Schumacher cancels comeback, Badoer steps in

[bcoxa]

Who is this "good" reserve driver then?

Badoer.

Well, despite that I'm disappointed that Schumacher won't have a go, I feel this is sort of historical justice for Luca. I really hope he gets a point or two! And if he makes onto the podium - you'd be sure that there will be one more 100% happy man on earth!

I put good in quotes for a reason, I know who Badoer is... lol.

Lets hope he does well, but I don't think he can cut the mustard at the sharp end.

[timbo]

He got the race seat as a reward for long service, not because he's competitive.

I doesn't mean that he never was competitive.
IMO he never had a fair chance.
Yes, his racing experience is nil.

[Mafster]

Nelson Piquet for Ferrari!

[-o< yeahhh... Seconded..

WE WANT FUN

[xpensive]

Would be cool to see JV on the Monza-grid in a red car, wouldn't it?

[nosh]

marc gene would have been a better replacement. although he hasnt been in the car since testing in the current car at the start of the season ( i think he did some testing - not 100% sure though) he has been doing a bit of racing recently (well more recently than luca) for peugeot. Although the 24 hours of le mans is nothing like an f1 race it has to be better than nothing. Also he is spanish and since the next race is in spain it sort of makes sense, although it would be good if luca could race in monza . I dont know if this would work due to too many changes in driver lineup for car 3 for the season, but then again it might be possible

[nosh]

Would be cool to see JV on the Monza-grid in a red car, wouldn't it?

But only in the 27 and not with JV driving

[raceman]

Ferrari "decided to give Luca Badoer the chance to race for the Scuderia after he has put in so many years of hard work as a test driver". He got the race seat as a reward for long service, not because he's competitive.

how mean, especially for someone who is long-time serving the team! had he been so non-competitive, he wouldn't have been a test driver for Ferrari!!!!!

[jonathan189]

Another classic Eddie Jordan quote from an interview on BBC News:

"Massa doesn't want a young test driver trying to usurp him and take his seat away... my guess is that Massa will be back within 4-6 weeks."

Luca Badoer, young test driver? Massa back in 4 weeks? Why do the BBC keep treating this guy as though he was some kind of expert on something?

This is the same Eddie Jordan who reported exclusively that he knew from his "sources" that Massa was mildly concussed after a bang on the chin. Massa was undergoing emergency surgery on a life-threatening skull fracture at the time.

[jonathan189]

Interesting fact:

Statistically, Ferrari have replaced the best driver in F1 history (1,369 points in 250 grands prix) with the worst driver in F1 history (0 points in 56 grands prix).

[timbo]

Interesting fact:

Statistically, Ferrari have replaced the best driver in F1 history (1,369 points in 250 grands prix) with the worst driver in F1 history (0 points in 56 grands prix).

Interesting comparison but they did not replace Schumacher, to be precise.

[raceman]

Interesting fact:

Statistically, Ferrari have replaced the best driver in F1 history (1,369 points in 250 grands prix) with the worst driver in F1 history (0 points in 56 grands prix).

Interesting comparison but they did not replace Schumacher, to be precise.

ritto

[jonathan189]

Interesting comparison but they did not replace Schumacher, to be precise.

So what word would you use?

He's taking the seat Schumacher would have occupied had he not withdrawn, so I don't know what word to use.

"Pre-emptive replacement"?

[Confused_Andy]

It was inevitable that Schumi wasn't going to race, it was just a way of grabbing headlines for a few weeks.

[jonathan189]

It was inevitable that Schumi wasn't going to race, it was just a way of grabbing headlines for a few weeks.

It was wishful thinking. It's become clear today that Schumacher sustained "fractures to the head and neck area" in February, making a return highly unlikely.

His manager Willi Weber was "200% sure" Schumacher wouldn't race... because he knew something we didn't.

[joseff]

Mr. Kubica, your red racing car is ready...