Schumacher withdraws plan to re-enter F1 series

Schumacher withdraws from plan to re-enter F1

Ralph Koehler/REUTERS FILE PHOTO

Retired F1 world champion Michael Schumacher crashes his Honda motorcycle during a practice session at the Sachsenring race track near Chemnitz in this June 12, 2008 file photo.

Norris McDonald

MOTORSPORT WRITER

Michael Schumacher announced the cancellation of his Formula One comeback today and you can bet that the big sigh of relief you're hearing is coming from Kimi Raikkonen.

Raikkonen, the 2007 world champion who's only been on the podium for Ferrari twice this season (Monaco and Hungary), must have been sweating bullets at the thought of Schumacher suiting up to drive the same car at Valencia, Spain, in about 10 days' time.

What if the man who's arguably the best F1 driver the world has ever seen but who's fat (by his standards) and 40 and hasn't driven a Ferrari in anger for nearly three years went out for the European Grand Prix and kicked his butt?

Would Raikkonen ever be able to recover?

It was bad enough before Felipe Massa was injured that most people figured Raikkonen really didn't care any more.

But if Schumacher had taken to the track for the European Grand Prix and not only beaten Kimi's times but demolished them, it would have been all over.

But Raikkonen can relax now. Not only will Schumacher not be his teammate but the driver Ferrari has nominated to substitute for Massa going forward is test driver Luca Badoer, a racer who never scored a point in 48 previous Grand Prix races.

His best finish was seventh and the highest he ever qualified was 12th. At 38, he'll be the oldest driver in the field at Valenica and he hasn't started a Grand Prix in nearly 10 years.

So there's no pressure for Kimi from that guy, is there?

Talk about Ferrari going from one extreme to the other: they very nearly had one of the best-ever F1 drivers in their car and now they've got one of the worst.

Schumacher gave it the old college try to get back into racing shape, despite head and neck injuries suffered in a motorcycle crash in February, but it was not to be. He made the announcement on his website this morning.

"The consequences of the injuries ... have turned out to be still too severe," Schumacher said. "That is why my neck cannot stand the extreme stresses caused by Formula One yet.

"I really tried everything to make that temporary comeback possible. However, much to my regret, it didn't work out.

"I am disappointed to the core. I am awfully sorry for the guys of Ferrari and for all the fans which crossed fingers for me."

There had been hints all along that this really wasn't a done deal. Every statement put out by Ferrari included a qualifier – a paragraph stating that Schumacher would have to prove that his fitness was at F1 levels before they'd officially put him in the car.

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo was gracious in thanking Schumacher for his efforts.

"I am very unhappy that a problem means that Michael cannot return to racing," Montezemolo said.

"No doubt his return would have been good for Formula One and I am sure it would have seen him fighting for wins again." he added."

There has been no reaction from Kimi Raikkonen. You can bet, however, that beneath that Scandinavian stoic exterior of his there is one word bouncing around: "Whew!"

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