Felipe Massa's injuries may get Michael Schumacher back on track

Schumacher, a seven-time Formula One champion, might come out of retirement to drive again for Ferrari in place of Massa, who was seriously hurt in a freak accident Saturday. An already strange Formula One season is growing only more curious -- and intriguing.

Michael Schumacher returns to F1

• Formula One legend to stand in for Ferrari's injured Massa• Fitness not a problem despite three years in retirementMichael Schumacher has put his retirement on hold to make the most dramatic Formula One comeback since Niki Lauda's return to the sport in 1982. Ferrari confirmed today that the seven-times world champion, who retired in 2006, will make a sensational return to the sport as a stand-in for the injured Felipe Massa. Subject to passing a medical, the 40-year-old German will return at the European grand prix in Valencia on 23 August.Schumacher has made it clear that he is stepping in only to help the team for which he won five of his titles and, in particular, Massa with whom he struck up a close friendship during their 2006 season driving for the Italian team.It is expected that Schumacher, who will not be able to drive the Ferrari before the first free practice session at the Spanish track due to the ban on testing during the racing season, will partner Kimi Raikkonen in the seven remaining races this season."The most important thing first is that, thank God, all the news concerning Felipe is positive," said Schumacher in a statement. "I was meeting this afternoon with [Ferrari principal] Stefano Domenicali and [company president] Luca di Montezemolo and together we decided that I will prepare myself to take the place of Felipe."He added: "Though it is true that the chapter of Formula One has been completely closed to 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 that I am, I also very much look forward to facing this challenge."Massa, who suffered head injuries during qualifying for last Sunday's Hungarian grand prix, continues his recuperation. The Brazilian has been moved out of intensive care, and his doctor, Dino Altmann, believes Massa will race again. "The improvements have gone beyond our wildest expectations," Altmann said.Former world champion Lauda believes Schumacher will thrive on his return. "Michael coming back is absolutely the best, most fantastic thing to happen in Formula One this season," Lauda said. "He will have absolutely no problem with physical fitness, because he has maintained his fitness to a very high level. When I was away from racing for two and a half years I did nothing but fly aeroplanes, not doing any training at all. Michael is different. He will be competitive, easily, for sure."The world champion, Lewis Hamilton, will realise a long-held dream when he races against Schumacher. In his autobiography, My Story, Hamilton remarked: "I was asked which former driver I would most like to race against, and I went for Michael Schumacher. I got a laugh by saying I was disappointed that he had bailed out the year I got to Formula One."Formula OneFerrariFelipe MassaMotor sportguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Michael Schumacher extends his Formula One retirement

He will miss the Aug. 23 European Grand Prix in Valencia, Spain, saying pain from a neck fracture continues to bother him. Ferrari test driver Luca Badoer will replace him. A booming sports crescendo slated for Aug. 23 has wound up fizzling 12 days early.

Michael Schumacher returns to F1

• 'I cannot ignore this unfortunate situation,' says Schumacher• Seven-time champion will drive for Ferrari until Massa returnsSeven-time Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher is to sensationally come out of retirement to drive for Ferrari until Felipe Massa is able to race again, the team has confirmed this evening.The 40-year-old has not driven competitively since the end of the 2006 season. But Schumacher, who won five of his titles with Ferrari and who has been acting as an advisor to the team of late, will now race in the European grand prix in Valencia on August 23."Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro intends to put Michael Schumacher in Felipe Massa's car until the Brazilian driver will be able to race again," Ferrari confirmed in a statement.Schumacher, though, will first have to undergo a rigorous training programme as he is understood to still be recovering from neck and back injuries sustained in a motorbike test in Spain in February. But he is more than happy to come to Ferrari's aid in their hour of need after Massa fractured his skull in a freak accident on Saturday in qualifying for the Hungarian grand prix.Speaking on his official website, Schumacher said: "The most important thing first: thank God, all news concerning Felipe is positive, and I wish him all the best again."This afternoon I met with [team principal] Stefano Domenicali and [president] Luca di Montezemolo and together we decided that I will prepare myself to take the place of Felipe."Though it is true the Formula One chapter has been closed for me for some time, it is also true that for loyalty reasons to the team I cannot ignore this unfortunate situation. But as the competitor I am, I also very much look forward to facing this challenge."What do you think of Schumacher's sensational return to Formula One? Post your comments belowFormula OneFelipe MassaMotor sportFerrariguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Button wins Turkish grand prix

• Sixth win in seven races for Brawn driver• Webber and Vettel finish second and thirdJenson Button continued his domination of the current Formula One season with his sixth victory in seven races to move a step closer to clinching his maiden world championship.A mistake from Brawn GP team-mate Rubens Barrichello off the line and an error from pole-sitter Sebastian Vettel in his Red Bull on the opening lap allowed Button to cruise to the line in the Turkish Grand Prix.It was his fourth consecutive success, the first time that has been achieved by a Briton since Nigel Mansell went on to take the title in 1992.Button now has a 26-point cushion over Barrichello at the top of the standings as the Brazilian retired on lap 49, with Vettel 32 points adrift as he finished third behind team-mate Mark Webber.After crossing the line, Button was told over the pit-to-car radio he had produced an "awesome drive," to which he replied: "Thank you. You've built me a monster of a car. You guys are absolute legends."Only five times in Formula One's 60-year history had any driver won six out of the first seven races: Alberto Ascari, Juan Manuel Fangio, Jim Clark and Michael Schumacher (twice).Button could not have asked for it to be any easier, either, thanks to Barrichello initially as he stalled from his third place on the grid, relegating him down to 13th by the end of the first lap.Vettel, whose two previous victories had come from pole, ran wide onto a painted kerb coming out of turn nine.That forced him into running onto the grass approaching turn 10, which was all the invitation Button needed to take the lead, and ultimately the victory.Not even switching Vettel to a three-stop strategy then worked for although he ran behind Button's exhaust at the midway point of the race, his failure to pass the championship leader also cost him.It was not even good enough for the runner-up spot as Webber did enough in his stints to take the line just 0.7secs clear of the 21-year-old.Toyota's Jarno Trulli finished fourth, followed by Nico Rosberg in his Williams, matching his best performance of the season.Winner of this race from pole for the last three years in Felipe Massa in his Ferrari was sixth, with BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica finally ending his points duck with seventh.The second Toyota of Timo Glock completed the top eight, with Lewis Hamilton 13th in his pitiful McLaren, finishing 80.4 seconds adrift of runaway winner and championship leader Button.As for the constructors, Brawn's first failure of the season means Red Bull have closed the gap by four points to 39.5.In the build-up immediately before the race at Istanbul's Otodrom, there had been wild rumours the FOTA eight would boycott it at the end of the formation lap.It had been suggested as a protest to their ongoing feud with the FIA over the budget cap, but as expected it failed to materialise – thankfully so for Button, who marches on.Final positions1 Jenson Button (Brawn)2 Mark Webber (Red Bull) +6.7143 Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) +7.4614 Jarno Trulli (Toyota) +27.8435 Nico Rosberg (Williams) +31.5396 Felipe Massa (Ferrari) +39.9967 Robert Kubica (BMW) +46.2478 Timo Glock (Toyota) +46.959Jenson ButtonBrawnLewis HamiltonForce IndiaRed BullMcLarenSauberRenaultToro RossoToyotaWilliamsMotor sportguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Fernando Alonso set for Ferrari deal

• Spaniard will replace Kimi Raikkonen from next year• 'He's pulled off the deal of his life,' says close friendThe two-times world champion Fernando Alonso has signed a deal with Ferrari starting in 2010. It could be officially announced in the run-up to this Sunday's Japanese grand prix at Suzuka.The Spanish driver, who finished third in Sunday's Singapore grand prix to score the Renault team's first podium finish of the season, will partner Felipe Massa after agreeing a three-year contract worth in excess of $30m (£19m).Although Kimi Raikkonen has a contract with Ferrari for 2010, it is believed that the Finn will return to the McLaren-Mercedes squad next year to partner Lewis Hamilton, replacing his fellow Scandinavian Heikki Kovalainen who has been disappointing this season.Neither Ferrari nor McLaren would officially comment on the matter, but a close friend of Alonso said he had little doubt that the Ferrari deal was already done. "Fernando isn't always the most demonstrative of guys, but when he was walking down the paddock he almost looked as though he wanted to leap into the air and click his heels together," he said. "He looked like a guy who'd pulled off the deal of his life."Ferrari currently have three other potential drivers they could call on in the event of Massa not being fully race fit by the start of next season, although the present signs are that the Brazilian driver is well down the road to recovery from head injuries sustained in practice for August's Hungarian grand prix.The other drivers on their books include Giancarlo Fisichella, Luca Badoer, Marc Gené and potentially the seven-times world champion Michael Schumacher, although sources close to the Italian team have ruled out the prospect of the 40-year old making a full-time return to the Formula One field.Meanwhile, Jenson Button will be going to Suzuka knowing that a race win on this challenging high-speed track near Nagoya could set him up to clinch the world championship in Brazil a fortnight later. Button finished fifth at Singapore, crossing the line just ahead of his team-mate Rubens Barrichello, his only serious remaining rival for the title with three races of the season left to run.Next year Button will probably not have to worry about Barrichello driving a similar car as the veteran Brazilian is likely to be replaced by Nico Rosberg, a move which will further strengthen the ties between the Brawn team and their engine suppliers Mercedes-Benz who are anxious to have a German driver in the team.FerrariFormula OneRenaultMotor sportAlan Henryguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds