Opinions on Schumacher return

NIKI LAUDA, Three-time F1 world champion
"The return of Michael Schumacher is such a massive sensation that Bernie Ecclestone should pay him half his wages. Has there ever been anything more exciting in motor racing?
"I am not saying that Michael will win because that depends on the speed of the car but I have absolutely no doubts about his ability to perform as well as ever.
"I was 33 when I came out of retirement and he is 40 - but you are what age you want to be. I have no concerns about his reflexes. He will be brilliant.
"The most interesting thing will be to see him up against Kimi Raikkonen in the other Ferrari - who will be faster? Put it this way: Kimi has to get his act together or be shown up.
"After all the politics, the return of Michael Schumacher is the best thing for him, Ferrari and Formula One. Watch him get in and go."
JOHNNY HERBERT, Former F1 driver and Le Mans 24 Hours winner
"He looks after himself anyway, so I'm sure his fitness level will be to a high performance anyway but it's the extra little thing he needs to do before he gets back into a car.
"Also, at least he's doing from Valencia to the end of the year so it'll give him time to get back into the situation or driving an F1 car and everything that comes with at the race weekend.
"He's got everything to gain - Ferrari haven't a won this year so if he comes out of retirement and wins for them this year, he'll be the biggest god in Italy for sure.
"It'd be awesome if was able to do that, but I think it'll be very hard - he's got a very tough team mate to have in Kimi Raikkonen, it might wake him up.
"The other guy who was disappointed when he retired in 2006 was Lewis Hamilton, he always wanted to go against him, now he's got the chance."
MAURICE HAMILTON, BBC Radio 5 Live F1 analyst
"Schumacher's canny racing brain, his ability to think of several things at once while driving at 175 mph, will be as sharp as ever but his fitness will not.
"No amount of graft in the gym will act as a substitute for time spent in the cockpit.
"That burning competitiveness, which clearly has not been extinguished by racing a motorbike and frequently falling off it while being an also-ran, will play havoc with Schumacher's pride if, as suspected, his presence motivates Kimi Raikkonen like never before.
"In the past, the driver in the other Ferrari was number two, even if he dared to be faster, and knew his place. It would be a brave man who suggested to Raikkonen that he should fall into line.
"It is a splendid story for sport, for motor racing, for F1 - but not necessarily for Michael Schumacher in the long run."
MURRAY WALKER, F1 broadcasting legend
"It's a gigantic mountain for even him to climb.
"I have no doubt that he will be physically fit and I don't doubt that he's mentally on top of it.
"It's just that he's bound to be rusty and he's got very little time to catch up."
JONATHAN LEGARD, BBC F1 commentator
"You've got to remember that Michael Schumacher just loves competition. I spoke to him last year about him racing bikes and it was clear that he did it mainly for the competition.
"The temptation was clearly too great. Once you're a racing driver, you're always a racing driver - you always have that competitive instinct.
"The cars have changed and are different to what he left in October 2006 but I can't believe that it will take him too long to blow away a few cobwebs. Whether he can be a winner is another matter."
EDDIE JORDAN, Former F1 team boss and BBC pundit
"Michael Schumacher is absolutely hard core.
"I think whether he is 20 or 40 years old makes little difference.
"His reactions may be a millisecond away but then he was a millisecond better than everyone else previously so I think he's just levelled it out.
"Well done to Ferrari for making this happen but especially well done to Michael because he has nothing to gain out of this and a lot to lose.
"I've been massively critical of Kimi Raikkonen and I think this is going to be the big wake-up call for him.
"You will see a new Raikkonen because he will not want to be disgraced by Michael.
"In fact, it could rejuvenate the whole of the Ferrari team, which has been a bit lacklustre this year."
JODY SCHECKTER, Former F1 world champion
"Niki Lauda came back and won the world championship, so it's not impossible.
"He's been trying to become competitive on motorcycles, which is probably more stupid. You've got to say he's probably the greatest of all time in F1 so I would think he'll be competitive pretty quickly."
JOHN WATSON, Former Brabham and McLaren driver
"Michael will spend a lot of time in the Ferrari F1 simulator between now and Valencia.
"He's not race fit but that simulator is almost as good as the real thing. Believe me, he will not go to Valencia unless he thinks he has not only a chance to pick up points for the team but also that he can win the race.
"There's every chance he will be there for the rest of the season. Michael will be the best available to Ferrari - and he might be so good that they will offer him a drive for 2010."


By Adam Feneley
Motorsport Engineering
www.motorsportengineering.blogspot.com
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Hamilton delighted to race alongside Schumacher

Reigning F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton says it will be "an honour and a privilege" to race against seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher.
The German is coming out of retirement to drive for Ferrari while Felipe Massa recovers from a crash and will return to racing at the European Grand Prix.
"He is one of the sport's greatest competitors, a legend - it'd be great to compete against him," said Hamilton.
"The whole world will be watching his return to the cockpit in Valencia."
Schumacher, 40, retired at the end of 2006 but has remained closely involved with Ferrari.
The German will now cover for his former team-mate Massa while the Brazilian recovers from the serious injuries he suffered when he crashed in qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix, which was won by Hamilton.
The English driver has previously spoken of his regret at never having had an opportunity to go head to head with Schumacher, but at the next grand prix, on the street circuit in Valencia, he will finally get his chance.
"It will not only be fascinating to see how he readies himself for his grand prix comeback, but also an honour and a privilege to race against him for the very first time. I wish him well," added Hamilton.
This season's championship leader Jenson Button also said he was pleased at Schumacher's return.
"Everyone is saying he can only lose because if he wins it will be expected, and if he doesn't, they'll say he's lost it," said Button.
"It's a tough position for him to be in but I'm happy he's taken up the challenge and it's very brave of him.
"He's still young - 40 is not old and he'll still be competitive.
Brawn driver Button leads the championship by 18.5 points after a sensational start to the season, winning six of the first seven races.
But he has gone off the boil recently, without a podium place in the last three races, and at the next race he will also have Schumacher to contend with.
And Button does not expect the man who has already won 91 grands prix to just to make up the numbers.
"His reactions will still be there and I'm sure he's fit enough," he said.
"He tested in winter and was quick, he jumped in and on the first run he was competitive."
Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen said he is looking forward to working alongside Schumacher.
"If it really happens I will be happy to partner him, even though it may not have much effect on my own performance," said the 30-year-old Finn, who was the 2007 Formula One world champion.
Since retiring from racing, Schumacher has remained in touch with the sport as well as taking part in motorcycle racing.
However, he suffered neck and back injuries in a bike accident in February and must now go through a rigorous training regime to prove his fitness.
"I hope he's up to it physically and he can pass the tests that must be administered for the neck muscles, which he hasn't used in a while," said Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo.
"But already, the entire team is working to prepare him. On Friday, he'll have his first tests on the track."
The Valencia circuit has been modified since Schumacher retired, while the ban on in-season testing could also count against the F1 legend, who must rely on Ferrari's simulators to prepare him for his first drive in a 2009 specification Ferrari.
"This will be a big problem, at least for the first race, because he's going to find himself on a circuit he's never driven on, with a car he's never driven, and with technology he doesn't know," Montezemolo said.
"But, unfortunately, this is the price we have to pay"

BBC
Adam Feneley
Motorsport Engineering
www.motorsportengineering.blogspot.com
-- Post From My iPod Touch

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Eddie Jordan: We will see a new Raikkonen

Eddie Jordan believes Michael Schumacher's shock return to Formula One will serve as "a big wake-up call" to Kimi Raikkonen.

The Finn has not been on the pace in his Ferrari since winning the 2007 world title, appearing disinterested and far from in love with the sport.

Many believe this is Raikkonen's last season, despite the fact he has another year remaining on his contract.

But with Ferrari and Schumacher taking a gamble, Jordan feels Raikkonen will suddenly be reinvigorated.

Jordan said: "Well done to Ferrari for making this happen, but especially well done to Michael Schumacher because he has nothing to gain out of this, and a lot to lose."

Ferrari confirmed on Wednesday that Schumacher will be ready in time for the European Grand Prix in Valencia on August 23rd.


ITN
By Adam Feneley
Motorsport Engineering
www.motorsportengineering.blogspot.com
-- Post From My iPod Touch

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Schumacher makes shock return to F1 in place of Massa

Michael Schumacher will make a shock return to Formula 1 to replace injured Ferrari driver Felipe Massa.
The seven-time world champion, 40, retired at the end of 2006 but has agreed to drive at the European Grand Prix in Valencia on 23 August.
Massa fractured his skull in Hungarian GP qualifying and may be out for the rest of the year.
Schumacher, who is a Ferrari advisor said; "For team loyalty reasons I can't ignore this unfortunate situation."
His spokesman Sabine Kehm told the BBC on Tuesday that although Schumacher was not willing to make a full-time return to F1 he would not rule out standing in for Massa.
Now, the German racing legend has decided to come out of retirement and make a sensational return despite admitting: "It is true that the Formula 1 chapter has long been closed for me.
"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 German racing legend has not driven an F1 car since April 2008 and now has just over three weeks to prepare himself for Valencia.
The ban on in-season testing means Schumacher will not be able to turn a wheel of the 2009 specification Ferrari before first practice on Friday 21 August.
However, the team have chosen Schumacher ahead of test drivers Marc Gene and Luca Badoer to drive for Ferrari whilst Massa continues to recuperate.
"Ferrari intends to entrust Michael Schumacher with Felipe Massa's car for as long as the Brazilian driver is not able to race," a statement said.
"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."
Schumacher will undergo an intensive training programme to determine whether he is fit enough to return to the rigours of F1 racing.
Since retiring the German has occasionally taken part in motorcycle events but in February he suffered neck and back injuries in a bike accident.
Those injuries could affect his ability to drive an F1 car which places huge pressures on the neck because of the varying G-forces.



By Adam Feneley
Motorsport Engineering
www.motorsportengineering.blogspot.com
-- Post From My iPod Touch

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