Seven times World Champion Michael Schumacher is set to make a shock return to Formula One, after confirming he will stand in for injured Ferrari driver Felipe Massa at the forthcoming European Grand Prix.
Schumacher (40) is set to undergo a hefty training programme which will determine whether he is fit enough to return to the Formula One paddock.
Schumacher, who retired from F1 back in 2006, will race with
Ferrari until Massa, who suffered a horrifying crash at last weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix, is able to race again. Despite the fact that he hasn’t driven Ferrari’s current F60 race car since a test session back in April 2008, Schumacher can’t wait to get behind the wheel competitively: "The most important thing first: thank God, all news concerning Felipe is positive. I wish him all the best again. I was meeting this afternoon with Stefano Domenicali (Ferrari team principal) and Luca di Montezemolo (chairman) and together we decided that I will prepare myself to take the place of Felipe. Though it is true that the Formula One chapter has been completely closed for me for a long time, it is also true that for reasons of loyalty to the team I cannot ignore this unfortunate situation. But as the competitor I am I also very much look forward to facing this.”