Michael Schumacher turned Lotus down after they enquired as to whether he would be interested in coming out of retirement to replace Kimi Raikkonen for the final two races of the season.
That’s the claim of his manager, Sabine Kehm, who confirmed to the BBC that the Enstone outfit, who are desperately seeking an experienced driver to fill in for the injured Raikkonen, approached Schumacher.
“It is true they were asking and I can understand why,” she said. “Everyone can see Michael is still very fit.
“I think it is fair to assume Michael would still be strong but he has happily settled in his new life.”
Had the 44-year-old taken up Lotus’s offer, it would have been the second time he’d come out of retirement following his return in 2010.
The seven-time world champion retired at the end of the 2012 season after Mercedes replaced him with Lewis Hamilton.
Heikki Kovalainen will now take up the vacant seat for both the United States and Brazilian grands prix after Nico Hulkenberg also turned the British team down.
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