( CNN ) -- Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has revealed that he believes seven-time Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher will come out of retirement and join the new Mercedes team . The German has been a consultant with Ferrari , for whom he won five of his drivers ' crowns , since he ended his career in 2006 . He almost got back behind the wheel for the Italian marque this year as a replacement for the injured Felipe Massa , but his comeback was cut short due to the lingering effects of a neck injury suffered in a motorbike accident . However , the 40-year-old is now reportedly ready to return alongside compatriot Nico Rosberg for 2010 with German manufacturer Mercedes , who took a controlling interest in 2009 's double world champions Brawn . Di Montezemolo told reporters at Ferrari 's Christmas lunch in Fiorano that Schumacher was close to sealing a deal , the UK Press Association reported . `` I had n't spoken to him since Abu Dhabi but I spoke to him on Wednesday , '' Di Montezemolo said . `` He phoned me and he told me that there is a very , very , very strong possibility [ of joining Mercedes ] . `` Having said that , it is not 100 percent decided . But that is what he said . '' Schumacher is poised to end a 13-year association with Ferrari if he joins Mercedes . `` The real Schumacher , the one I know , will remain forever part of the Ferrari family , '' Di Montezemolo told Ferrari 's official Web site . `` I said it in Monza and I repeated it in Abu Dhabi , but , it seems he has a twin brother , identical in every way , who seems to have it in his head to go and race in Formula One with Mercedes . `` I do n't know him personally , but it seems we have nothing to offer him -- we have two young drivers in Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso , on whom we are counting to deliver a lot next year . `` I think that , this summer , when I asked him to stand in for Felipe , after the terrible accident in Budapest , he suddenly rediscovered the desire to race and the fact he was unable to follow through with that , left him a void that we are unable to fill . `` I remember how despondent he sounded on the evening of August 9 , when he called me to say that the problem with his neck meant he could not race in Valencia . `` We have tried to move forward with the idea of running a third car , but for the moment , that is not possible . I do n't know what he will decide for the future , but I extend to him , and indeed his twin brother , my very best wishes . ''
Ferrari believe F1 legend Montezemolo will come out of retirement . President Di Montezemolo Luca di says five -time world champion will join Mercedes . The 40-year-old was unable to make comeback with Ferrari due to neck injury . The Ferrari told Di Montezemolo there is a strong chance he will sign for Mercedes .