Schumacher, Wanna Job?

The Ferrari Formula One team have announced that Michael Schumacher will be stepping back into the cockpit as a replacement for the injured Felipe Massa.

The 40-year-old, former Ferrari driver must first pass a fitness test, having retired from the sport at the end of the 2006 season, but is expected to be on the grid at next months race in Valencia, which will be a brand new experience for the seven-times World Champion.

The Ferrari Team statement said;

“Ferrari intends to entrust Michael Schumacher with Felipe Massa’s car for as long as the Brazilian driver is not able to race.

“Michael Schumacher has shown his willingness and in the next few days he will undergo a specific program of preparation at the end of which it will be possible to confirm his participation in the championship starting with the European Grand Prix on August 23.”

Schumacher had written on his personal website;

“I talked on the telephone with (team principal) Stefano Domenicali and (Ferrari president) Luca de Montezemolo this afternoon and we decided jointly that I’ll start preparing to jump in for Felipe.

Even though I completely wrapped up the subject of Formula One quite a while ago, due to my attachment to the team I cannot ignore this unfortunate situation. As a competitor, like I am, I’m looking forward to this challenge.”

Max The Menace

FIA President Max Mosley, is said to be furious over alleged false statements made by Ferrari President Luca de Montezemelo, after the breakthrough meeting in Paris last week which put an end to the breakaway F1 group.

Mosley sent a letter to Montezemelo and FOTA, demanding a public apology over suggestions that he had been forced out of office and that he would have no seat in the FIA when he steps down from his presidency role in October.

In the letter Mosley wrote;

“We made a deal yesterday in Paris to end the recent difficulties in Formula One. A fundamental part of this was that we would both present a positive and truthful account to the media.

I was therefore astonished to learn that Fota has been briefing the press that Mr [Michel] Boeri [president of the Fia senate] has taken charge of Formula One, something which you know is completely untrue; that I had been forced out of office, also false; and, apparently, that I would have no role in the Fia after October, something which is plain nonsense, if only because of the Fia statutes.

Furthermore, you have suggested to the media I was a ‘dictator’, an accusation which is grossly insulting to the 26 members of the World Motor Sport Council who have discussed and voted all the rules and procedures of Formula One since the 1980s, not to mention the representatives of the FIA’s 122 countries who have democratically endorsed everything I and my World Motor Sport Council colleagues have done during the last 18 years.

There was no need for me to involve myself further in Formula One once we had a settlement. Equally, I had a long-standing plan not to seek re-election in October. It was therefore possible for me to confirm both points to you yesterday.

Given your and Fota’s deliberate attempt to mislead the media, I now consider my options open. At least until October, I am president of the Fia with the full authority of that office. After that it is the Fia member clubs, not you or Fota, who will decide on the future leadership of the Fia.

If you wish the agreement we made to have any chance of survival, you and Fota must immediately rectify your actions. You must correct the false statements which have been made and make no further such statements. You yourself must issue a suitable correction and apology at your press conference this afternoon.”

Still handbags at twenty paces boys and girls, just when we thought that the end was in sight they’re off again for the next round.  All we want to see is good racing but I guess those days are well and truly over!