Schumacher believed to have rejoined GPDA

Michael Schumacher is believed to have rejoined the F1 drivers’ union GPDA during the course of the Malaysian GP weekend.

Earlier this season, the returning 41-year-old hesitated to rejoin the Grand Prix Drivers Association, despite playing a leading role until his retirement at the end of 2006.

It was rumoured that the Mercedes driver did not get along with the GPDA’s chairman Pedro de la Rosa, who quit the association in protest after Schumacher’s Monaco ‘Rascasse’ parking incident four years ago.

In Melbourne, Spaniard de la Rosa stepped down and was replaced as chairman by Mercedes reserve driver Nick Heidfeld.

Schumacher’s countryman and friend Sebastian Vettel, and his former Ferrari teammate Felipe Massa, have also now replaced Mark Webber and Fernando Alonso as directors.

Schumacher’s spokeswoman Sabine Kehm was not immediately available for comment.

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