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Is Schumacher right to return to Formula One?
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Incredible but true: Seven-times world champion Michael Schumacher is to return to Formula One as a short-term replacement for Felipe Massa — provided the German passes a medical.
As Ferrari have just confirmed, Schumacher is poised to make a comeback after Massa fractured his skull in an accident at last weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix.
It’s another twist to a Formula One season you could hardly describe as ordinary, what with the breakaway threat, the stunning start from Brawn GP and the news from BMW this morning.
Is Schumacher doing the right thing in returning to the sport? Having him back will be a great boon in PR terms both for F1 as a whole and for Ferrari but will it work out? He hasn’t been out that long but in a sport where fitness is becoming more and more important, can the 40-year-old possibly be in the necessary shape to step straight back into the car?
Here’s what Willi Weber, Schumacher’s manager, said yesterday: “What would we expect from Schumacher if he stepped into a Formula One car? To win. The expectations from both sides would be too high.”
Is Schumacher right to come back?
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I agree with Mr Webber. The expectations will just be too high. Especially when yo consider what an uncompetitive car this Ferrari is. He isn’t going to win a GP.
but hving said that ……. YES! It’s great news. Welcome back, Schumi!!
Yes it will be interesting, the F60 is a dog this year. But Schumi will make them better, bit no wins though.
Who else would ever dare to come back to F1 at his 40? That’s what you call a brave man and a great champion!
yes, very brave. maybe he was inspired by lance armstrong.
Absolutely, Michael is the greatest F1 driver of all time and at the time of his retirement he was still in top form.The F60 is improving and in Schumacher’s hand might even be a winner. Also I think this will wake up Kimi who seams to rise to a challenge and getting to race head to head with the great one certainly will wake him up! This is good for Ferrari and good for F1.
Considering the F60 placed 2nd this past weekend, i think he’s got a shot at winning. If anyone can dial in a car, its Schumacher.
Michael has always managed to push a car beyond what it’s capable of doing. Spain in 95 and the whole Benetton phase come to mind… Hopefully he’ll push Kimi and knock some sense into him as well. I’m sure ferrari fans are now praying for wet races!
i don’t think there are high expectations at all. in fact i think most people will sandbag it. the car hasn’t been good at all, he hasn’t raced or tested an f1 car in forever, and he’s 40. honestly if he gets in the car, doesn’t crash, stays reasonably close to kimi, and provides good testing information for the rest of the season it will be a success for the team.
if nothing else this should make kimi faster; it would be terribly embarrassing if michael was miraculously faster..
Oh man, Schumi’s back and I don’t have Speed TV boohooo!!!
it is great to see him, i can’t wait to watch the next GP. good move ferrari
one of the greatest, but not the greatest. Remember who really made Michael, it was Ross B…
This will be very interesting. If anyone can make the Ferrari a winner then Schumi can. It is also the sort of car he likes – without all the silly driver ‘aids’.
It will, however, make others – Vettel and Hamilton in particular – really push hard to prove themselves against an acknowledged past master.
Very good for F1 – maybe not so good for Schumacher if he fails to deliver results.
I stopped watching F1 since Schumi had quit..it was never the same again…woohoo..something to look forward to again
It may be difficult to win but it’s good to see the greatest driver back in the race !