With the image of F1 marred in recent months by unscrupulous bigwigs, mutiny by FOTA, dodgy decisions by officials and controversy in general – the latest news reports doing the rounds are sure to catapult the pinnacle of motorsport to the headlines once more.By Kyle Kock
What a week it’s been for F1. First, 28-year-old Scuderia Ferrari driver Felipe Massa was seriously injured in a freak accident during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix (following the tragic death of 18-year-old Henry Surtees, son of former world champion John Surtees, in an equally-freakish sequence of events during an F2 race a week earlier). Then BMW announced its withdrawal from the sport at the end of the season, and now controversial seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher prepares to replace the Brazilian for the next race in Valencia, and possibly the remainder of the season.
It has been reported that Massa, who was moved out of intensive care on Wednesday, is making a speedy recovery after undergoing a successful surgical procedure and emerging from a medically-induced coma at the AEK hospital in Budapest.
Although he suffered a deep cut to his forehead, fractures to his skull and brain concussion, Massa should not suffer any long-term effects after his crash. “He stood up today and was walking around his bed,” Massa’s private doctor Dino Altman was quoted as saying today. “Felipe’s brain condition is improving and there is nothing to worry about.”
Massa even showed tremendous spirit when he found out that defending champion Lewis Hamilton had won the race on Sunday. “I can’t believe it! It was my race,” Massa reportedly told Dr Altman from his hospital bed.
Speaking of spirit, there’s no lack in that department from Schumacher, who will return to the sport as a competitor nearly three years since he retired. His spokesperson, Sabine Kehm, earlier played down the possibility of a Schumi comeback, citing a lack of race fitness on the part of the 40-year-old, and manager Willi Weber initially advised him against it.
However, “Ferrari asked him (to substitute Massa at Valencia) and he couldn’t say no. It is good for everyone, the media, the fans, F1. Whether it is also good for us we will have to see,” said Weber. “I advised him against it, saying the problem is the expectation of the people. If Schumacher is back in the car, then they want to see him winning.”
Given that Schumacher hasn’t trained seriously since 2006, and the rest of the drivers on the grid are more experienced with the 2009-spec cars, it will be interesting to see how the German fares in less than four weeks time in the European Grand Prix. He needs to pass numerous training and fitness programmes before he will be allowed to race, of course. Read Sudhir’s blog on the topic.
“I met this afternoon with Stefano Domenicali and Luca di Montezemolo and together we decided that I will prepare myself to take the place of Felipe. Though it is true that the formula one chapter was completely closed for me a long time ago, it is also true that for loyalty reasons to the team I cannot ignore (this) unfortunate situation,” Schumacher said.
Although there are those who doubt he’ll be competitive, others think he still has what it takes to come out on top. “It’s a gigantic mountain for even him to climb,” the former “Voice of F1” Murray Walker told the BBC. “I have no doubt he will be physically fit and I don’t doubt that he’s mentally on top of it. It’s just that he’s bound to be rusty and he’s got very little time to catch up.”
Whether he’ll be in winning form or not in Spain next month, reports are suggesting that the German could earn a staggering £3 million per race – basically £1 million a day – and that along with the news that Ferrari will extend his €5-million-per-year role as team advisor.
With the grand re-entry of one hero, the sad, untimely exit of another has come about in the aftermath of the FOTA/FIA debacle. The BMW Group announced this week that 2009 will be its last season in F1 (cost no doubt a deciding factor here), but will continue its participation in various forms of motorsport, including its support for young drivers in the Formula BMW programme, participation in the American Le Mans Series and touring cars – leaving Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld without drives in 2010.
“Of course, we, the employees in Hinwil and Munich, would all have liked to continue this ambitious campaign and show that this season was just a hiccup following three successful years. But I can understand why this decision was made from a corporate perspective. We will now focus sharply on the remaining races and demonstrate our fighting spirit and put in a good result as we bid farewell to Formula One racing.” Said BMW Motorsport director, Mario Theissen.
Resources freed up as a result of the BMW Sauber teams’ departure from the sport will be allocated to the development of new drive technologies and projects in the field of sustainability. Read Hannes’ blog on the topic.
“It’s a resolute step in view of our company’s strategic realignment. Premium will increasingly be defined in terms of sustainability and environmental compatibility. This is an area in which we want to remain in the lead. In line with our Strategy Number ONE, we are continually reviewing all projects and initiatives to check them for future viability and sustainability. Our Formula One campaign is thus less a key promoter for us,” Norbert Reithofer, the chairman of the board of management of BMW AG, said.
Rumour has it that team founder and shareholder Peter Sauber might step in to ensure the team’s continued effort after 2009, while its also been speculated that a US-based consortium might take over the stricken Formula One constructor.
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