Martin Brundle once slammed Mercedes for ‘hoofing out’ Michael Schumacher to sign Lewis Hamilton

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Martin Brundle was ‘uncomfortable’ with how Mercedes treated Michael Schumacher before signing Lewis Hamilton.

Hamilton agreed to join the Silver Arrows when his McLaren contract expired at the end of the 2012 season. Schumacher’s own three-year deal at Mercedes was coming to an end.

It was the German’s second stint in F1 after his initial ‘retirement’ in 2006. Schumacher announced he was stepping away for good in October 2012, a few days after Mercedes confirmed the arrival of Hamilton.

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Martin Brundle questioned Mercedes’ handling of Lewis Hamilton move

Reacting to the news at the time, Sky Sports pundit Brundle suggested Mercedes had not treated Schumacher, a seven-time champion, with adequate respect.

He says it would have been more appropriate for Schumacher, 43 years old at the time, to announce his retirement before Hamilton was unveiled.

• READ MORE: Jock Clear picks between Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton in equal cars after working with both

Brundle and Schumacher had been teammates at Benetton during the 1992 F1 season. Die Regenmeister’s final appearance at the Brazilian GP was his 307th overall.

“It’s a shame because it would have been much better if he would have been able to announce that two or three weeks ago rather than sort of being hoofed out by Lewis Hamilton joining the team and effectively fired,” said Brundle.

How Martin Brundle’s judged Michael Schumacher’s winless second spell in F1

Schumacher didn’t win a race in his three years with Mercedes, and only scored one podium. Perhaps the most memorable moment was his pole lap at the 2012 Monaco GP, even if he was demoted five positions due to a gearbox penalty.

While Brundle acknowledged that the comeback was not ‘successful’, he still saw flashes of Schumacher’s brilliance. Nico Rosberg may have outscored him 93-49 in 2012, but they were evenly matched over a qualifying lap (the head-to-head finished 10-10).

“He’s now decided to retire of course for the second time,” said Brundle. “I don’t blame him at all for coming back. He looks in incredible condition.

• READ MORE: Martin Brundle says Michael Schumacher would never have handled F1 grievances like Max Verstappen

“He’s driven well, he’s made some clumsy mistakes, but he’s also put in some great performances. Often this year outqualified Nico Rosberg, who’s highly rated.

“But of course overall it’s not been successful in his comeback. He hasn’t had the immense records he created in his first career but you can’t take them away from him.

“He is a seven-time world champion. He has won 91 Grand Prix. But he has been pushed out now and it sort of feels a little bit uncomfortable.”