London, Dec. 12 : Mercedes has offered a seven million pound salary to Michael Schumacher to make a sensational F1 comeback.

The German car giant has stepped up its bid to lure the seven-time F1 champ back into the sport, The Sun reports.

Schumacher is mulling a return four years after he retired, and would spearhead the newly-named team following its buyout of Brawn GP.

The German driver, 40, is on a fitness drive after a neck problem ruled out a comeback for Ferrari last season.

Schuey earned 30 million pounds a year in his F1 heyday with Ferrari but driver salaries have since come down dramatically.

His earnings would be way off double champ Fernando Alonso, who is earning around 15 million pounds at Ferrari, and Lewis Hamilton, on 13 millions at McLaren.

But triple champ Niki Lauda said: "Money is not an issue for Michael. The question is whether he would want a new challenge."

Schumacher will race under a radical new points system if he does replace Jenson Button at the Brackley-based outfit. (ANI)