In one of the biggest shock announcements of recent times, Michael Schumacher is set to make a return to F1 to replace the injured Felipe Massa in the European Grand Prix.
After the weekend Ex-Ferrari champ Niki Lauda said that Schumacher should make a return after stating that the current Ferrari test drivers weren’t up to scratch.
“Who else is he going to ring? The test drivers are useless, and there is nobody else here if you think about it,” said the 60-year-old.
Schumacher’s manager Willi Weber had previously denied reports of him coming back to the, “I don’t see it,” he said. “Ferrari have two good test drivers who are keen to sit in the car if it is available.”
“Whoever sits in the car at the next race in Valencia, it will not be Michael Schumacher. I am not 100 per cent sure; I am 200 per cent sure,” Weber was quoted as saying by The Daily Mail.
But today’s news sees the seven-times world champion step into the cockpit of the F60 ready for the European Grand Prix. Talking of the news Schumacher said “I was meeting this afternoon with Stefano Domenicali and Luca di Montezemolo, and together we decided that I will prepare myself to take the place of Felipe.”
“The most important thing first: thank God, all news concerning Felipe is positive. I wish him all the best again,” said Schumacher.
“Though it is true that the chapter of Formula 1 has been completely closed for me for a long time, it is also true that for loyalty reasons to the team I cannot ignore that unfortunate situation. But as the competitor I am, I also very much look forward to facing this challenge.”
Schumacher hasn’t driven a Formula One care since April last year when he ran an F2008 at Barcelona.
