Michael cancels F1-Comeback

F1 fans who are eagerly anticipating the temporary return of Michael Schumacher to F1 will probably let out a sigh of disappointment after you read this piece of news – Schumi will not be driving Massa’s F1 car after all. I’m sure you know why – it’s been a source of concern for quite some time now. It’s his neck injury.

“Unfortunately I’m not able to step in for Felipe. The consequences of the injuries caused by the bike accident in February, fractures in the area of head and neck, unfortunately have turned out to be still too severe. 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. 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. All I can do now is to keep my fingers crossed for the whole team for the coming races,” said Michael on his official website.

Ferrari has announced that their test driver Luca Badoer will replace Schumacher at Valencia this month. He has been with Ferrari as a test driver since 1998.

Ferrari's Felipe Massa is to return to Sao Paulo on 3 August

The Brazilian, 28, left intensive care in Budapest earlier this week as he continues to make good progress after surgery on his life-threatening injury.

His personal doctor, Dino Altmann, said: "Felipe continues to improve.

"He is doing very well, and we have already decided to go back home on Monday to Sao Paulo."

There had been speculation that Massa would continue his recovery at the Pitie-Salpetriere Hospital in Paris.

But Altmann said: "He is to continue his recovery and return to racing as soon as possible, that's the plan. He is in a very good mood, good shape, and he just wants to come back soon."

Massa was hit on the helmet by a metal spring, the size of a drink can and weighing almost a kilo, which fell off fellow Brazilian Rubens Barrichello's Brawn car.

When he was flown to hospital, his condition was initially diagnosed as "life-threatening", and there were fears for his eyesight.

But doctors took Massa out of an artificial coma and off a respirator on Monday as his continued to make good progress.

Massa was visited by Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali and Domenicali's predecessor Jean Todt on Tuesday.

"It was incredible to see such a fantastic improvement after just three days," said Domenicali, who was also upbeat on Massa's chances of returning to F1.

"As soon as he is back, that is his car," he added.

Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher is to race again for Ferrari while Massa recovers.

The spring from Barrichello's car struck Massa's helmet just above his eye, and his feet are believed to have come to rest on both the throttle and brake, as his car ploughed head-on into a tyre wall at about 125mph.

His father, mother and pregnant wife all flew in from Brazil to be with him.

Massa's accident came days after Formula Two driver Henry Surtees, 18, was killed in what was described as a freak accident during a race at Brands Hatch.

The son of motorsport legend John Surtees was struck by a wheel that flew off a competitor's car.

Barrichello has led the calls for more stringent safety measures to be looked into. Referring to Surtees, the veteran refused to believe the two incidents were coincidental.

Barrichello's team boss Ross Brawn said the team are still investigating why the spring came loose from the back of their car.

Sources: BBC News