"To be honest, Lance Armstrong is an inspiration" Michael Schumacher revealed to the assembled press in Kuala Lumpur this morning where it was announced that the seven time world champion would join the Brawn GP team effective immediately.
As you may know, Schumacher's contract with Ferrari is up this summer but the German, together with his manager Willi Webber and with full backing of Richard Branson and an ecstatic Bernie Ecclestone , decided this was the right time to reconstitute the all conquering dream team with Ross Brawn.
Perhaps more of a shock to all is that Schumacher will step in in place of Jenson Button, winner of the first race of 2009 in Australia.
"It was important for us to have the old team in place" said the German champion "it just would not be the same without Rubens behind me, we need to write a final chapter of this great novel". The Brazilian was said to have been moved to tears by the gesture.
There has been no comment yet from either Button or Ferrari's Luca di Montezemolo, both are sure to consider legal action.
And here is the rest of it.
