Formula One News - Making an Exception for Schumacher

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IN SCHUMI'S CASE, THEY MAKE AN EXCEPTION

Formula One Odds

To Win European Grand Prix

(August 21-23)

Lewis Hamilton +200

Sebastian Vettel +275

Mark Webber +450

Jenson Button +450

Michael Schumacher +1200

Kimi Raikkonen +1200

Nico Rosberg +1400

Heikki Kovalainen +1800

Rubens Barrichello +3000

Jarno Trulli +3500

Timo Glock +3500

Sebastien Buemi +9000

Kazuki Nakajima +10000

Robert Kubica +12500

Nick Heidfeld +12500

Giancarlo Fisichella +20000

Adrian Sutil +20000

Jaime Alguersuari +50000

You're not supposed to be able to test F1 cars during the season, but in the case of Michael Schumacher (+1200 to win the European Grand Prix) there are clearly extraneous circumstances. The other teams in FOTA (Formula One Teams Association) have granted permission to Ferrari to put Schumi in one of its 2009 cars, and he tested a two-year-old racer on Friday in Tuscany.

Ferrari's concession in the FOTA agreement is that it will not try to test new developments.

The letter coming from Massimo Rivolva, sporting director of Ferrari, said this, in part:

"In order to properly evaluate the possibility for his comeback we are therefore herewith requesting all competitors to the 2009 Championship as well as the FIA for the possibility to perform one day of official testing before the Valencia Grand Prix. We would be grateful if you could confirm your agreement to the aforesaid."

FOTA granted his wish, terming it a "sporting gesture."

The FIA still has to sign off on this move, since current cars cannot be tested. Whether they are in a sporting mood or not is yet to be determined. That doesn't mean the Ferrari guys couldn't pull off some creative circumvention of the rules in the meantime. So while Kimi Raikkonen was off rallying, Schmacher took the car he won the 2007 title with out for a spin, and the team had to circumvent some rules by having the 2007 car "lent by a fan" who now owns it privately. In Ferrari's "Corsa Clienti" program, fans can buy the old cars, have them serviced by a specialized staff, and make arrangements to drive them; sort of a "fantasy camp" if you will.

This came after a day at the factory in Maranello, working in the 2009 simulator.

"The cars are not current, but I simply like to drive as much as possible. It was a good option," said Schumacher.

The big concern is the neck injury Schumacher received while riding a motorcycle earlier in the year. Want a medical opinion on that? ''The one real doubt is the peak torque in the sideways accelerations which force the neck muscles to bear a load equivalent to 35 kilogram’s,'' according to biomechanical physiologist Antonio Del Monte

There you go.

The last time Schumacher had driven a Formula One car was back in April of 2008, which is when he tested for the Ferrari team. He is retained as a "consultant" to the Ferrari team, and he answered their call to fill in for injured star driver Felipe Massa.

There are a lot of things Schumacher is going to have to get used to. For one thing, he has not run on the untreaded tires they're using since 1997, and he has not been in competition with the new KERS system that the Ferrari cars are outfitted with.

If the FIA gives a thumbs up, Ferrari will try to get Schumi in the new car at some point next week.