Schu told Merc of F1 exit five minutes before call

Michael Schumacher surprised even Mercedes when he announced his decision to return to retirement.

Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport said that even though bosses Ross Brawn and Norbert Haug flanked the seven time world champion as he announced the news, they had only been told what was going to happen just five minutes earlier.

"We had been preparing for a different kind of press conference," Haug revealed.

"Michael, Ross and I were going to answer the questions that had arisen after the transfer (announcement) of Lewis Hamilton," Mercedes’ racing president added.

Haug said he would not have had a problem if Schumacher had opted to keep his F1 career alive by switching to Sauber.

"What would have been wrong with that?" the German wondered.

But Sauber chief executive Monisha Kaltenborn on Friday insisted there had been "no negotiations" with the 43-year-old about 2013 prior to Schumacher’s decision to retire.