Thank You Massa!!!!!

[WABIT]

BEEEEEEST!!!!!

Seven time World Champion Michael Schumacher has made a shock return to Formula 1 to replace his injured fellow Ferrari driver Felipe Massa, it was announced on July 29 on Schumacher's personal website.

The German legend retired in 2006 and is now aged 40, but the magnetic pull of Ferrari and Formula One racing was simply irresistible for the world's most successful driver of all time, who has pledged his allegiance to the team in times of crisis, and will pit himself against the young lions of the sport, in particular Lewis Hamilton and the 11 years younger Jenson Button. Schumacher is set to return at the European Grand Prix on August 23 2009.

"It is true that the Formula 1 chapter has long been closed for me," said Schumacher in his personal website.

"It is also true that for loyalty reasons to the team I cannot ignore that unfortunate situation. And as the competitor that I am, I very much look forward to facing this challenge."

Schumacher indicated that his return is only to help the team for which he won five of his titles and, in particular, Massa with whom he developed a strong friendship as a fellow driver and as his personal mentor. "I will stand in for as long as Massa is sidelined by the serious head injuries he sustained in the Hungarian Grand Prix last week" Schumacher said.

"For team loyalty reasons I can not ignore this unfortunate situation," said the former Ferrari driver.

Reportedly, before announcing his decision, the German checked that Massa's condition was improving and asked if it was OK if he used his car until the Brazilian could return. Massa had told Schumacher "no problem".

[velly_16v_cab]

i am sooooo happy over this news...MC will turn up the heat

[dubbed]

I must be the only one not looking forward to him coming back!!

[Lorenz]

Im with you on this one dubbed, he has had his time and won enough...

[Blitzen]

I'm not either...As unfortunate and freakish as Massa's accident was(it blows me away each time I see it), I think they should give Marc Gene a return run. He is their primary test driver, and although not a race winner or multiple world champ, he is a good driver in his own right, and I'm sure he is pretty pissed about not getting a drive too.
(Let this be know though, I was never a Michael Schumacher fan, so maybe there is a bit of an underpining resentment there...!!)

[evorobin]

Waiter can I get some wog sauce on my fiat 500 please...however I will now watch the races so I can see Webber beat him. I'm an aussie now!

[TopBloke]

it will be interesting, watching the reaction on his face as the rest of the field go past him. alot has changed since the last time he pulled on the suit

[gerhard]

Massa has to be the unluckiest driver in F1 ever (apart from perhaps Lauda and, of course, those who died), - he should have been champ last year.

The luckiest man in F1 in recent times has to be Hamilton, and in past times Damon Hill, Villeneuve, and Alonso. Why - because although they are all excellent drivers, they lucked into the best cars on debut and didn't have to work too hard for their titles.

The best driver of recent memory is Schumacher, M - why? because he did not luck into the best car at any time in his career, but developed a Ferrari shocker into a multiple winning car over multiple seasons. Only the usual measure of F1 misfortune prevented him from winning perhaps another 3 titles.

I for one will be pleased to see what he can do with the current dog of a car, although it seems to have found a bit of pace at the last race. It's a bit of an ask, though, for a 40yo, but if he doesn't do too well the haters will no doubt be out in force.

In F1 the car will turn you from hero to zero or vice versa in the blink of an eye - just look at this year with Hamilton out of the top 10 for the first half of the season, suddenly up the front, and Jenson Button suddenly nowhere.

[Blitzen]

The luckiest man in F1 in recent times has to be Hamilton, and in past times Damon Hill, Villeneuve, and Alonso. Why - because although they are all excellent drivers, they lucked into the best cars on debut and didn't have to work too hard for their titles.

Only the usual measure of F1 misfortune prevented him from winning perhaps another 3 titles.

Damo Hill was extremely unlucky the same time The Schue was lucky in 94...You get that when a cheating German drives into you, but his luck changed in 97 when he tried to do it to Villeneuve and ended up taking himself out...Lucky Patrick Head strengthend the suspension for those later encounters!!

[Rocket36]

MS has spent a lot of time in the F60 and assisted with its development. Kimi should be scared. Hell the whole field should be scared.

This is the best move Ferrari have made in a long time!

Webber? Win? Hahahahahahahahahahaha.... Riiiiight. Oh that's right, maybe in another 131 races... That's right! 131 F1 starts, 1 win and 8 podiums. PATHETIC!

Schumacher: 249 starts, 91 wins and 154 podiums! Best F1 driver ever. Second is Prost with 51 wins. Third is Senna with 41.

Oh and if anyone can explain how MS is a cheat, I'd be happy to hear it.

[evorobin]

Massa has to be the unluckiest driver in F1 ever (apart from perhaps Lauda and, of course, those who died), - he should have been champ last year.

The luckiest man in F1 in recent times has to be Hamilton, and in past times Damon Hill, Villeneuve, and Alonso. Why - because although they are all excellent drivers, they lucked into the best cars on debut and didn't have to work too hard for their titles.

The best driver of recent memory is Schumacher, M - why? because he did not luck into the best car at any time in his career, but developed a Ferrari shocker into a multiple winning car over multiple seasons. Only the usual measure of F1 misfortune prevented him from winning perhaps another 3 titles.

I for one will be pleased to see what he can do with the current dog of a car, although it seems to have found a bit of pace at the last race. It's a bit of an ask, though, for a 40yo, but if he doesn't do too well the haters will no doubt be out in force.

In F1 the car will turn you from hero to zero or vice versa in the blink of an eye - just look at this year with Hamilton out of the top 10 for the first half of the season, suddenly up the front, and Jenson Button suddenly nowhere.

What I know about F1 fits onto a postage stamp but didn't Mike drive under Brawn for most of his careet the guy that gave Jenosn Button hope after it took him 150 starts to win a race?

I've seen Schumi drive a kart he's a winner through and through but he's had the right backing also...

[gerhard]

Damo Hill was extremely unlucky the same time The Schue was lucky in 94...You get that when a cheating German drives into you, but his luck changed in 97 when he tried to do it to Villeneuve and ended up taking himself out...Lucky Patrick Head strengthend the suspension for those later encounters!!

Back in those days it was normal to crash and bash. Senna was the worst around that time.

Today's drivers are pussies in comparison.

Cheating German???? I guess for every winner on earth there are thousands of clueless people who "know" they are "cheats".

You should give credit where it's due - and Shumi was the best, his tally of pole positions, wins, titles, podiums - denying it just shows prejudice.

[Arctra]

I'm a Schumi fan, and am very happy to see him make a return to fill Massa's shoes. But lets not kid ourselves. Than man's been out of the sport for a few years, and the reason he was as formidable as he was before retirement had a lot to do with the fact that he was in peak physical condition.

He may still be fit and all, but he can never be in the match-fit state that the other drivers are, and because of that I think we should not expect much more than a great qualifying session, and a good start to the race. After that I reckon the lack of track time, less than ideal car, and improved performance of the Red Bulls and Brawns of this world will get the better of him. I'll be impressed if he manages to podium more than once or twice if he drives teh rest of the season.

Guess we'll just have to wait and see. I'll say one thing though... his return will create an awesome amount of media buzz around the next GP!

[team_v]

It will be good to see what he can do since he has been away from it for so long.

However at the Race of Champions this year he didn't do too well so i assume he will provide a mediocre performance for the races he is in.

[TopBloke]

I'm not saying MS isn't a great driver, I'm with most of you, he is one of or the best driver in F1 but alot has changed and he isn't "match fit". There might be glimpse's of his incredible skills behind the wheel but highly unlikely it will make any difference to the season, which i believe has been the best one for a long time