Ferrari has said that Michael Schumacher, who was very despondent throughout the weekend of the Italian Grand Prix, could choose whether to race in the US or not. In reaction, F1 president Max Mosley declared: “F1 will survive without Schumacher”.
Ferrari has said that Michael Schumacher, who was very despondent throughout the weekend of the Italian Grand Prix, could choose whether to race in the US or not. In reaction, F1 president Max Mosley declared: “F1 would survive without Schumacher”.
Schumacher was upset not only by the terrorist attacks in the US, but by the tragic accident of his fellow racer Alex Zanardi. It was rumoured that the four-time world champion was seriously considering not competing in the US Grand Prix, or the season finale in Japan.
Ferrari on Tuesday said that if Schumacher did not feel like attending the race at Indianapolis, they would not force him. It was speculated that the team’s official test driver, Luca Badoer, would take Schumacher’s place at Indianapolis if the German withdrew.
"He is the one who drives, and he has to say if he feels like doing it," said Ferrari team manager Jean Todt. "If Michael has to review his situation, his conditions, his decision for Indianapolis, there is no problem to grant him his wishes."
Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has stated that the race will go ahead, regardless, and that any driver who boycotted the event would be punished. Although he didn’t say it directly, Ecclestone insinuated that Michael Schumacher could lose his world championship points if he didn’t attend.
However, FIA president Max Mosley was far more outspoken on Schumacher’s possible absence from the US Grand Prix.
"If Michael doesn’t want to go to the USA that’s between him and his team. We can’t make him drive if he doesn’t want to. The team is allowed to change the No 1 driver once in a season, so he could step down without any repercussions,” Mosley said.
“But if by doing so he brought the sport into disrepute, that would be a different matter,” he added.
Mosley further said that if Schumacher wanted to disengage from the sport, it would continue without him, just as it did after the tragic death of triple world champion Ayrton Senna in 1994. "What Michael must remember is that drivers come and go while Formula One stays. Formula One managed without Ayrton Senna and it can manage without Michael Schumacher if it has to."
When interviewed shortly after the Italian Grand Prix, Schumacher said that he planned to compete at the US Grand Prix as long as the situation in the States remained stable.
"I’ve heard about these rumours,” he said. “ But at the moment, I have not thought about not driving in the USA and Japan."
