After much media hype Michael Schumacher has announced that he will not be returning to Formula 1 to replace the injured Felipe Massa in Valencia due to his ongoing neck injury. With Schumacher now out of the running, Luca Badoer, Ferrari’s 38-year-old test driver, will step in for the injured Felipe Massa at the European Grand Prix later this month.
“Unfortunately we did not manage to get a grip on the pain in the neck which occurred after the private F1-day in Mugello, even if medically or therapeutically we tried everything possible. 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. As there were no improvements after the day in Mugello, I decided at short notice on Sunday to do that thorough examination already yesterday. I am disappointed to the core. I can only repeat that I tried everything that was within my power,” Schumacher said.