, who was 53 years and 22 days when he won the 1951 French Grand Prix. Di Grassi is Virgin driver Lucas Di Grassi and Timo Glock have been confirmed as drivers for Virgin Racing in next year's Formula One championship. The announcement was made Tuesday at the official launch of Virgin as title sponsor of the new Manor team. Virgin chairman Richard Branson says it will be the lowest budget team in F1, operating under $64 million. Virgin Racing is joining four other new teams for the 2010 season – Lotus, USF1, Campos and Sauber – on the newly expanded 13-team grid.
