http://www.autoweek.com/article/20090811/F1/908119997 Michael Schumacher has told the Ferrari Formula One team that he can't drive for it at the European Grand Prix in Valencia, Spain, next week. He cited neck pains from a motorcycle crash earlier this year as the reason. Ferrari has named test driver Luca Badoer to fill Felipe Massa's seat. Massa sustained an eye injury in late July during practice for the Hungarian Grand Prix, when he was hit in the head by a spring that had fallen off of a Brawn GP car. Schumacher had been testing a two-year-old Ferrari Formula One car to prepare to fill in for Massa, using a Ferrari program for customers to skirt Formula One's ban on in-season testing. The former world champion fell off a bike during testing in Spain in February while preparing to race in the German Superbike championship. The injury was aggravated when he tested the F2007 at Mugello last week. After a medical examination, he told the team on Monday night that he would not be able to replace Massa. In a statement on his Web site, Schumacher said: “Yesterday evening, I had to inform Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo and Team Principal Stefano Domenicali that unfortunately, I'm not able to step in for Felipe. I really tried everything to make that temporary comeback possible, however, much to my regret it didn't work out. Unfortunately, we did not manage to get a grip on the pain in the neck which occurred after the private F1 day in Mugello, even if medically or therapeutically we tried everything possible. “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 1 yet. This is the clear result 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. “I am disappointed to the core. I am awfully sorry for the guys of Ferrari and for all the fans which crossed fingers for me. I can only repeat that I tried everything that was within my power. All I can do now is to keep my fingers crossed for the whole team for the coming races." Badoer, 38, raced in F1 in the 1993, 1995, 1996 and 1999 seasons but has never scored a championship point. He became Ferrari's F1 test driver in 1997. But that year, he was passed over to replace Schumacher, who broke a leg in a crash at the British Grand Prix. Instead, Ferrari used Mika Salo to drive Schumacher's car. Read more: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20090811/F1/908119997#ixzz0NtRvhhOI
Good that he will get a change and even though we wanted to see Schumaker again, may be best as it is still a lot about the car (See Button earlier this year). You have to have a competitive car to do well, and I want to remember Schumaker going out on top. He should have won the Championship in his last year. It is not his fault the car blew.
Still sucks! I was actually getting excited about F1 again and now a big let down. I am sure if he could have been competitive and fit enough to race Schumi would have been there! Now lets just hope Massa gets better soon.
Yeah me too Jeremy! I was getting really excited! But a good point made by David...he went out on top...and if Schumi came back and wasn't competitive, it would have made both him and Ferrari look bad.
Just 'cause he's not racing in Spain does not mean he's not gonna be in a Ferrari F1 seat later. He's already said he's working on PT to get better for just that, AND the team has even said they'll campaign a 3rd car just for him if he can commit to driving it. Don't count him out just yet! Cheers & C U @ d'Track!! C Chuck Hawks, Pro-Driver, Coach, Instructor & Facilitator DreamsFulfilled, LLC & rEvolution Performance Driving System ©
