Formula One news

Badoer to replace injured Schumacher at Ferrari

After the news on Tuesday morning that Michael Schumacher will be unable to replace Felipe Massa due to injuries of his own, Ferrari has announced that Italian reserve driver Luca Badoer will be partnering Kimi Räikkönen at the European Grand Prix next weekend.

Luca di Montezemelo, Ferrari president

With Felipe Massa missing the race on the streets of Valencia after his skull-fracturing accident in Hungary, Badoer has been called in by Ferrari after Schumacher too was left on the sidelines due to neck weaknesses sustained in a motorcycle crash half a year ago.

'I am very unhappy that a problem means that Michael cannot return to racing,' Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has said in a statement. 'In the past few days, I could appreciate his great efforts and extraordinary motivation which had spread through the team and fans around the world. No doubt his return would have been good for Formula 1 and I am sure it would have seen him fighting for wins again.

Badoer last raced in F1 with Minardi a decade ago

In the name of Ferrari and all the fans, I wish to thank him for the strong attachment he displayed for the team in these circumstances. In agreement with Stefano Domenicali (team principal), we have therefore decided to give Luca Badoer the chance to race for the Scuderia after he has put in so many years of hard work as a test driver.'

A regretful Schumacher has also made a public statement in which he states how he was forced to pull out: 'I really tried everything to make that temporary comeback possible, however, much to my regret it didn't work out. 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.'


You can read Michael Schumacher's full statement here

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