» Fry hints Schumacher return is on

Speculation that Michael Schumacher will return to F1 hit fever pitch overnight after Mercedes GP CEO Nick Fry hinted that the German was at the top of the team’s shopping list to partner Nico Rosberg at the team.

Schumacher has been linked to a race drive at Mercedes for 2010 with several sections of the German media believing a deal is all but signed.

On Monday, Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo said that they would not obstruct Schumacher seeking a drive elsewhere. This would surely mean only the German’s neck injury – which ruled him out of a return in 2009 – could prevent him from making a comeback.

Now Fry has dropped the biggest hint to-date that a spectacular comeback could be in the pipeline.

"He would be very good for our team," Fry said. "The view from inside F1, not just my team, is they all hope it will happen. I can’t tell you at this stage [if it will happen], unfortunately. A number of drivers are still available if Michael were to decide not to drive. Then there are alternatives that we would be happy to go with."

But you really want Schumacher, don’t you? Don’t we all?