A return for Schumey?

[coupekid]

Anyone heard this story, his spokewoman has not ruled out a return to F1 as a temporary measure to replace Massa!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8172310.stm

[Ian]

Re: A return for Schumey?

Niki Lauda, Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell, they all made winning returns after retiring, the first two actually winnning championships, too.

I do wonder if Schumacher has too much to lose, though? The car is not a race-winner and he might be out-shone by Raikkonen.

I'd like to see Coulthard in the car

I feel so sorry for Massa - that was one hell of a freak accident. The timing and the point of impact must be a zillion to one chance, let alone the chance that such a failure on Barrichello's car could have happened in the first place. It's great to hear that it looks like Massa will not have any brain damage, but there is a concern that his left eye is damaged and this could be career-ending.

I think they will have to have a look at how helmets are constructed. There was a time back in the late 80s and early 70s when the visor gap became very small indeed, and some helmets had protection between the eyes. The visors themselves may need to be thicker and stronger. I'm not sure covering the cockpit will work.

Ian

[coupekid]

A return for Schumey? BMW Retire!

Schumey is definately not going to race now.....and BMW will be retiring at the end of this season possibly folllowed by Toyota....... a sad day for F1!

[devilgas]

Re: A return for Schumey? BMW Retire!

depends who you listen to. his manager says 200% no (don't you just love those > than 100% quotes?) but other sources haven't ruled it out. presonally, i wouldn't be surprised to see MS back in the red car, especially after KR's result on sunday.

best news is that PM is recovering and has sight in his left eye.

shame that BMW have pulled the plug. will toyota (& renault) follow? seems we could be getting back to privateers being the major force in F1

[devilgas]

Re: A return for Schumey?

I think they will have to have a look at how helmets are constructed. There was a time back in the late 80s and early 70s when the visor gap became very small indeed, and some helmets had protection between the eyes. The visors themselves may need to be thicker and stronger. I'm not sure covering the cockpit will work.

Ian

there's only so much a helmet (and visor) can protect against. the shear quantity of energy in that spring had to not only be absorbed / deflected by the helmet, but also by the drivers neck & body with the energy transfer. with the henry surtees accident, no helmet technology would've made any difference. both were freak accidents, the fact they happened within 6 days of each other is coincidence, but enough for people to read something else into it.

not sure what technology goes into the visor, however i'm petty sure it'll be the amongst best available and comparable to fighter plane canopy kit.

agree re covered cockpit. the space available in current f1 cars simply wouldn't allow a covering to be easily removed in the event a car is upside down in the kitty litter. fires are another issue, although they are now few and far between (but, i believe, still more frequent than objects hitting drivers), although the wet ferrari kers at the start of the season would've been compounded by a covered driver cell.

[Ian]

Re: A return for Schumey?

I don't personally believe that crash helmets are designed to withstand flying debris like the spring that hit Massa. We will have to see the state of his helmet and I'm sure the FIA will make a decision concerning whether or not crash helmets need to be modified.

My thinking is that if an impact is from the front, which is the most likely scenario, the helmet will be impacted onto the cockpit surround immediately behind, so the momentum can be dissipated through the helmet through the padding. But this won't happen if the projectile breaches the skin of the helmet. All the strength of a helmet relies on that polycarbonate shell.

The accident with Henry Surtees is almost certainly unrelated as he was hit on the head by a wheel and tyre. I would assume he suffered neck injuries rather than brain-related head injuries. It's unlikely that a wheel would breach the helmet, but Surtees head would have been knocked aroundvery severely, far more severely than the HANS device could have coped with.

Ian

[Ian]

Re: A return for Schumey? BMW Retire!

Schumey is definately not going to race now.....and BMW will be retiring at the end of this season possibly folllowed by Toyota....... a sad day for F1!

It doesn't surprise me with this latest news. Schumacher is not one to take chances, everything has to be calculated for success wherever possible (including choice of team mate, for example). The problems I see are:

1. The car is not a probable winner.
2. Raikkonen is probably faster, no matter how much training Schumacher does in the 4 weeks until the next race.
3. There is no opportunity because of the new rules for Schumacher to do an preparation mileage.
4. He has said on several occasions that he is no longer interested in driving, so why should that change now?

Ian

[peter]

Re: A return for Schumey? BMW Retire!

YESSSSSSSS COME ON, SCHUMACHER BACK IN THE FERRARI can you tell I am happy. He will fill in for Massa for as long as he is needed. YESSSSSSSS.

[Ian]

Re: A return for Schumey? BMW Retire!

YESSSSSSSS COME ON, SCHUMACHER BACK IN THE FERRARI can you tell I am happy. He will fill in for Massa for as long as he is needed. YESSSSSSSS.

Well, I was certainly surprised! Why did Weber say no, so adamantly too?

I think it will be fun to have Schumacher back. But for all the reasons I have already stated, I think expecting him to win is quite a tall order though. Mind you, we were all saying that about Hamilton and then look what happened last Sunday

Ian

[peter]

Re: A return for Schumey? BMW Retire!

Well, I was certainly surprised! Why did Weber say no, so adamantly too?

I think it will be fun to have Schumacher back. But for all the reasons I have already stated, I think expecting him to win is quite a tall order though. Mind you, we were all saying that about Hamilton and then look what happened last Sunday

Ian

Yes that caught me out as well Ian. When I saw weber say they was a 200% Chance of him coming back I thought that I could only dream it may happen. We all know the Ferrari is not agood car this year and to think he would just walk back in and start winning is to much to hope I guess. I just hope he does well and brings the car home for points the rest I can dream about . I would love to know what Kimi thinks about it LOL

[Ian]

Re: A return for Schumey? BMW Retire!

There is a double-edged sword here. Let's say Schumacher out-performs Raikkonen - that wouldn't reflect well on Mass, and Schumacher is supposedly doing this for Mass...

Ian

[coupekid]

Re: A return for Schumey? BMW Retire!

depends who you listen to. his manager says 200% no (don't you just love those > than 100% quotes?)

YES I DO! Gets on my nerves everytime I hear someone say...give it 110%
grrrrr

well, it has all been confirmed now:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8172310.stm

[peter]

Re: A return for Schumey?

I just hope it works out and that what ever he does in the car he stays safe. If he brings the car home in the points good if is 2nd or 3rd in any race that would be great and if he wins any race well that would be the icing on the cake . The papers will have a field day whatever happens.

[devilgas]

Re: A return for Schumey?

confirmed today that he will not be stepping in for massa. the neck injury in the bike crash earlier in the year isn't fixed.

shame as i was looking forward to him locking horns with hami, webber, vetts & kimi.

luca badoer will be replacing massa for valencia.

[Ian]

Re: A return for Schumey?

That's a bit of an anti-climax, but not altogether unexpected. I personally think the neck injury is a red herring. Schumacher wanted to be in a position to beat Raikkonen, and he probably felt that the preparation he was afforded was insufficient (no testing with this year's car).

Ian