Ale Posted July 31, 2009 Report Share Posted July 31, 2009 (edited) A season that has already produced more than its fair share of thrills and spills just got even more exciting after it was confirmed on Wednesday that Michael Schumacher is to make a sensational comeback for Ferrari as temporary cover for the injured Felipe Massa. He's back: seven-time F1 world champion Michael Schumacher will replace Felipe Massa for Ferrari until the end of the season Photo: AP Provided the 40-year-old seven-time world champion can prove his fitness - and the German is a man who prides himself on his conditioning - he will line up against reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton for the very first time at the European Grand Prix in Valencia on Aug 23. The announcement, which will have Ferrari's hardcore tifosi drooling, came just 24 hours after the German driver's manager, Willi Weber, said he was "200 per cent sure" his client would not race in Valencia. That bold prediction was made to look rather foolish at about 6pm on Wednesday. "Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro intends to entrust Michael Schumacher with Felipe Massa's car until the Brazilian driver is able to race again," Ferrari announced on its website. "Michael Schumacher has shown his willingness and in the next few days he will undergo a specific programme of preparation at the end of which it will be possible to confirm his participation in the championship starting with the European Grand Prix." The question is: why? Schumacher, who most certainly does not need the money, said as recently as three weeks ago that he had no intention of making a comeback in a sport he bestrode like a colossus for 15 seasons. And as Weber pointed out, the most successful F1 driver of all time, a man with 91 grand prix wins to his name, is not one to settle for second best. "When Michael was racing he would get as close to perfection as possible," Weber said on Tuesday. "In this case, it would not be perfection; it would be a gamble - and that's not Michael's style." Schumacher clearly has other ideas. Although he said his decision was inspired by a sense of duty to a team for whom he still acts as an advisor following Massa's horrific crash during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix last weekend, he admitted that he was also motivated by the challenge of competing against a new generation of drivers in a new machine. "It is true that the Formula One chapter has long been closed for me but for team loyalty reasons I can't ignore this unfortunate situation," Schumacher said of his close friend Massa, who is expected to miss the rest of the season despite his rapid recovery from a life-threatening skull fracture. "The most important thing first: thank God, all news concerning Felipe is positive, and I wish him all the best again. "This afternoon I met with team principal Stefano Domenicali and Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo and together we decided that I will prepare myself to take the place of Felipe. "As the competitor I am, I also very much look forward to facing this challenge." The subtext was clear; with Ferrari beginning to look as if they are capable of challenging for race wins for the first time this year, Schumacher clearly believes he can add to his incredible tally of victories. And with McLaren's Hamilton having notched his first victory of 2009 in Budapest last weekend, the mouth-watering prospect of their first-ever showdown awaits in Valencia, a race which produced a distinct lack of fireworks on its debut last year. And what effect might Schumi have on Jenson Button's world title bid? How ironic would it be if he cost his old technical director Ross Brawn, now spearheading Brawn GP's march to glory, the constructors' championship? The whole season has just been given a fresh twist - as if it needed it. First Schumacher must prove his fitness. Since retiring in 2006 he has occasionally taken part in motorcycle events and in February he suffered neck and back injuries in a bike accident. His spokeswoman Sabine Kehm warned on Tuesday that those injuries could affect his ability to drive an F1 car which places huge pressures on the neck because of the varying G-forces. However, when the German sets his sights on something, he has an enviable record of achieving it and with the four-week mid-season break stretching ahead of him, he has plenty of time to shed a few pounds. Massa's recovery from a life-threatening skull fracture, meanwhile, continues to go swimmingly. The Brazilian left intensive care and walked around his bed on Wednesday for the first time since his crash. His private doctor, Dino Altmann, also allayed fears over eye damage said he was certain Massa would be able to race again. Until then, it's Schumi-time. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motorsport/formulaone/ferrari/5933916/Michael-Schumacher-returns-to-Formula-One-with-Ferrari.html Edited August 1, 2009 by Ale Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rawad_m Posted July 31, 2009 Report Share Posted July 31, 2009 I've always been a casual f1 fan, but Schu has always brought excitement Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Harry Posted August 1, 2009 Members Report Share Posted August 1, 2009 I never was interested into Formular 1 racing... :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VIsqo Posted August 1, 2009 Report Share Posted August 1, 2009 Well I think it represents some important news for that sport! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Willie Posted August 1, 2009 Report Share Posted August 1, 2009 Ale dude, the Denzel and Eminem topics werent enough, you had to bring an F1 topic as well? :laugh: I think it's great he's returned, shame about the circumstances its under, but still great. Its a no lose situation for him. If he performs well, it'll only increase his legacy, if he performs poorly, it'll get put down to lack of experience in the car, fitness and his age and absence from racing. Its happened at the right time too, Brawn and RBR are flying, McLaren (well at least LH) are back on form, Ferrari theirselves are showing form again, and I would say Renault, but really its only Alonso LOL I dont think the car is that good, I think Alonso is outperforming it. Hope they get the ban overturned as well, it was obvious he slowed down and tried to avoid the wheel dislodging. With next race being Valencia as well it'd be a shame to not see him there. Gonna be a great run in me thinks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ale Posted August 1, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2009 Haha! I just wanted to talk about Schumi's return. There won't be a Hamilton-Alonso debate this time, I promise :laugh: PS: I'm glad Massa is OK. I wish him all the best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Willie Posted August 1, 2009 Report Share Posted August 1, 2009 Haha! I just wanted to talk about Schumi's return. There won't be a Hamilton-Alonso debate this time, I promise :laugh: PS: I'm glad Massa is OK. I wish him all the best. You know it'll happen dude :laugh: Glad Massa is ok also, he wants to race in Valencia... love it, wont happen, but love it LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fresh_from_sofia Posted August 1, 2009 Report Share Posted August 1, 2009 the man ! i dont know if he is gonna win but its great so see him back for awile and i hope its rains ,u know what it means:)) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ale Posted August 11, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 11, 2009 (edited) Michael Schumacher Cancels Comeback Michael Schumacher fans can leave their Dekra hats at home. The former Ferrari driver said that neck pain stemming from a motorcycle accident in February had forced him to call off his Formula One comeback. Unfortunately we did not manage to get a grip on the pain in the neck, which occurred after the private Formula One day in Mugello, even if medically and therapeutically we tried everything possible, he said in a statement. The consequences of the injuries caused by the bike accident in February, fractures in the area of head and neck, unfortunately have turned out to be still too severe. That is why my neck cannot stand the extreme stresses caused by Formula One yet. These are the clear results of the examinations we did on the course of the past two weeks and the final examination yesterday afternoon. As there were no improvements after the day in Mugello, I decided at short notice on Sunday to do that thorough examination already yesterday. Luca Badoer, Ferraris 38-year-old test driver, will step in for the injured Felipe Massa at the European Grand Prix later this month. Massa crashed in qualifying at the Hungarian Grand Prix two weeks ago, and was released from the hospital last week. For Ferrari fans, this is a bittersweet conclusion to the Schumacher comeback. While Schumacher would have juiced up fans eager to see if the seven-time world champion could still battle the new generation of drivers, like Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel, Badoer has always been a Ferrari fan favorite. As the teams primary test driver for the last 10 years (after a racing career in backmarker cars), Badoer has had a hand in developing every car for Ferrari since 1999, including five championship-winning cars for Schumacher. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/11/michael-schumacher-cancels-comeback/ Pity! :hissyfit: Edited August 11, 2009 by Ale Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VIsqo Posted August 11, 2009 Report Share Posted August 11, 2009 lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ale Posted August 12, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 12, 2009 (edited) They sold a lot of tickets when people heard Schumacher was gonna compete again but now they won't see him :grouphug3: Edited August 12, 2009 by Ale Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VIsqo Posted August 13, 2009 Report Share Posted August 13, 2009 I guess thats life.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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