The dream is over. Michael Schumacher won’t race in Valencia after failing to overcome a neck injury sustained motorbike racing back in February.
Having experienced discomfort in his neck while testing over the last fortnight, Schumacher underwent a final examination at Mugello on Monday. His medical team concluded that he would not be able to cope with the physical stress of a full F1 race.
“We did not manage to get a grip on the pain in the neck which occurred after the private F1 day in Mugello,” Schumacher wrote on his website today. “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.”
“That is why my neck cannot stand the extreme stresses caused by F1 yet. These are the clear results of the examinations we did on the course of the past two weeks and the final examination on Monday afternoon.”
Ferrari has announced that Schumacher’s seat will be filled by veteran test driver Luca Badoer. The 38-year-old Italian is the Scuderia’s longest-serving test pilot ever, and has competed in 48 Grands Prix since his debut in 1993 – sadly without ever scoring a single point. His last F1 race was very nearly a decade ago, in the 1999 Japanese Grand Prix.
“I am disappointed to the core,” said Schumacher. “I am awfully sorry for the guys of Ferrari and for all the fans who crossed fingers for me.
“I tried everything that was within my power. All I can do now is to keep my fingers crossed for the whole team for the coming races.”
The seven-time world champion is clearly gutted… and so are we. We never thought we’d be sad to hear that Michael Schumacher wasn’t fit enough to dish out a whipping to the plucky Brits, but hell, we’re devastated.
Would’ve been a hell of a show, wouldn’t it?
Open Car Bar
What do you think?
Slickrubber commented on this article
Thursday August 13, 2009 at 7:51 pm
Another conspiracy theory could be: “Big Schuh’s” neck was perfectly well, until he met the Lacetti.
And well: The Veyron might be 3 mph slower, but it still feels like a comfortable car at that speed.Dunno, if the SSC can pull that off.
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Slickrubber commented on this article
Thursday August 13, 2009 at 7:52 pm
oops, i meant. the Liana
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Jean commented on this article
Friday August 14, 2009 at 9:53 am
The Veyron is as ugly as the 2009 F1 cars, lacking style and complete out of proportion. No wonder sponsors are running away, snowplows can hardly be called elegant advertisement material. Take a look at a GP2, damn those look way better..
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CRobbo commented on this article
Friday August 14, 2009 at 2:36 pm
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWNNNNNN NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN. Sorry, you were saying something?
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STIGJ commented on this article
Friday August 14, 2009 at 5:36 pm
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD
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Anonymous commented on this article
Saturday August 15, 2009 at 12:16 pm
Sniff
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Siggy commented on this article
Saturday August 15, 2009 at 2:49 pm
He’s a right plonker
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V8fan commented on this article
Saturday August 15, 2009 at 5:21 pm
Lewis is a loser. So are all you english.
From an aussie f1 fan.
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V8fan commented on this article
Sunday August 16, 2009 at 12:52 am
And cricket fan. Freddy ‘fall down’ Flintoff. HA.
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Stiggy commented on this article
Sunday August 16, 2009 at 3:38 pm
Are you, by any chance, a V8 fan as well?
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Stiggy commented on this article
Sunday August 16, 2009 at 3:45 pm
Your blogs are awesome
P.S. Could you do one with the title ‘when you walk into a FIA steward only parking lot, you will only see Ferraris’ thx
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2777 commented on this article
Sunday September 6, 2009 at 7:02 pm
plz.come back sh.plz plz plz plz plz plz plz plz plz pleaeeaaaaaaaaze whenever u can
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vapephargered commented on this article
Friday October 2, 2009 at 7:34 pm
Hello, it really interesting, thanks
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Steave commented on this article
Friday April 9, 2010 at 3:15 pm
Great post as for me. I’d like to read something more about this matter. Thank you for posting that information.
Joan Stepsen
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J4KEH4M commented on this article
Friday April 9, 2010 at 6:38 pm
what?? oh this is old…
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etvfgfcdc commented on this article
Thursday July 15, 2010 at 3:34 am
hi
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Stepsen commented on this article
Thursday September 9, 2010 at 12:34 pm
Nice blog you got here. I’d like to read a bit more about that topic.
Thanks for sharing that info.
Stepsen
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