(Photo Ralph Koehler/Bongarts/Getty Images)
Michael Schumacher is set to come out of retirement to stand in for Ferrari's Felipe Massa's at the European Grand Prix.
Days of speculation about who would partner Kimi Raikkonen—following Massa's Hungarian GP crash—have engulfed the Formula One fraternity, and Ferrari have now issued a statement confirming that Schumacher is being prepared for the role.
The statement said that Schumacher was "ready" to make his Formula One return, and would begin a training programme over the next few days to ensure he was up to full fitness required for a Formula One race.
The German, who quit Formula One at the end of 2006, was involved in a motorbike accident earlier this year and there were fears within the Schumacher camp that the neck injury he sustained would force him to pull out of his return.
Schumacher has previously scoffed at the idea of returning to Formula One, but with Massa only looking likely to return when he is back to full fitness, and Ferrari in need of a driver capable of matching or even beating Raikkonen, the opportunity has attracted him.
"The most important thing first: thank God, all news concerning Felipe is positive. I wish him all the best again," said Schumacher.
"I was meeting 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 chapter of Formula 1 has been completely closed for me for a long time, it is also true that for loyalty reasons to the team I cannot ignore that unfortunate situation. But as the competitor I am, I also very much look forward to facing this challenge."
Once Schumacher gets the go-ahead, it will be the first time he has been a teammate to Kimi Raikkonen, and the pair will launch their bid to secure Ferrari third place in the constructors' championship.
Schumacher has not tested the current F60, and has not driven a Formula One car since April 2008 when he tested the F2008 at Barcelona.
The announcement of Schumacher's return comes just 24 hours after his manager Willi Weber totally ruled out the possibility of the legend racing in Valencia.
"Whoever sits in the car at the next race in Valencia, it will not be Michael Schumacher. I am not 100 percent sure; I am 200 percent sure," Weber was quoted as saying by The Daily Mail.
"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."
Whatever your opinion of Michael Schumacher, it is a great to see such a big name return to our sport.
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