Formula One Champion Schumacher Considered as Massa Stand-in - Report

Sports | July 28, 2009, Tuesday // 15:42|  views

Schumacher, who retired from Formula One at the end of the 2006 season, told the BBC in an interview at the German Grand Prix two weeks ago that he was not interested in returning to F1. Photo by BGNES

Seven-time Formula One Champion, Michael Schumacher, is reported to be considered as a stand-in for the current Ferrari driver, Felipe Massa, who crashed Sunday.

Schumacher is not ruling out the possibility of standing in for injured Ferrari driver Felipe Massa, BBC reported.

The Brazilian, Massa, is recovering in hospital after suffering a fractured skull at the Hungarian Grand Prix and is likely to be out for the rest of the year.

"The whole thing will be considered by Ferrari. If they approach Michael, then he will consider it. But there is no reason for him to step into their discussion", Schumacher's spokesperson said.

Schumacher, who retired from Formula One at the end of the 2006 season, told the BBC in an interview at the German Grand Prix two weeks ago that he was not interested in returning to F1.

However, his spokeswoman, Sabine Kehm, said that was a reference to a permanent return.

"Usually, I would say he's not interested because he's fine with his life and he doesn't miss anything but now the situation is so different - it's very hypothetical - and Michael doesn't want to step into that", she stated.

She added that Schumacher still trained every day but that she did not know whether he was fit enough to race an F1 car again.

"Michael had a motorcycle accident in February when he had a neck problem - and I really can't tell you if his neck would be fine to drive an F1 race. If Ferrari asked him whether he would consider driving, he would have it checked - and remember he is a 40-year-old man, too", she said.

A number of other drivers have been mentioned as possible replacements for Massa.

Among them is Renault's Fernando Alonso, who is expected to move to Ferrari in 2010 anyway - although the team have not confirmed that report and the Spaniard has denied it.

Ferrari have two reserve drivers, the Spaniard Marc Gene and the veteran Italian Luca Badoer.

Spaniard Gene - who raced intermittently for Williams as a stand-in during 2003/2004 and has competed in 36 races with a best result of sixth - is the more likely to be given the drive.

Badoer has been a test driver for Ferrari but has not raced since 1999 and has never scored a world championship point.

 

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Tags: Michael Schumacher, Felipe Massa, Formula One, Ferrari

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