The German motor racing legend, who retired in 2006, will replace injured Felipe Massa in the European Grand Prix in Valencia on August 23, and possibly for the remainder of the season.
"The Ferrari-Marlboro team plans to give Michael Schumacher Felipe Massa's car until the Brazilian returns to competition," Ferrari announced in a statement on its website.
The statement added: "Michael Schumacher says he is available and in the coming days he will pursue a specific programme of preparation at the end of which it will be possible to confirm his participation in the European Grand Prix."
Schumacher, 40, commented: "Ultimately I like challenges and this is a great challenge."
"The important thing is that Massa gets better," he continued, adding that he "just wanted to help the firm (Ferrari) when they needed it".
Schumacher's return was arranged at a meeting between him and Ferrari president Luca di Montezamolo at Ferrari's headquarters at Maranello on Wednesday morning.
News of Schumacher's comeback to the sport he virtually made his own came 24 hours after the possibility had first been raised by his spokeswoman, Sabine Kehm.
"The whole thing will be considered by Ferrari. If they approach Michael, then he will consider it," Kehm had said.
She added: "Usually, I would say he's not interested because he's fine with his life and he doesn't miss anything but now the situation is so different - it's very hypothetical - and Michael doesn't want to step into that (discussion)."
Schumacher, who is on Ferrari's pay roll as an advisor, will be filling in for Massa, who is recovering from surgery following his horrific high speed crash in qualifying for last weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix.
Only this month the 40-year-old had made it clear speaking at the German Grand Prix that he was not interested in making a full time comeback.
But the offer of a temporary return to the Ferrari cockpit obviously proved too much to resist for 'Schumi' who has recovered from a neck injury sustained in a motorcycle accident in February.
Source:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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1 comment:
Michael Schumacher is all set to return to F1. After retirement he has been a consultant and a test driver for the Ferrari.Schumacher will be replacing and racing for Massa who is injured and is expected to continue till Massa returns back.Schumacher had last stepped into a F1 car in April 2008. Everyone is excited as it will be the first time to see Schumacher taking Hamilton. For more details refer http://www.dailysportsnews.org/seven-time-champion-michael-schumacher-back-in-f1
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