Multiple Formula 1 World Champion Michael Schumacher has announced that he will come out of retirement to replace Felipe Mass at Ferrari. Felipe Massa was seriously injured in an accident during qualifying for the recent Hungarian Grand Prix. He is quoted on the BBC F1 website explaining his decision: "For team loyalty reasons I can't ignore this unfortunate situation."
Michael Schumacher retired from Formula 1 at the final race of the 2006 season, when he was narrowly pipped to the title by Fernando Alonso. Prior to that Michael Schumacher won the Formula 1 World Championship twice with Benetton and five times with Ferrari.
Michael Schumacher's Formula 1 Career
Michael Schumacher made his Formula 1 debut at the 1991 Belgian Grand Prix, where he immediately impressed by qualifying his Jordan seventh. By the next race in Italy he was a Benetton driver. In 1994 he claimed his maiden Formula 1 World Championship, although the season was overshadowed by the deaths of Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna.
In 1995 Michael Schumacher won the title again. before moving to Ferrari. The great Italian team were in crisis at the time, but by 1997 were once again genuine title contenders. In 1999 Michael Schumacher was in contention to finally win the Formula 1 World Championship in a Ferrari, only to suffer a leg-breaking shunt at Silverstone. He managed the feat the following year and went on to take four more titles for Ferrari.
After his retirement Michael Schumacher remained with Ferrari as an ambassador and tested the team's Formula 1 cars on several occasions. He has also raced in several events, including the annual Race of Champions and on motorcycles.
Michael Schumacher's Return to Formula 1
Michael Schumacher's return to Formula 1 will be at the European Grand Prix, to be held in Valencia on August 23rd. Ferrari are not in contention for the Formula 1 World Championship this year but Michael Schumacher will be keen to help the team improve this year's car. So far in the 2009 Formula 1 season neither Felipe Massa nor Kimi Raikkonen have managed to win a race for Ferrari.
The catalyst for Michael Schumacher's return was a freak accident which befell Felipe Massa during the second qualifying session at the Hungaroring. Felipe Massa's countryman Rubens Barrichello was running a few seconds ahead on the track when his Brawn car started losing parts of its rear suspension. One of these pieces impacted with Felipe Massa's crash helmet, causing the Brazilian to lose control and crash heavily.
For a while there were fears for Felipe Massa's life, but the Ferrari driver is now out of intensive care. His injuries include skull fractures and a damaged left eye. Felipe Massa's crash came just days after promising Formula 2 driver Henry Surtees died at Brands Hatch when a wheel from another car struck his helmet.
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