Michael Schumacher to make F1 comeback in Spain

[JulesMaximus]

Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher will come out of retirement and make a sensational return to Formula 1 competition as a replacement for Ferrari?s injured driver Felipe Massa, starting at the next race in Valencia on August 23.

After two days of feverish speculation in which rumours and denials vied for media attention, Ferrari confirmed that Schumacher will indeed stand in for Massa while the Brazilian driver recovers from head injuries suffered in his Hungaroring accident.

?Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro intends to entrust Michael Schumacher with Felipe Massa?s car for as long as the Brazilian driver is not able to race,? the team said in a statement.

Schumacher, the most successful F1 driver of all time, retired from the sport at the end of 2006, when he narrowly failed to claim an eighth title after a tight duel with Renault?s Fernando Alonso.

He has subsequently tested Ferrari?s F1 cars on several occasions, but has not done so in 15 months and has yet to drive the Maranello squad?s 2009 challenger.

With F1 subject to an in-season testing ban this year, he won?t have the opportunity to sample the F60 on a race track until practice gets underway in Valencia, although he will be able to familiarise himself with the car in straight-line tests.

The German was renowned for his physical fitness during his F1 heyday and still trains regularly, but his spokeswoman Sabine Kehm admitted earlier this week that a minor neck injury sustained in a motorbike accident in February might be a concern.

Ferrari said the 40-year-old would undertake a tailored training programme over the next few weeks to ensure he is fit enough to race in time for Valencia.

?Michael 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 on 23 August,? the team said.

The news of Schumacher?s return brings an end to two days of frenzied speculation, in which first his spokeswoman indicated that he would ?consider? deputising for Massa if called upon by Ferrari and then his manager Willi Weber categorically denied that he would race in Valencia.

With Massa likely to be out of action for the rest of the season and no other top drivers available, Ferrari turned to its most illustrious alumnus to fill the second seat alongside Kimi Raikkonen.

After meeting team principal Stefano Domenicali and Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo on Wednesday, Schumacher said he felt duty-bound to help the team in its hour of need.

Man, I can't wait to see how he does. He's going to have to hit the gym and start working on his neck muscles that's for sure. Another interesting twist they didn't mention in this article is that Valencia is a track he's never driven on before.

The press surrounding the next race is going to be absolutely insane.

 

[DivideBYZero]

This will be truly an epic test for his skills. The cars are very different from what he was driving the season he retired. This mixed up with the now competitive McLaren cars we should see some sparks fly.

I cannot wait.

 

[dandruff]

wooohooo .... i am giddy like a lil schoolgirl ... this overshadowed BMW's F1 exit real fast ... cant wait ...

imagine the pressure and imagine how much Ferrari is paying him ...

 

[zerocool84]

W
O
W

 

[sindows]

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
This will be truly an epic test for his skills. The cars are very different from what he was driving the season he retired. This mixed up with the now competitive McLaren cars we should see some sparks fly.

I cannot wait.

I doubt it, doesn't Schumacher test regularly for Ferrari? If so, the cars shouldn't be that much of a handful compared to what he drive a few years back. But I'm still giddy, I would love to see his ability against Hamilton and something tells me the German is still more than competative..

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: sindows

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
This will be truly an epic test for his skills. The cars are very different from what he was driving the season he retired. This mixed up with the now competitive McLaren cars we should see some sparks fly.

I cannot wait.

I doubt it, doesn't Schumacher test regularly for Ferrari? If so, the cars shouldn't be that much of a handful compared to what he drive a few years back. But I'm still giddy, I would love to see his ability against Hamilton and something tells me the German is still more than competative..

No, he doesn't. In fact, I don't think he's driven an F1 car in a couple years.

 

[Lonyo]

Originally posted by: sindows

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
This will be truly an epic test for his skills. The cars are very different from what he was driving the season he retired. This mixed up with the now competitive McLaren cars we should see some sparks fly.

I cannot wait.

I doubt it, doesn't Schumacher test regularly for Ferrari? If so, the cars shouldn't be that much of a handful compared to what he drive a few years back. But I'm still giddy, I would love to see his ability against Hamilton and something tells me the German is still more than competative..

They seriously curtailed testing this year to cut down costs.
Luca Badoer and Marc Gene are the two Ferrari test drivers anyway, so they've done the testing, while Schumi hasn't seen action for over a year.

 

[helpme]

Maybe they will give him an old engine for Friday practice so he can do as many laps as he can handle before time runs out.

I think the BBC guys said that Jaime Alguersuari did around 100 laps in free practice before the last race. I'm sure Scuhmacher will do a butload too to get used to the car and track.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: sindows

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
This will be truly an epic test for his skills. The cars are very different from what he was driving the season he retired. This mixed up with the now competitive McLaren cars we should see some sparks fly.

I cannot wait.

I doubt it, doesn't Schumacher test regularly for Ferrari? If so, the cars shouldn't be that much of a handful compared to what he drive a few years back. But I'm still giddy, I would love to see his ability against Hamilton and something tells me the German is still more than competative..

No, he doesn't. In fact, I don't think he's driven an F1 car in a couple years.

Correct. Other than a race weekend drivers can only do straight line testing.

Other things to consider is that driving aids were available when Schuie was king. Now there in no launch control, no ABS, no TC. It's not exactly going to be an uphill struggle for him, he's an epic driver, but you cannot assume it will be a white wash.

 

[mk52]

The fact the Jaime Alguersuari was able to perform quite well without ever driving an F1 car other than in a straight line, leads me to believe that Schumi should be fine.

The real question is can he be competitive?

I also wonder how they enforce this test ban, cant Ferrari just let him drive a car around the factory track in Maranello.
I mean who would know, or is this simply based on good faith by the manufacturer?

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: mk52
The fact the Jaime Alguersuari was able to perform quite well without ever driving an F1 car other than in a straight line, leads me to believe that Schumi should be fine.

The real question is can he be competitive?

I also wonder how they enforce this test ban, cant Ferrari just let him drive a car around the factory track in Maranello.
I mean who would know, or is this simply based on good faith by the manufacturer?

If someone were running an F1 car around a test track the FIA would find out about it. It's kind of hard to mask that kind of thing and if they did and the FIA found out they would come down very hard on the team found skirting the rules.

 

[mk52]

Test tracks (i.e. calendar racing circuits) sure, but large manufacturers have their own tracks right outside their factories, do they not? I guess I would be kinda risky, but after last years SpyGate affair nothing surprises me with these teams.

Also would he be allowed to test a similar car, for example could he drive last years car around the Maranello track?

Either way it will be very interesting to watch how he does.... cant wait

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: mk52
The fact the Jaime Alguersuari was able to perform quite well without ever driving an F1 car other than in a straight line, leads me to believe that Schumi should be fine.

The real question is can he be competitive?

I also wonder how they enforce this test ban, cant Ferrari just let him drive a car around the factory track in Maranello.
I mean who would know, or is this simply based on good faith by the manufacturer?

True, but Alguersuari has been racing for years, too, just not in F1.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: mk52
Test tracks (i.e. calendar racing circuits) sure, but large manufacturers have their own tracks right outside their factories, do they not? I guess I would be kinda risky, but after last years SpyGate affair nothing surprises me with these teams.

Also would he be allowed to test a similar car, for example could he drive last years car around the Maranello track?

Either way it will be very interesting to watch how he does.... cant wait

I'm not sure how the rules deal with that. I'm sure the penalties for breaking them are friggin huge though.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: mk52
Test tracks (i.e. calendar racing circuits) sure, but large manufacturers have their own tracks right outside their factories, do they not? I guess I would be kinda risky, but after last years SpyGate affair nothing surprises me with these teams.

Also would he be allowed to test a similar car, for example could he drive last years car around the Maranello track?

Either way it will be very interesting to watch how he does.... cant wait

I'm not sure how the rules deal with that. I'm sure the penalties for breaking them are friggin huge though.

if he didn't renew, schu will immediately be granted the necessary superlicense. i'm under the impression he will immediately be up to speed in the car. in fact, my initial reaction was to shout "HA HA HA you're fucked now!"

ferrari's 3rd and 4th drivers wouldn't be able to test, so neither is schu.


http://www.formula1.com/inside...ulations/8713/fia.html

Testing

Published with permission from the Federation Internationale de l' Automobile.

22) TRACK AND WIND TUNNEL TESTING
22.1 a) Track testing shall be considered any track running time undertaken by a competitor entered in the
Championship with the exception of :
i) promotional or demonstration events carried out using tyres provided specifically for this purpose by the appointed supplier ;
ii) three one day young driver training tests carried out between the end of the last Event of the Championship and 31 December of the same year, any such driver having not competed in more than two F1 World Championship Events ;
iii) eight one day aerodynamic tests carried out on FIA approved straight line or constant radius sites between 1 January 2009 and the end of the last Event of the Championship.
b) No competitor may carry out more than 15,000km of track testing during a calendar year.
c) No track testing may take place between the start of the week preceding the first Event of the Championship and 31 December of the same year.
d) During all track testing cars must be fitted with the FIA ECU required by Article 8.2 of the 2009 FIA Formula One Technical Regulations.
e) No track testing is permitted at sites which are not currently approved for use by Formula 1 cars. In order to ensure that venue licence conditions are respected at all times during track testing, competitors are required to inform the FIA of their test schedule in order that an observer may be appointed if deemed necessary.
f) During all Formula One track testing :
- red flag procedures must be respected ;
- no other type of vehicle is permitted on the track ;
- every reasonable effort should be made to ensure that the recommendations concerning emergency services detailed in Article 16 of Appendix H to the Code are followed.
g) If, after an incident during track testing, the Medical Warning Light signals that threshold forces have been exceeded the driver must present himself for examination in the circuit medical centre without delay.
h) No wind tunnel testing may be carried out using a scale model which is greater than 60 percent of full size.
i) No wind tunnel testing may be carried out at a speed exceeding 50 metres/second.


edit:
i am proven wrong yet again
http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/he...ail/090731095431.shtml

The aim is to test whether Schumacher's neck injury, sustained in a motorcycle testing crash in February, will prevent his scheduled return to substitute for the injured Felipe Massa as from the European Grand Prix at Valencia late next month.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

nnooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/200...r-cancels-f1-comeback/

 

[helpme]

Yeah, read that this morning. Sucks, it takes away some of the excitement over the next race.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: The Boston Dangler
nnooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/200...r-cancels-f1-comeback/

I saw that this afternoon. This really puts a damper on the next race IMO...

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Topic Title: Michael Schumacher to make F1 comeback in Spain

No he's not

Body is shot from wrecking on two wheels

 

[LTC8K6]

A little late, aren't you?

 

[boomhower]

Regardless if he comes back this year they are now saying they want to field a third car for him next year, this could get interesting.

 

[thedarkwolf]

That isn't even legal so how is that suppose to happen?

 

[boomhower]

Lobby to have the rules change I suppose, but that was a quote from a speedtv story from upper Ferrari management.

 

[PlasmaBomb]

Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
That isn't even legal so how is that suppose to happen?

I think he was testing in a 2007 car which would be allowed by the rules... although the news here said certain other teams were debating whether or not to challenge that too...