Schumacher’s Back!

The rumours have been flying around ever since Massa’s nasty coming together with a lump of Barrichello’s Brawn. But now they’re confirmed. Michael Schumacher is to make his F1 comeback driving Massa’s Ferrari for the rest of the season – starting at the European Grand Prix on 23rd August.

For someone as competitive as Schumacher it must have been a hard decision. Michael always gave 11/10ths as an F1 driver, and you can’t believe for one minute that he’s coming back just to make up the numbers. He must feel he still has what it takes to win. But is that the arrogance we all have as we get older – an innate belief we can still do what we always did even though we don’t do it any more – or does he really still have what it takes?

His participation in F1 is dependant on his fitness, and he’ll have to take rigorous tests to prove he is fit, particularly as he suffered injuries just a few months ago in a bike crash. But Schumacher has a record of achieving all he sets out to do, so it seems certain he believes he can show team mate Raikkonen and the rest of the F1 circus that Schumi is still a force to be reckoned with.

Of course, Schumacher has kept close to Ferrari as an advisor since his retirement from F1, and is heavily involved in testing for Ferrari. So it’s not as if he’s been sat by his lake in Switzerland with his pipe and slippers. And you have to remember his part time job – Michael Schumacher is the Stig!