Schumacher to Test GP2 Car in Abu Dhabi?

Michael Schumacher's potential testing session prior to the signing of a one-year deal with Mercedes GP might not happen at the wheel of a Formula One machinery, but driving a GP2 car. According to recent reports from Germany's newspaper Bild, this solution was reached because Mercedes GP doesn't have a 2-year old running car in the series.

The Brackley based team changed no less than 3 owners in the last year. In mid-December 2008, the team was still owned by Japanese car maker Honda, who invested tens of millions of dollars into developing a race-winning machinery for the 2009 season.

Following their withdrawal at the end of last year, the Honda organization looked for a buyer for months, until finally agreeing to a management buyout to former team principal Ross Brawn. For a while, it was rumored that the British government had some saying in the buyout, but that's a different story.

Finally, a few weeks ago, German manufacturer Daimler AG announced the purchase of 75.1 percent in Brawn GP's team, the British outfit becoming Mercedes' new works team in Formula One. So technically, the German manufacturer – debuting the Mercedes GP nameplate in F1 next year – does not have a 2-year old car, as the 2007 machinery belonged to Honda.

As exemplified by Ferrari in recent days – with Felipe Massa driving an F2007 in Mugello – testing 2-year old F1 cars is currently allowed by the FIA, as long as the challengers are equipped with demonstration tires.

Under the circumstances (and returning to out initial story), Schu might be forced to drive a GP2 car on the Abu Dhabi track, thanks to Aabar Investments company (who owns 30 percent of the Brackley based team). Obviously, the news is yet to be confirmed by either Schu's manager or his spokesperson.