’Team India’ could be lifeline for Ralf
It was reported on Monday that, given the buyout of the Dutch outfit by Indian billionaire and Schumacher friend Vijay Mallya, the 32-year-old could wind up at 'Team India' – or whatever the team will be called in 2008 – as a race driver and advisor.
An unnamed 'insider', however, told the German specialist publication Sport Bild that the speculation is wide of the mark.
"Ralf Schumacher is not a topic for us," the insider said.
"Adrian Sutil is set, the second driver is still to be decided — but it will not be Ralf Schumacher."
Sport Bild did not name its source, but it should be pointed out that, in the Spyker takeover by the Mol family and Mallya consortium, the team management including boss Colin Kolles is expected to be kept in place.
09/03/07 (GMM) The buyout of the Spyker team by Indian billionaire Vijay Mallya could save Ralf Schumacher's endangered formula one career, according to reports.
German daily newspaper Bild-Zeitung reports that the pair are close friends and business associates, and could be set to link up with an eight-digit retainer for 32-year-old Schumacher as a race driver and advisor in 2008.
Ralf, whose current Toyota contract expires at the end of the year, traveled with team sponsor Mallya to India earlier this year, and has also spent time on his 95-metre super-yacht 'Indian Empress'.
In May, Schumacher referred to Dr Mallya as "a friend of mine".