Mercedes GP are understood to have stepped up their interest in bringing Michael Schumacher back to Formula One next season.

The seven-time world champion, 40, was due to make a comeback for Ferrari as a substitute for the injured Felipe Massa last season before a neck injury forced him to stand down.

But following last week's Mercedes takeover of Brawn GP and world champion Jenson Button's switch to McLaren, the possibility of Schumacher reuniting with team principal Ross Brawn, his old mentor at Ferrari, in a German superteam with Nico Rosberg is now a possibility.

Talks are believed to be at a very early stage but Schumacher has now recovered sufficiently from the injury that was caused by a motorcycle accident in 2008 to consider a return.

Meanwhile, Button has finished second to Sebastian Vettel in a poll by Autosport Magazine of the 10 team principals in Formula One as the best driver in 2009.

Not only did pit lane chiefs give 22-year-old Vettel 76 points out of a possible 100 to Button's 67 in the secret vote, but Lewis Hamilton almost pipped his new McLaren team-mate with 65 points.

Red Bull boss Christian Horner said: "Sebastian had a great year and I'm certain he has the makings of a future world champion."