Most shocking returns
For some, the pipe and carpet slippers just doesn’t give the same adrenaline rush as powering down the main straight at Silverstone at 300kph. After experimented with bike racing, seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher made his return to F1 with Mercedes, claiming there to be more titles in him. The wily old dog was back to his old tricks at the Hungaroring, and proved his speed at Monaco by claiming provisional pole position. But the 91-time Grand Prix winner secured just one podium finish in three years, and seventh place at his 308th and final Grand Prix was an ignominious end to the most successful F1 career of all time.
Having waved goodbye to a sport he had grown weary of in 1979 (and despite his airline going quite well), Niki Lauda shocked the F1 community by signing a three-year deal with McLaren in 1982. A solid albeit fruitless comeback season segued into a third title in 1984, and with one final win at the 1985 Dutch Grand Prix under his belt, Lauda was finally done for good.
Alan Jones, having hung his helmet up after winning at Caesar’s Palace in 1981, was lured back to F1 with Carl Haas’ new team in 1985. Fourth was as good as it got, and Jones disappeared quietly after retiring from his home Grand Prix. For duration between one F1 ‘career’ and another though, few come close to Jan Lammers. Having entered 39 races for Shadow, ATS and Theodore between 1979 and 1982, the Dutchman returned for two more races with the ailing Leyton House squad, ten years after his last F1 start.
Honorable mentions: Kimi Raikkonen signs for Lotus, 2012 (two years out). Mika Hakkinen almost signs for Williams, 2004 (three years out). Nigel Mansell wins the IndyCar title, re-signs for Williams, 1994 (one and a half years out).
– Shots courtesy of F1fanatic
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