Comments by Michael Schumacher’s official spokesperson caused a stir on Tuesday, but both his manager and the seven-time World Champion himself insist he will not be stepping into injured Felipe Massa’s Ferrari cockpit.
Spokeswoman Sabine Kehm told the BBC that the 40-year-old German “will consider” replacing his Brazilian friend, even though talks with the Italian team have not taken place yet.
But Schumacher’s manager Weber met with him this week in Geneva and afterwards told both Britain’s Daily Mail and the German news agency SID that a comeback can be ruled out.
“Whoever sits in the car at the next race in Valencia, it will not be Michael Schumacher,” he said. “I am not 100 per cent sure; I am 200 per cent sure.”
Schumacher himself told the German magazine Bunte: “It does not make sense to talk about offers. My decision (to retire in 2006) stands.”
Fernando Alonso has also been ruled out of a possible one-time race in Massa’s car at the Valencia GP. Many have suggested that it would be ideal considering that Renault has been banned and it is after all a home race for Spaniard Alonso but the truth is, it won’t happen. Fact of the matter is, there will be a clash of sponsors and it is unimaginable for Flavio Briatore, Renault boss, to be doing Ferrari a favour by “loaning” Alonso.
It is reported that Italy’s best-connected F1 journalists also don’t believe the hype.
When a reporter for the Spanish sports newspaper Marca was musing the scenario in the Hungaroring media centre, La Gazzetta dello Sport’s Andrea Cremonesi leaned over and said: “We have asked (Ferrari media boss Luca) Colajanni and he told us it is impossible.”
Many other names have been rumoured as possible replacements for Massa while the Brazilian recuperates from his injuries, however an indication of the stand-in driver’s identity might have appeared.
Ferrari reserve driver Marc Gene, who last month won the Le Mans 24 Hours with Peugeot, is said to be more likely than his testing colleague Luca Badoer for Massa’s seat.
The 35-year-old has refused to comment on the matter, and in his regular column for the Spanish newspaper El Mundo, the veteran of 36 Grand Prix wrote regarding Massa: “We would even wish that he could be in Valencia, but if he is not, the important thing is that he is well.
“I understand that many people want to know what is in the future but right now the only thing that occupies me is my friend,” the Spaniard added.
However there remains a Ferrari cockpit to fill, and it seems that Gene is scheduled to straight-line test the F60 at the Vairano circuit on Wednesday.
D.B. © CAPSIS International
Source: GMM via F1-Live
