Luca Badoer will be Massa’s replacement in Valencia

Luca Badoer has been designated as the temporary replacement for Felipe Massa for the European Grand Prix, after Michael Schumacher was forced to forego his return to F1.

The German had hoped to replace Massa in the upcoming races, but a neck injury caused by a motorcycle accident forces him to cancel his return to F1.

As a result, Ferrari will place its test driver, Luca Badoer, on the grid for the European GP in Valencia. It is a kind of reward for his many years of loyalty and efforts for the team.

The president of Ferrari, Luca di Montezemolo stated: « I am very unhappy for Michael [Schumacher] because this problem is preventing him from returning to racing. »

« In the past few days, I have been able to appreciate his efforts and extraordinary motivation, which have spread within the team and the fan community worldwide. There is no doubt that his return would have been good for Formula 1. On behalf of Ferrari and all the fans, I would like to thank him for the commitment he has shown in these circumstances. »

« In agreement with Stefano Domenicali, we have therefore decided to give Luca Badoer the opportunity to race and represent the Scuderia after so many years of hard work as a test driver, » concluded the FOTA president.

The 38-year-old Italian has been a test driver for Ferrari since 1998, and his last race was in 1999 for Minardi.