Ferrari hopes for a third car for Schumacher in 2010
If teams were allowed to have three cars on the track in 2010, Ferrari is once again hoping for Michael Schumacher’s return to Formula 1. This is at least the intention of Ferrari’s president, Luca di Montezemolo, who spoke on Tuesday evening. This reaction came just a few hours after Schumacher canceled his return due […]
If teams were allowed to have three cars on the track in 2010, Ferrari is once again hoping for Michael Schumacher’s return to Formula 1. This is at least the intention of Ferrari’s president, Luca di Montezemolo, who spoke on Tuesday evening. This reaction came just a few hours after Schumacher canceled his return due to a neck injury.
Di Montezemolo believes that Schumacher still has a lot to offer to F1 even if he is 40 years old. He will not relent in his efforts for the rules to change so that Ferrari can have three cars next year. Schumacher would then be a possibility for the third driver. In an interview published in La Stampa this Wednesday, di Montezemolo stated that the reasons why Ferrari chose a former world champion instead of a young driver when looking for a replacement for Felipe Massa are not insignificant.
And well we are talking about Michael Schumacher, stated di Montezemolo. He is 40 years old but he comes from another planet. I prefer a champion even if he is retired rather than a fairly mediocre young driver.
« We continue to fight for each team to have the right to bring three cars next season. I would be thrilled if Michael were with us. I prefer three McLarens, three Renaults rather than seeing new teams. With BMW having withdrawn, there is not much to say but a lot to do. »
Di Montezemolo added that he was very disappointed by the news on Monday night about Schumacher’s neck injury due to a motorcycle accident. It hasn’t healed sufficiently to allow him to return to F1 racing.
« They found something that still hasn’t healed. So, it’s better not to insist. He had that motorcycle accident in February and during the first laps at Mugello, he felt that something was wrong. You shouldn’t joke about health. »
Di Montezemolo also revealed that Schumacher himself was not satisfied with his development at Ferrari since he left his driving position in 2006. When asked how Schumacher reacted to the race request, di Montezemolo stated: « What do you think? He responded with such enthusiasm to my request, the enthusiasm of a driver and not of a retired champion. He lost four kilos, he weighs the same as in October 2006 when he last raced in Brazil. »
