Willi Weber, Michael Schumacher's long time business manager has moved quickly to deny speculation that the German driver could make a shock return to Formula 1 in replacement for the injured Felipe Massa.
With the Scuderia Ferrari set to begin its hunt for a temporary replacement for the injured Massa, Michael Schumacher's name has been mentioned because of his long-standing links to the famed Italian team.
The rumours intensified after his spokeswoman, Sabine Kehm said that he would 'consider' any offer to drive the car if the team approached him.
Kehm said on Tuesday during an interview with the BCC that Michael would not automatically reject the idea of stepping into Massa's car if Ferrari asked him.
But following meetings between Schumacher and Weber at the seven-time world champion's Geneva home on Monday, talk of the German making a racing comeback has been dismissed.
Willi Weber told British newspaper The Daily Mail: “Whoever sits in the car at the next race in Valencia, it will not be Michael Schumacher. I am not 100 per cent sure; I am 200 per cent sure.”
Weber added: “The pressure on him would be huge. He would be expected to win, but he has not driven this car. When Michael was racing he would get as close to perfection as possible. In this case, it would not be perfection; it would be a gamble - and that's not Michael's style.”
We must also remember that Schumacher was injured early this year in a racing motorcycle accident and his neck may not be fit enough to withstand the enormous G forces generated by the Ferrari F60, especially over the course of a full Grand Prix distance.
However, hours later Weber admitted that if Valencia could be ruled out definitively, he admitted a return later in 2009 remains a possibility.
"I have excluded a comeback in Valencia. With regards to Spa and Monza, I would not like to express myself," Weber is quoted as saying by Auto Bild Motorsport.
photo:WRI2
With the Scuderia Ferrari set to begin its hunt for a temporary replacement for the injured Massa, Michael Schumacher's name has been mentioned because of his long-standing links to the famed Italian team.
The rumours intensified after his spokeswoman, Sabine Kehm said that he would 'consider' any offer to drive the car if the team approached him.
Kehm said on Tuesday during an interview with the BCC that Michael would not automatically reject the idea of stepping into Massa's car if Ferrari asked him.
But following meetings between Schumacher and Weber at the seven-time world champion's Geneva home on Monday, talk of the German making a racing comeback has been dismissed.
Willi Weber told British newspaper The Daily Mail: “Whoever sits in the car at the next race in Valencia, it will not be Michael Schumacher. I am not 100 per cent sure; I am 200 per cent sure.”
Weber added: “The pressure on him would be huge. He would be expected to win, but he has not driven this car. When Michael was racing he would get as close to perfection as possible. In this case, it would not be perfection; it would be a gamble - and that's not Michael's style.”
We must also remember that Schumacher was injured early this year in a racing motorcycle accident and his neck may not be fit enough to withstand the enormous G forces generated by the Ferrari F60, especially over the course of a full Grand Prix distance.
However, hours later Weber admitted that if Valencia could be ruled out definitively, he admitted a return later in 2009 remains a possibility.
"I have excluded a comeback in Valencia. With regards to Spa and Monza, I would not like to express myself," Weber is quoted as saying by Auto Bild Motorsport.
photo:WRI2