Ralf Schumacher is eager to return to racing after his horrific crash at Monza last week, but the Williams-BMW ace will need to pass an FIA fitness test on Thursday before returning to the cockpit.
Ralf Schumacher is eager to return to racing after his horrific crash at Monza last week, but the Williams-BMW ace – who still suffers from spells of lightheadedness – will need to pass an FIA fitness test on Thursday before returning to the cockpit.
Although Ralf must race this weekend if he is to have any chance of getting back into the thick of the championship chase, FIA medical delegate Professor Sid Watkins will have no hesitation in withholding permission if he thinks there are any lingering effects of concussion from a testing shunt at Monza last week.
Watkins has already acted twice this year to prevent drivers with concussion from racing. This happened after heavy practice shunts for BAR Honda’s Jenson Button and Jordan Ford’s Ralph Firman in Monaco and Hungary respectively.
“Nothing is standing in the way of my participation,” said the BMW Williams driver. “In principle I feel totally in form and I’m fired up to get back into the car”.
“For this race my goal is to keep my slim chance in the drivers’ championship alive,” said the German. “However, it is even more important to perform as a team and defend our lead in the constructors’ championship.”
Ralf, who lies 14 points behind his championship-leading brother, has been training and recuperating at home in Austria this week. Williams-BMW has since established that collapsed rear wheel suspension caused the crash.
“The team identified the cause and I’m sure that measures have been taken to ensure that such an accident won’t happen again,” he added.