Former team owner Eddie Jordan is convinced his former driver Michael Schumacher will return to Formula One in 2010 as a driver for Mercedes GP, as speculation on the German's future continues to mount. Despite winning the world championship with the team in 2009, Jenson Button announced his departure to McLaren earlier this week, leaving a vacant seat at the world champions.

Although Mercedes GP are understood to have Nico Rosberg signed for next season, they still lack a driver with any race-winning experience, while Schumacher's name continues to be mentioned. Speaking to the BBC, Jordan said he was sure Schumacher would be racing with Mercedes in 2010.

“I firmly believe that the Brawn team [Mercedes GP] will have Michael Schumacher in it next year,” Jordan told the BBC, “and my reasons for believing is that at Abu Dhabi, the last race [of 2009], Dr Zetsche, Chief Executive of Mercedes-Benz, Ross Brawn and Michael Schumacher were deep in conversaion and I believe it was to do with possibly joining the team as a driver for the 2010 championship.”

Schumacher attempted to return to F1 this year as a replacement for Felipe Massa, but had to abort his plans due to a neck injury. Jordan, however, doesn't think his neck will be an issue if he returns with Mercedes next year.

“The problem about the aborted situation at Ferrari was that time was against him,” continued Eddie. “He looked so fit, he looked so keen and he looked absolutely every bit as strong and as good as when he first started in Formula One - dare I say even better with the maturity and the experience.

“I do not see the neck being a problem. I think there are more than enough capable people to solve that between now and the start of the season.”

But Jordan doesn't believe any potential return by Schumacher will be for the long-term, instead that the seven-times champion will be a stop-gap for Mercedes until they can secure the services of fellow German driver Sebastian Vettel, currently with Red Bull.

“I think the comeback would be a 1-year deal. Ultimately I believe Mercedes want Sebastian Vettel, they can't get him - he's in Red Bull, and that's the key to all this,” he predicted. “I think the Schumacher contract will revolve around the ability to be able to prise Vettel out of Red Bull.

“Whether it takes 1 year or 2 years I do believe Mercedes are not wishing to make the mistake they made with Schumacher by not being able to get him. The prize in all of this is Vettel.”

Despite Jordan's comments, Schumacher's spokesperson Sabine Kehm rated the chances of such a deal as 'highly unlikely': “You can never say never in this sport but to me it is highly unlikely at the moment,” said Kehm.

Other names that have been linked with the second Mercedes GP seat include Nick Heidfeld and Kimi Räikkönen. Although a decision could be announced next week, it's likely fans will have to wait longer to be told the team's 2010 line-up.