From formula1.com
The news that Michael Schumacher won’t return to Formula 1 racing at the forthcoming European Grand Prix has disappointed many fans around the world. But for Ferrari test driver Luca Badoer, Schumacher’s decision to pull out of his planned comeback in light of an aggravated neck injury is a mixed blessing.
"Since I've been a child I always wanted to race for Ferrari and now I've got the possibility to make this desire come true,” the Italian told Ferrari’s official website. "I'm really sorry for Michael, because I know how much he wanted to return: I'm saying that as his friend and his fan.
"We've been in contact during the last days and we drove karts together at Lonato last week. So I followed him very closely in this attempt. He called me a couple of minutes after team principal Stefano Domenicali had told me the news and I know that he'll always be ready to give me some advice and he will shout for me."
Although Badoer is Ferrari’s principal test driver, in light of this season’s restrictions, he hasn’t yet sampled the F60 on track. He has, however, familiarised himself with the car’s controls and believes that he is fit enough to withstand the physical demands of a Grand Prix.
"Although this year's rules foresee a drastically reduced mileage for us test drivers, I have prepared myself to be ready under any circumstances, just as I've been doing the last years too," he explained. "I've been in this business for quite a while. After Felipe's accident I intensified my programme and I'm sure that I won't have any problems from this point of view."
Badoer will sample the F60 for the first time on Friday August 21, when first practice gets underway in Valencia. The Italian made the last of his previous 48 Grand Prix starts back in 1999, with Minardi in Japan.
In fact, in terms of testing he’s a record breaker. Dominating the stat lists for the number of test days he’s attended (469), test laps covered (31,375) and test kilometres completed (131,943), he’s the most experienced tester in Formula 1 history. To put those figures into perspective, he’s racked up over 139 days, 7,670 laps and over 30,000 kilometres more than avid tester Schumacher.
photo:WRI2
The news that Michael Schumacher won’t return to Formula 1 racing at the forthcoming European Grand Prix has disappointed many fans around the world. But for Ferrari test driver Luca Badoer, Schumacher’s decision to pull out of his planned comeback in light of an aggravated neck injury is a mixed blessing.
"Since I've been a child I always wanted to race for Ferrari and now I've got the possibility to make this desire come true,” the Italian told Ferrari’s official website. "I'm really sorry for Michael, because I know how much he wanted to return: I'm saying that as his friend and his fan.
"We've been in contact during the last days and we drove karts together at Lonato last week. So I followed him very closely in this attempt. He called me a couple of minutes after team principal Stefano Domenicali had told me the news and I know that he'll always be ready to give me some advice and he will shout for me."
Although Badoer is Ferrari’s principal test driver, in light of this season’s restrictions, he hasn’t yet sampled the F60 on track. He has, however, familiarised himself with the car’s controls and believes that he is fit enough to withstand the physical demands of a Grand Prix.
"Although this year's rules foresee a drastically reduced mileage for us test drivers, I have prepared myself to be ready under any circumstances, just as I've been doing the last years too," he explained. "I've been in this business for quite a while. After Felipe's accident I intensified my programme and I'm sure that I won't have any problems from this point of view."
Badoer will sample the F60 for the first time on Friday August 21, when first practice gets underway in Valencia. The Italian made the last of his previous 48 Grand Prix starts back in 1999, with Minardi in Japan.
In fact, in terms of testing he’s a record breaker. Dominating the stat lists for the number of test days he’s attended (469), test laps covered (31,375) and test kilometres completed (131,943), he’s the most experienced tester in Formula 1 history. To put those figures into perspective, he’s racked up over 139 days, 7,670 laps and over 30,000 kilometres more than avid tester Schumacher.
photo:WRI2