Seven-time F1 World Champion Michael Schumacher left Ferrari in 2006 and retired. But, he was coaxed out and went on to race for Mercedes between 2010 and 2013.

Now, it has emerged that the F1 hero nearly made a triumphant return to Ferrari in 2009. Team principal Luca di Montezemolo was quite convincing and nearly got the job done.

Sadly, hopes of both Schumacher and Ferrari were dashed after medical issues prevented him from driving.

Di Montezemolo met with Schumacher in 2009 after fellow Ferrari driver Felipe Massa suffered a horror crash in Hungary.

Initially, Michael was reluctant, but was somehow convinced to drive for The Prancing Horse again.

He said: “I was very sad when Felipe had this terrible accident in Budapest, so I asked Michael to come to my office.

“I said to him, ‘Listen, Michael, you have to do that for me and for Ferrari, you have to go back’.”

Schumacher was working as a consultant for Ferrari at the time and initially refused.

Di Montezemolo said: “For half an hour he could not be persuaded.

“After an hour he said: ‘Okay, I can not refuse this.'”

The team had four weeks until the next race in Valencia so they were understandably desperate.

They even lined up a two-year-old Ferrari F2007 for him to drive – hoping that he would be ready in time for the Spanish Grand Prix.

Sadly, an injury sustained in a motorbike accident earlier in 2009 would ultimately scupper his chances of racing for his old team.

Di Montezemolo said: “He went into the racing department and was full of enthusiasm, like a kid or a young driver.

“Then he went to Mugello and did a very good test with the old car, but unfortunately his doctor had to stop him from returning and he said he was not ready, which was bad for all of us.”