I can see Schumi being replaced by Nico Hulkenburg at the end of 2011. He should not have returned.
Think this is very very naive. Schumacher can command what he chooses to do or not do. If he chooses to stay on for another two or even possibly more years, Mercedes will support him unless he really was doing consistently poorly. However if he continued to do poorly into the third year, I have a strong feeling he would stop of his own accord.
What I can guarantee is that he won't have the same slow start to the season in 2011 that he did in 2010, especially not in a car that he has helped to develop and on tyres that he already has said he likes much better. Unless the car is a complete dog, I'd be fairly confident that he will get podiums at the least in 2011.
Indeed, I'm quite sure that were it not for the testing ban last year and he got more miles in during the early part of the season to adjust to cars that are much different beasts to what they were when he had last raced in 2006, he would likely have had another 20-30 points on top of what he ended up with.
I really think some people seriously underestimate the level of driver / racer / concentration / skill / determination / consistency etc. it takes to actually get a F1 car round a track once on an empty track, let alone with 20+ others in the heat of battle. I don't think
anybody would be able to walk straight back and win immediately after a full three years out of the sport at the current level these guys are operating on. I think personally Schumacher did very well to be competing for points in most of the races he was in given that there were 6 better cars from the start, and 8 (the Renaults) by the end of the season, along with the always improving Williams amongst others...
2011 I think many (if they're not expecting it!) will be in for a surprise at how much Schumacher raises his game...
Favourite racing series: F1, Indycar, NASCAR, GP2, F3, Formula E, Trophee Andros, DTM, WTCC, BTCC, World Endurance... etc. etc.