[Merged] Schumi's comeback cancelled....:((

Not surprising but really disappointing at the same time. Schumi's lap times were just not competitive with Kimi's (or Massa's, for that matter) and that was it. No matter how they try to dress it up. It is understandable that Schumi did not want to tarnish his legacy but that Ferrari would so easily become the clown of the F1 circus is downright embarrassing.

And another thing, this embarrasses all the idiots who unreservedly predicted that Schumi would somehow dominate his teammate if not the entire field. Shows exactly what they know about F1. LOL!

 

Isn't Badoer Italian? I thought more spaghetti was better?

 

Surely you meant washing "windows".....unless you have discovered a profitable side job comforting the distressed!!


On a serious note, I'm bummed by the news, but I respect his decision, and hope maybe he'll emerge into F1 again soon..

Greg

 

I'm gutted. This was going to be the best thing since the invention of s*x. I also feel very sorry for all the fans who rushed out to buy a ton of F1 tickets to see the great man performing. Too bad... Regardless of the reasons behind his decision to pull out, I can't hold any resentment against him. Perhaps his neck will heal sufficiently, perhaps he will still find a way back for a couple of races. I can but dream...

 

I have mixed feelings on this one. While I really wanted to see him get behind the wheel and hand out driving lessons like he did in the past, He really has nothing left to prove to any one also.

 

I would indeed like to think so.

 

Well this sucks, stupid motorcycles! Well who knows if he might do a couple races as you guys already mentioned. Franco easy on those "Widows."

 

This has seriously ruined my day. Nothing left to do but head over to the "Pretty Girls With Ferraris" thread, as I won't get any work done anyway...

I bet a bunch of people will be retracting their bids for Shumacher merchandise on eBay.

 

Auuugghhhh! I feel so empty & cold now.

 

Stupid motorcycles? That is just wrong.....Too bad they can't call up Valentino to step in. That would at least add some life to what has become one of the most boring motorsports series in the world.

 

I have heard both of these, please provide your opinion . . .

#1 Michael was so very quick in testing the low downforce cars that the models were showing that he would drive circles around the other drivers. They pulled him so as not to make a mockery of F-1.

#2 Michael was so slow as to be a complete failure.

My theory is different: He hurt his neck.

 

this is the worst sports related tease ever...

 

No crystal ball here guys... I'm pretty bummed about the news. I really thought this was the shot in the arm F1 needed after such a tumultous season.

I can't help but wonder if there is more to this?

At first I thought it might be a short term way to take some heat off since talk of his "possible return" generated more interest than expected or desired. As a driver with neck problems- I was certainly encouraged he put in 2 days of Karting within a week of the F2007 test.. his neck would have to be in pretty GOOD to endure that if in fact the pinching started after the intital test. And- who was he karting with?? Luca Badoer...could they be up to something?? Could Micheal be relinquishing the drive for a freind and to buy a little more time to build the neck up? Is there any possibility Ferrari will need 2 drivers after due to rally developments?



It's sure fun to wonder.

 

Just saw this in the NYTimes... makes me sad. I was really looking forward to seeing him race again.

 

It certainly seems like he used the neck as an out. IMO the neck was probably 60% of the decision, the other was that "private testing" probably proved that he just wasn't able to get up to speed quick enough and he figured why deal with the embarrassment? Family/wife was also a factor. Regardless, the F1 "theater" continues. If this wasn't enough to get him into the seat then I'm pretty sure he's hung it up for good.

 

There's no cry smilie for this forum, and the sad smilie isn't strong enough to express what I feel right now, so just use your imagination:


:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

 

That's a SUPREMELY cynical theory. I don't believe it. I believe Michael would have wanted to prove to the world that he was still the ultimate Ferrari F1 driver and would have relished the challenge of taking it to the young lions out there. I don't doubt that he has some lingering pain from his perhaps somewhat foolish stint in motorcycle racing, but I believe he would have absolutely answered the call if not for his neck, i.e., if his neck was acceptable and his speed was a bit off, he would have worked until he found the speed before race day. That's what a competitor does.

 

Not sure if it has been mentioned yet (haven't had time to read the whole thread), but what are the chances that this was the plan all along? I'm not trying to say anything about Schumi's character, but do you think there may have been some sort of scheme to boost ticket sales and pump some life into F1? I know it's a pretty far fetched theory that would include LdM, Bernie, Schumi, Ferrari, etc... but with all of the shenanigans that have happened in the past couple of years, I can't say I'd be surprised. If in fact that was the idea, from the replies on this board alone, I'd say it worked.

 

I disagree. How can they properly analyze this testing performance, using an obselete car, with GP2 tyres? I don't see the logic here. Here's what i think. How many more races left? 7? Maybe, Schumacher is not prepared for the next 2 races. Interesting to note that LDM didn't mention Gene or Badoer for the rest of the season. It's a hint.

Plus, why is MS ruling out a return with over 2 weeks left before the next race? Shouldn't he get this medical thing done just a few days before the big day?

 

I won't be surprised. Plus, they have 2 test drivers. Anyhow, i'm mighty disappointed...

 

Less than two weeks after shocking the F1 world with his comeback plan, Michael Schumacher again surprised on Tuesday by calling it off.

The 40-year-old German crashed a German Superbike during testing in February sustaining several fractures, but until now the details of his injury were not known. “It was the most serious accident in Michael's motorsport career," his manager Willi Weber told DPA on Tuesday.

Sceptics also had a voice on Tuesday however, one writing in Britain's Guardian newspaper that "only Michael Schumacher knows if the biggest hurt during a comeback would have been to his neck or his pride."

Schumacher's younger brother Ralf hit back in the pages of Bild newspaper: "Fractures in the vertebrate are not something to be dismissed lightly."

The seven time champion's decision also moved the conversation on to the next replacement for injured Felipe Massa: 38-year-old Italian Luca Badoer, who has been Ferrari's test driver for more than a decade.



Carlos Gracia, president of the Spanish motor racing federation, slammed the Maranello team's decision to overlook its other tester, Spaniard Marc Gene. "It's an absurdity by the management of Ferrari," he said in the sports newspaper Marca. "Gene is better prepared and has just won the 24 hours of Le Mans."

Eddie Jordan believes the Schumacher news might compel Ferrari chiefs to try to bring forward Fernando Alonso's expected move to the Italian team.

"My information is that Alonso is going to Ferrari next year," the former team owner told the Sun. "Why don't they bring it forward? If I was Ferrari that is what I would try to do."

Edit : I have no idea what is EJ talking about at the bottom.

 

I don't doubt that Fred will come to Ferrari very soon. At this point I welcome him, although I one time, I would have been totally against it.

 

It almost feels like a death of a champion... OK not that bad, thank god! But my heart did fall!

 

+1. Just another cynical theory. I believe MS is above any kind of charade and would have wanted to prove that he is still a top notch driver. But with the extreme forces in a F1 car you can't be 90% healthy. You have to 100% healthy and if Schumi's injuries preclude him from being that - why bother? Why risk further injury? He was never a 9/10s driver. He was always ALL in!

 

I agree with your theory. In full health, I have no doubt he could at least equalled Kimi, which would have made the comeback worth it.