Formula One World Champion Michael Schumacher Returns in 2010 With Silver Arrows Team

MICHAEL SCHUMACHER JOINS MERCEDES GP PETRONAS

Stuttgart/Brackley December 23, 2009; The MERCEDES GP PETRONAS Formula One Team can
confirm today that seven-times Formula One World Champion Michael
Schumacher will make his racing return in 2010 with the Silver Arrows
team.

With seven Drivers' World Championships, 248 Grand Prix starts, 91
victories, 154 podium finishes and 68 pole positions, the 40-year old
German needs no introduction following an illustrious and
record-breaking Formula One career from 1991 to 2006 at the Jordan,
Benetton and Ferrari teams. 

Michael's return to racing with MERCEDES GP PETRONAS sees his return to
Mercedes-Benz Motorsport where he began his racing apprenticeship as
part of the Junior Programme in 1990, racing in Group C sports cars and
DTM, and sees Michael renew his partnership with Ross Brawn with whom he
won all seven of his World Championships. 

Today's announcement confirms the MERCEDES GP PETRONAS driver line-up
for the 2010 season with Michael partnering his compatriot, 24 year old
Nico Rosberg, in the Silver Arrows cars.

Michael Schumacher: ""MERCEDES GP PETRONAS represents a new challenge
for me both in a sporting and a personal context. It is a new chapter in
my racing career and I am really looking forward to working with my old
friend Ross Brawn and my companions from my days with the Mercedes
Junior Programme. I am convinced that together we will be involved in
the fight for the Formula 1 World Championship next year and I am
already looking forward to getting back onto the race track. For me,
this partnership closes the circle. Mercedes supported me for so many
years when I began my Formula 1 career and now I can hopefully give
something back to the brand with the star."

Nico Rosberg: "It is fantastic that Michael is returning to Formula One
and will be my team-mate at MERCEDES GP PETRONAS. It's a great challenge
for me to be up against one of the best drivers of all time. I'm sure
that we will form a very strong partnership as he will have lost none of
his speed! It is also great news for our sport and the fans."

Ross Brawn, Team Principal of MERCEDES GP PETRONAS: "I am delighted that
we can confirm today that Michael will make his much-anticipated return
to Formula One next year and drive for our MERCEDES GP PETRONAS team. As
seven-time World Champion, Michael's outstanding record in Formula One
speaks for itself and I am looking forward to working with him again.
With the completion of our driver line-up, I believe that we now have
the most exciting partnership in Formula One with Michael and Nico, who
provide the perfect mix of talent, experience, speed and youth. We can
now turn our full attention to the preparations for the new season and
everyone at MERCEDES GP PETRONAS is extremely excited about the
challenge ahead. With the investment and support in our team provided by
Daimler, Aabar and our new title partner Petronas, and with two such
exciting drivers, we have all of the building blocks in place to have
another successful season in 2010."

Norbert Haug, Vice-President of Mercedes-Benz Motorsports: "In April
1991, when I had been in charge of the Mercedes-Benz Motorsport
programme for just six months, Michael was standing beside me on the
balcony one evening. Without the slightest doubt, he said in a low
voice: "It's about time that I got into Formula 1". Michael had just
turned 22 years of age and four months later, he made his debut at Spa
in a Jordan. Mercedes-Benz helped him to this point and the rest is
history: seven World Championship titles, more than any racing driver,
91 Grand Prix wins, more than any racing driver. Michael has more of
everything than every other driver. As part of the Mercedes Junior
Programme, Michael had raced in Group C sports cars and competed in a
few DTM races. Ross Brawn, then our opponent at Jaguar, quickly realised
Michael's talent and they went on to win all seven of his Drivers' World
Championship titles together at Benetton and Ferrari. Our sporting
ambition has always been that Michael should drive again where his
professional career had started and Michael knew that. We often joked
about it after the races and discussed the prospect seriously several
times during the last 14 years in Formula 1. It didn't happen in 1995,
it didn't happen in 1998 and it didn't happen in 2005. I am delighted
that it will now happen in 2010. I am very much looking forward to
working with Michael and everybody at Mercedes-Benz and Daimler extends
a very warm welcome to our 'apprentice' of 19 years ago. That apprentice
is now the most successful racing driver of all time."