Schumacher returns.

[El Poncho]

Michael Schumacher will make a return to formula 1 to stand in for injured Fellipe Massa after he was hit by an object that fell of another f1 car that was infront of him.

The seven-time world champion retired at the end of 2006 but will drive at the European Grand Prix on 23 August.

Ferrari said the 40-year-old will stand in for as long as Massa is sidelined by the serious head injuries he sustained in the Hungarian Grand Prix last week.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8172310.stm

How do you feel about Schumacher returning?

Will you look forward to watching Schumacher drive in the f1?

Do you think the top formula 1 drivers at the moment will give him a run for his money?

 

[Private Custard]

I think it's gonna be excellent. Can't wait for him to mix things up a bit!

It took me a long long time to respect him as a driver, I was always hung up on the Damon Hill crash that cost him the title. But having seen his later years of racing and his undoubted talent, respect has been earned. Can't wait to see if he still has the edge.

Uncompromising and talented........should liven up this season!

 

[Rusty Bucket]

It's been an interesting few days for Formua 1 actually. Massa is having serious problems and could potentially be facing blindness. Schumacher's coming back and BMW have annoucned that they're dropping out after this season.

 

[jebbo]

He's obviously still got it, see that lap he did of the new Ferrari supercar on Top Gear as 'the Stig'?
I reckon it'l get people tuning back in no doubt, this year's Grand Prix was becoming tedious

 

[Soxafloppin]

Since ferraris cars arent really as good as brawns i dont think he will win any races.

 

[Private Custard]

Since ferraris cars arent really as good as brawns i dont think he will win any races.

It's not the Brawns he has to worry about, it's the Red Bulls........and Schumacher is twice the driver than either Vettel or Webber.

It'll be interesting to see how he does, as if everyone had equal cars, I'm pretty sure he'd destroy the other drivers.

 

[Insanum]

Im certainly looking forward to it. I don't care if he comes dead last, It was a crying shame he ever retired.

 

[L4hlborg]

I think he might still be as good as he was before. Which would mean he would start winning. Does anyone know if he is getting Massa's points?

 

[JemJar]

I suspect he will be up there but not dominant. In his last few seasons in F1 he wasn't on the same level as his many championship winning years - he lost to Alonso essentially fair and square. Not to mention the current Ferrari is hardly the car of choice right now.

People will discuss to the ends of the Earth the effect of his presence on Raikkonen and what we can read into their comparative performance, but I'll gaze into my crystal ball and just tell you all now to save you the wait:

Option 1: Kimi beats Schumi
Everyone points out that Kimi has always been regarded as one of the fastest drivers out there and that Michael doesn't know the car as well and has lost some of his edge. Kimi goes to eat another choc-ice.

Option 2: Schumi beats Kimi
Everyone doubts Kimi's determination and effort. Certain commentators point out that it's still pretty cruel to measure Kimi against the most successful driver in the history of the sport. Kimi goes to eat another choc-ice.

Option 3: Inconclusive
Some say Schumi has lost his edge after time away. Others say Kimi really is that good. Kimi goes to eat another choc-ice. Rob Smedley serenades the team with a chorus of Felipe Baby.

 

[JemJar]

I think he might still be as good as he was before. Which would mean he would start winning. Does anyone know if he is getting Massa's points?

Very definitely not. The team points still count as they are points accrued by the team. The driver's points count towards Massa's (not Schumacher's) claim for the championship - it can be awarded post-humously if necessary.

 

[mikecoulter]

I for one am sooo excited for Schumachers return to glory. It's just a matter of time until Formula Macher... [small]Mwhahahaha.[/small]

 

[Cowabungaa]

He kinda 'roflpwned' F1 didn't he? I always thought that was boring, F1 never really appealed to me because it didn't seem dynamic to me. But then again, I doubt that was just because of Schumacher. I prefered the A1, one of the few sports I wanted to watch, or at least didn't mind watching, unlike...*shudder* football/soccer for the Yanks.
Anyway, I hope things just don't get predictable with Schumacher back. I'll just watch the first race he's in, I'm very curious.

 

[Private Custard]

All the talk about his possible team relationship with Raikkonen doesn't change one thing, that most people couldn't care less about the monotoned scandinavian personality-vacuum.

Raikkonen could turn up in a clown costume and fail to bring any extra brightness to a room. I'll love it if Schumi runs rings around him, it'll make the post-race press conferences less of a coma inducing experience!

 

[Cilliandrew]

I've been a Schumi fan from back in the Benetton days. I'm very interested to see what happens.

My favourite driver of all-time.

 

[SpikeyGirl]

It should liven things up for a race or two. He might have a bit of competition but only the race will tell.

It's a shame about Massa's accident and Alonso's wheel coming off, especially after Surtees death about week before in F2 from a wheel coming off a car. That must have been a huge wake up call.

 

[JemJar]

All the talk about his possible team relationship with Raikkonen doesn't change one thing, that most people couldn't care less about the monotoned scandinavian personality-vacuum.

Raikkonen could turn up in a clown costume and fail to bring any extra brightness to a room. I'll love it if Schumi runs rings around him, it'll make the post-race press conferences less of a coma inducing experience!

Nooooo Raikkonen is hilarious. You simply have to acknowledge that he's incredibly careful to separate his work life at a circuit from his home life. This is a man who gets drunk and goes skidoo racing, who considers that the movie character he most associates with to be Jack Sparrow.

There are three Raikkonens, the one at home who drinks and parties, the one at circuits who is sultry and monosyllabic and the one in the car who is still stupidly fast. Despite the claims bouncing around that Raikkonen doesn't care he's still every bit as fast as Massa and last year set more fastest racing laps than anyone else on the grid.

 

[shootthebandit]

there is only one person better than schumacher and thats the stig

i would love to see them on the starting grid and the stig just owns them all in a peel P50

 

[cathou]

i'm actually glad to see him comming back in thoses conditions. at the peak of his career, lots of people were whinning : "oh, he isnt that great, he just have the best car and the best team to go with it."

And it was true, Shummi probably wont have that many title if the car wasnt great and the team wasnt good. But this year, the Ferrari car is not tghe best one, and the team is not that best one neither. So now we will be able see the pure talent...


but i was kind of hoping to see villeneuve back as well

 

[shootthebandit]

but i was kind of hoping to see villeneuve back as well

you better hope pretty damn hard, its difficult to come back from where he is.

 

[Cilliandrew]

I will never understand what happened to Villeneuve. When he was an up and coming racer in CART he had this fire that was just incredible to watch. The pressures of F1 (and possibly living up to his father?) seemed to have really burned him out. Sad.


And everyone who always complained about Schumi in his ferrari days and "not being able to win without having the best car" obviously weren't watching him with Benetton, when he DID NOT have the best car, and still took home championships.