Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[BREAKING: Schumacher likely to return to F1 racing with Mercedes]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/20/breaking-schumacher-likely-to-return-to-f1-racing-with-mercedes/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/20/breaking-schumacher-likely-to-return-to-f1-racing-with-mercedes/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/20/breaking-schumacher-likely-to-return-to-f1-racing-with-mercedes/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Say it ain't so, Schu! The Daily Telegraph is reporting that seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher is close to signing on with the newly formed Mercedes Formula 1 team. Mercedes is the new name of the former Brawn GP team, the current Constructors Champion. After a stellar rookie season that saw this former Honda team clinch not just the Constructors Championship, but also the Drivers Championship for Jenson Button, they had a bit of a dropoff as Button bolted for rival McLaren.

That left a seat to fill at Mercedes and if BBC Sport's Eddie Jordan is to be believed, none other than Michael Schumacher is about to sign a one-year contract to return to racing in that very car. The deal, which would net Schumacher the same salary that Button turned down at Brawn GP in favour of McLaren, would finally see the German teaming up with Mercedes, who were in the past unsuccessful in their bids to lure him away from Ferrari.

Ferrari almost lured the retired champ back this season when Felipe Massa went down following the infamous spring incident in Hungary. The Champ's sore neck put a stop to that comeback, but apparently it got Schumi's juices flowing again. Signing with Mercedes would create something of a German dream team with Nico Rosberg in the other car. If the deal goes through, MS will be reunited with Brawn GP-namesake and current Mercedes team principal Ross Brawn, the man who guided Michael to all seven of his World titles.

Still just a rumor for the moment, the deal is said to give Schumacher the same salary Button turned down when he defected to McLaren. The Schumacher deal is just the latest volley in the silly season melee that has seen Kimi Raikkonen vacate his seat in order to make room for Fernando Alonso at Ferrari, which lost adviser Michael Schumacher as well. Whatever the future holds, it is only going to get more interesting. We'll keep you posted as things develop. Thanks to everyone for the tips!

[Source: The Daily Telegraph via Planet F1, BBC Sport | Image Source: Getty]

BREAKING: Schumacher likely to return to F1 racing with Mercedes originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Breakingbreaking newsBreakingNewsF1Ferrariformula 1formula oneFormula1FormulaOnemclarenmercedesmercedes-benzmichael schumacherMichaelSchumacherMSschumacherFri, 20 Nov 2009 14:26:00 EST<![CDATA[REPORT: Ferrari figures Raikkonen, Schumacher and Montezemolo to leave their F1 posts]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/18/report-ferrari-figures-raikkonen-schumacher-and-montezemolo-to/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/18/report-ferrari-figures-raikkonen-schumacher-and-montezemolo-to/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/18/report-ferrari-figures-raikkonen-schumacher-and-montezemolo-to/#commentsFiled under: , ,



The times they are a-changin' in Maranello. As if the departures of Michael Schumacher, Ross Brawn and Jean Todt over the past few years wasn't enough to shake things up for the Scuderia, a new round of change-ups is looming on the horizon.

First up is Kimi Raikkonen, the 2007 World Champion who Ferrari is paying to vacate his seat in order to make room for Fernando Alonso. Following earlier reports that Kimi would stand to make more by sitting out next season, the Finnish driver's manager has reportedly announced that he'll be taking a sabbatical. This, after negotiations with McLaren broke down over such issues as salary, promotional obligations and freedom to drive the occasional rally. Raikkonen's repeatedly reiterated that he's only interested in a winning team, and could take the year to hone his rally skills instead. A tie-in with Red Bull could provide him with a WRC drive and a return to F1 for 2011.

Meanwhile, Kimi's predecessor, Michael Schumacher, is reportedly changing his role with the team as well. For the past couple of seasons, Schumi has served as a special adviser to the Scuderia, often showing his smiling mug on the pit wall at various grand prix events. But while the seven-time World Champion has signed on for another three years to help with the development of future Ferrari road cars, his F1 role with the team has apparently ended. In an effort to sort out why Schumi won't be active with the team any longer, speculation has escalated that Michael could reunite with Ross Brawn and return to the cockpit as a driver for the newly christened Mercedes Grand Prix team, while others suggest he could join his former boss Jean Todt with a role in the FIA.

Finally, Luca di Montezemolo is eying a change in his role as well. The chairman isn't leaving his post as head of either Ferrari or parent company Fiat, but he has announced that he's likely to step down as head of the Formula One Teams Association. The representative body was formed to negotiate on the teams' behalf with the FIA and Formula One Management, but with Montezemolo's longtime underling Todt now heading the FIA, many have been citing a potential conflict of interest. For his part, Montezemolo says he wants to concentrate on his job as chairman of the Italian automakers. Thanks to everyone for the tips!

[Sources: Autosport and Autocar | Image: Andreas Solaro/AFP/Getty]

REPORT: Ferrari figures Raikkonen, Schumacher and Montezemolo to leave their F1 posts originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f1ferrari raikkonenFerrariRaikkonenformula 1formula oneformula one teams associationFormula1FormulaOneFormulaOneTeamsAssociationFOTAkimi raikkonenKimiRaikkonenluca di montezemoloLucaDiMontezemolomercedes schumacherMercedesSchumachermichael schumacherMichaelSchumachermontezemoloraikkonenrally raikkonenRallyRaikkonenred bull raikkonenRedBullRaikkonenschumacherschumacher brawnSchumacherBrawnwrc raikkonenWrcRaikkonenWed, 18 Nov 2009 10:01:00 EST<![CDATA[eBay Find of the Day: Michael Schumacher's controversial crowning 1994 Benetton B194]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/11/ebay-find-of-the-day-michael-schumachers-controversial-crownin/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/11/ebay-find-of-the-day-michael-schumachers-controversial-crownin/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/11/ebay-find-of-the-day-michael-schumachers-controversial-crownin/#commentsFiled under: ,


Michael Schumacher's championship-winning Benetton B194 - Click above for image gallery

If you thought the Formula One World Championship was wrought with controversy these days, the scandals we've seen in recent years pale in comparison to the 1994 season. Historians will remember it as the year Ayrton Senna died (along with Roland Ratzenberger) at the San Marino Grand Prix. But tragic fatalities aside, the '94 championship was settled in one of the most controversial fashions the sport's ever seen.

After a hard-fought season, Michael Schumacher (Benetton) and Damon Hill (Williams) arrived in Adelaide for the final round separated by just one point. Both titles would be decided then and there, but on lap 35 the two front-runners collided, ending the race for both. Schumacher was crowned champion - the first of seven career F1 titles - and while many called foul play, Williams, still dealing with the aftermath of Senna's death, lodged no official protest. And this is the car it all happened in.

Up for grabs on everyone's favorite online auction site is the 1994 Benetton B194 in which Schumi won that controversial title. Although it's being sold from Germany, the car's actually located in Toronto. Fortunately it's been fully repaired since that pivotal crash, its Ford-Cosworth 3.5-liter V8 rebuilt by UK's Langford Performance Engineering. It comes with a truck full of spare parts, including a laptop loaded with the engine management software, two sets of wheels and spare wings aplenty. Bidding, at the time of writing, still has five days to go, but it's already topping 2.6 million euros (that's $3.9M USD). And for a piece of racing history like this one, you can bet it's going to reach higher than that before the digital hammer drops. Hat tip to just about everyone!


Gallery: Michael Schumacher's championship-winning Benetton B194


[Source: eBay Motors Germany]

eBay Find of the Day: Michael Schumacher's controversial crowning 1994 Benetton B194 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Click above to watch the video after the jump

After seven Formula One World Championships and more records than your local second-hand vinyl shop, Michael Schumacher has proven incredibly adept at driving a point home. Now that he's semi-retired, well...he's still making more money than most of the active drivers in F1 (or any other form of motorsports for that matter), thanks in part to an endorsement deal with Barcardi, the Bermuda-based rum distillery with whom Schumi drives home another kind of point entirely.

To prove the point that drinking and driving don't mix, Schumacher takes once again to the wheel of a Maserati GranTurismo. Only this time he's brought along one Salvatore Calabrese to ride shotgun. Sounds straightforward enough, but the world-renowned bartender known as "The Maestro" isn't coming along just for the ride: while Schumi does what Schumi does best, Calabrese tries to do the same, to highly amusing and illustrative effect. Follow the jump to watch the video.

[Source: Bacardi via YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Bacardi, Maserati, and Michael Schumacher get shaken, not stirred

VIDEO: Bacardi, Maserati, and Michael Schumacher get shaken, not stirred originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bacardibartenderdrink drivedrink mixerdrink mixingDrinkDrivedrinking and drivingDrinkingAndDrivingdrinkmasterDrinkMixerDrinkMixingmichael schumacherMichaelSchumachermixologistmixologyrumSalvatore CalabreseSalvatoreCalabreseschumacherschumacher bacardiSchumacherBacardiMon, 09 Nov 2009 12:31:00 EST<![CDATA[SPOILER ALERT: Champion's Champions Crowned at 2009 Race of Champions]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/04/spoiler-alert-winners-winners-crowned-at-2009-race-of-champion/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/04/spoiler-alert-winners-winners-crowned-at-2009-race-of-champion/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/04/spoiler-alert-winners-winners-crowned-at-2009-race-of-champion/#commentsFiled under: ,


2009 Race of Champions - Click above for high-res image gallery

Every year, around the world, drivers compete wheel to wheel in all manner of racing series, from rally to F1, touring cars to Le Mans and everything in between. It gives racing fans plenty of varied action to follow, but it leaves one question ultimately unanswered: who is the world's best driver? That's where the Race of Champions comes in.

The event has been held every year since 1988 at the end of the regular racing season, giving the world's best from all manner of racing series the world over a chance to compete against one another on equal footing and common ground. And this year's Race of Champions was no less decisive. Follow the jump to read who claimed victory as the champion of champions.


Gallery: Race of Champions 2009

Continue reading SPOILER ALERT: Champion's Champions Crowned at 2009 Race of Champions

SPOILER ALERT: Champion's Champions Crowned at 2009 Race of Champions originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2008 Race of Champions at Wembley Stadium - Click above for high-res image gallery

Most of this year's major motorsport series are winding to a close. Champions are being crowned. Teams are preparing for next year. You know what that means: it's time for the Race of Champions.

The international event has been held for the past twenty years, and it always offers a real spectacle as some of the world's best drivers compete for top honors. And this year figures to be no different. Held for the first time outside of Europe at the Bird's Nest Olympic stadium in Beijing, the 2009 Race of Champions is set to take place next week, packed with an all-star roster.

Among those taking part this year will be newly-crowned Formula One World Champion Jenson Button, seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher, recently retired F1 stalwart David Coulthard and rising star Sebastian Vettel. Although six-time World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb - who won the RoC last year and twice before that - has apparently opted to sit this one out, perennial runner-up Mikko Hirvonen will be competing, along with Audi's multiple Le Mans winners Tom Kristensen and Emanuele Pirro; touring car champions Andy Priaulx, Mattias Ekstrom, Jamie Whincup and Yvan Muller; Dakar winner Giniel deVilliers, Monegasque single-seat racer Clivio Piccione and Australian bike racer Mick Doohan. And finally, these United States will be represented by two of our very finest showmen, Travis Pastrana and Tanner Foust.

This year, the champions will be competing for bragging rights behind the wheels of such varied machinery as the Ford Focus WRC, Volkswagen Scirocco, KTM X-Bow, Solution F Prototype Opel touring car and three different specially-equipped sprint cars. Tune in on Tuesday, November 3 - just two days after the 2009 Formula One World Championship wraps up in Abu Dhabi - for the results.


Gallery: 2008 Race of Champions


[Source: Race of Champions | Image: Mark Thompson/Getty]

2009 Race of Champions heads to Beijing originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2009 race of champions2009RaceOfChampionsbeijingbirds nestBirdsNestClivio PiccioneClivioPiccioneDavid CoulthardDavidCoulthardEmanuele PirroEmanuelePirroGiniel deVilliersGinielDevilliersJenson ButtonJensonButtonMichael SchumacherMichaelSchumacherMike DoohanMikeDoohanMikko HirvonenMikkoHirvonenrace of championsRaceOfChampionsrocSebastian VettelSebastianVettelSebastien LoebSebastienLoebTanner FaustTannerFaustTom KristensenTomKristensenTravis PastranaTravisPastranaThu, 29 Oct 2009 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Tanner Foust headed back to the 2009 Race of Champions, now at Beijing's Bird's Nest]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/28/tanner-foust-headed-back-to-the-2009-race-of-champions-now-at-b/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/28/tanner-foust-headed-back-to-the-2009-race-of-champions-now-at-b/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/28/tanner-foust-headed-back-to-the-2009-race-of-champions-now-at-b/#commentsFiled under: ,

Michael Schumacher and Tanner Foust at the 2008 Race of Champions

There's our buddy and rally/drift/stunt maestro Tanner Foust (on the right), arm in arm with some guy Michael Schumacher at the 2008 Race of Champions (ROC) held in Wembley Stadium, London. Tanner went as a last minute substitute after Travis Pastrana broke his hip (and ankle) trying to flip a truck. However, in a supposedly backup roll, Foust went on to beat current F1 Champ Jenson Button in front of 80,000 fans before being knocked out of the competition by 2008 ROC runner-up David Coulthard. The 2008 ROC overall winner was none other than Sebastian Loeb.

If you don't know, the Race of Champions was founded in 1988 by former Group B legend Michèle Mouton and is the only race where drivers from different disciplines get the chance to compete against each other in a variety of events utilizing a whole bunch of different cars. The driver skill sets include F1, NASCAR, touring cars, and more recently rally and drift. Last year's cars included everything from a KTM X-Bow to a WRC Ford Focus to special ROC dune buggy. This year should be about the same. 2009 marks a big change for ROC as it leaves jolly old England and heads to China. Bejing specifically and the Bird's Nest Olympic Stadium designed by Herzod and de Meuron.

This year both Foust and Pastrana will be representing Old Glory as the sole American competitors. "I'm very honored to receive the re-invite to the Race of Champions," says Foust. "Pastrana will be the perfect teammate. He's good under pressure, undeniably fast and never misses a side bet." In addition to the ROC, Foust will be participating in daily drift events against a "top Chinese drifter." Having done a bit of dorifto with Mr. Foust ourselves, this Chinese cat had better be good. Like, real good. Best of luck to both Tanner and Travis, as they're going to need it against guys like Schumacher and Pirro. The Race of Champions takes place November 3-4.

[Source: Race of Champions]

Tanner Foust headed back to the 2009 Race of Champions, now at Beijing's Bird's Nest originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2009 Race of Champions2009RaceOfChampionsDavid CoulthardDavidCoulthardFoustJenson ButtonJensonButtonMichael SchumacherMichaelSchumacherMichele MoutonMicheleMoutonRace of ChampionsRace of Champions 2009RaceOfChampionsRaceOfChampions2009ROCTannerTanner FoustTannerFoustTravis PastranaTravisPastranaWed, 28 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[VIDEO: Ultima claims <i>Top Gear</i> track record without show's authorization]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/23/video-ultima-claims-top-gear-track-record-without-shows/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/23/video-ultima-claims-top-gear-track-record-without-shows/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/23/video-ultima-claims-top-gear-track-record-without-shows/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Ultima GTR720 around the Top Gear test track - Click above to watch the video after the break

Automotive records can be funny things. While everyone seems to be interested in knowing what vehicle is the quickest, fastest, most expensive or rarest, there always seems to be plenty of dissent when one automaker claims its product takes the coveted prize away from another. Such is the case with the Ultima GTR720.

There's no doubting that both the Ferrari FXX and the Ultima GTR are fast cars. Which car is actually faster around a race track, though, is currently up for debate. The track in question is the Dunsfold aerodrome circuit, better known to many as the Top Gear test track. Not long ago, the crew from TG invited one Stig impersonator by the name of Michael Schumacher in the super high-test Ferrari racer to take a lap around its circuit, and the tame racing driver managed to set a new record at one minute 10.7 seconds.

Here's where the mine-is-bigger-than-yours part comes in. Ultima reportedly contacted Top Gear to let them know its car could go 'round the track faster than the aforementioned Prancing Horse, but the show apparently never responded. Taking matters into its own hands, then, Ultima borrowed the track for itself and is claiming to have completed a lap in one minute 9.9 seconds - less than one full tick quicker than the Ferrari, but quicker nonetheless. Plus, Ultima says, the GTR720 was both cheaper and fully road legal while the £1 million FXX is a track-only proposition.

Wanna see it all go down on video? Click past the break to watch for yourself.

[Source: EVO]

Continue reading VIDEO: Ultima claims Top Gear track record without show's authorization

VIDEO: Ultima claims Top Gear track record without show's authorization originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dunsfold aerodromeDunsfoldAerodromeferrariferrari fxxFerrariFxxmichael schumacherMichaelSchumacherstigthe stigTheStigtop geartop gear lap recordtop gear test trackTopGearTopGearLapRecordTopGearTestTrackultima gtrultima gtr 720ultima gtr720Ultima-OnlineUltimaGtrUltimaGtr720Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Rum Runner: Schumacher bides his time driving for Bacardi while plotting return to F1]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/21/rum-runner-schumacher-bides-his-time-driving-for-bacardi-while/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/21/rum-runner-schumacher-bides-his-time-driving-for-bacardi-while/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/21/rum-runner-schumacher-bides-his-time-driving-for-bacardi-while/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



So what is Michael Schumacher up to these days? Well, having retired as one of the highest-paid sports figures of all time, pretty much anything he wants. But even in retirement, Schumi makes more than most F1 drivers. Part of his ongoing sponsorship portfolio includes acting as a spokesman for Bacardi, which recently ran a contest to award a driving experience with the seven-time world champion at the Ascari track in Spain.

A lucky blogger out of Hong Kong won and posted about the experience, including video with telematics, from the cockpit of a Maserati GranTurismo - which probably has more to do with another ongoing deal with sister-company Ferrari than anything else. After all, the last time we saw Schumacher drive anything other than a Fiat group product or a motorbike was before he left Benetton.

Meanwhile, reports persist that Schumacher is still plotting a return to the F1 cockpit. After Felipe Massa was injured in Hungary this past summer, Schumi was slated to take his place, but was sidelined with a lingering neck injury of his own. Ferrari continues to lobby for a third-car option to place Michael back on the track alongside Alonso and Massa, but F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone says it ain't happening. For his part, Schumacher isn't ruling out the possibility. Follow the link to F1 Wolf to watch the video.

[Sources: F1Wolf.com and F1-technical.net | Image: Mark Renders/Getty]

Rum Runner: Schumacher bides his time driving for Bacardi while plotting return to F1 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ascaribacardichampions drink responsiblyChampionsDrinkResponsiblymichael schumacherMichaelSchumacherschumacherschumacher bacardiSchumacherBacardiWed, 21 Oct 2009 07:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Introduction to Karting: Part 1]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/05/introduction-to-karting-part-1/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/05/introduction-to-karting-part-1/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/05/introduction-to-karting-part-1/#commentsFiled under: ,

Autoblog goes karting part I: introduction
Introduction to Karting: Part 1 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Michael Schumacher. Ayrton Senna. Jeff Gordon. Alex Zanardi. Danica Patrick. All great drivers and all learned their trade in buzzy little racing karts with no suspension, no downforce, minimal protection, and arguably more grins per dollar than any other motorsport in existence. The underpowered machines at the local putt-putt course give karting a bad reputation; a 2.5 horsepower motor in a 300-pound chassis rolling on ten-year-old tires is a $7.50 distraction for kids. But move up to a machine that can do 0-60 MPH in under four seconds, hit 125 MPH on the straight, pull 3 g on the skidpad, and do so for well under $10,000 -- that's serious.

Karting is the safest, cheapest and, arguably, best avenue into motorsports for those with the desire to compete, yet lacking the financial means to get into a top-tier series. Sadly, it's also a dizzying sea of classes, chassis, engines, tires, tracks, rules, and affiliations, some of which are tightly controlled by global organizing bodies. So finding the right way in and getting the most for your money can be tough. That's where we come in.

Autoblog is going karting, jumping in as rookies and making some rookie mistakes so you won't have to. We'll tell you where to start, how much you'll need to budget, where you can save some bucks, and where you should just take a deep breath and hand over the credit card. This is the first in a series, an introduction to the sport that will give you the basics of where to start looking. In subsequent pieces we'll cover driving lessons, go kart shopping, talk setup, and finally go racing. So, without further ado, let's get rolling.


Gallery: Famous karters

Michael SchumacherJeff GordonDanica PatrickAyrton SennaAlex Zanardi

Continue reading Introduction to Karting: Part 1

Introduction to Karting: Part 1 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alex zanardiAlexZanardiautoblog goes kartingAutoblogGoesKartingayrton sennaAyrtonSennadanica patrickDanicaPatrickfeaturedintroductiontokartingjeff gordonJeffGordonkartkart racingkartingKartRacingmichael schumacherMichaelSchumacheroval kartOvalKartshifter kartShifterKartsprint kartingSprintKartingsuperkartMon, 05 Oct 2009 14:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Big Schu to Fill: Ferrari's Luca Badoer hasn't raced in ten years, never scored a point]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/12/big-schu-to-fill-ferraris-luca-badoer-hasnt-raced-in-ten-year/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/12/big-schu-to-fill-ferraris-luca-badoer-hasnt-raced-in-ten-year/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/12/big-schu-to-fill-ferraris-luca-badoer-hasnt-raced-in-ten-year/#commentsFiled under: , ,



With Michael Schumacher now confirmed to have canceled his comeback due to a neck injury sustained in a motorcycle accident, Ferrari has been left with no choice but to put one of its veteran test drivers into Felipe Massa's seat until the injured Brazilian is ready to return to active duty. The trouble is that while other teams use the test driver position to groom up-and-coming drivers for the race seat, Ferrari's approach has been to use older, more experienced drivers past their prime.

Rather than give the seat to Marc Gené, who continues to race actively for Peugeot at Le Mans and last raced in a grand prix in 2004, Ferrari has decided to award the seat to Luca Badoer, its senior test driver. While testing the Ferrari California last summer, we had a chance to talk with Badoer on his way to the season-closing Brazilian Grand Prix and found him to be a good-natured and affable individual. Still, while his development skills are unrivaled, his actual Formula One race experience leaves something to be desired.

It's been ten years since Badoer last started a race - the longest gap in F1 history - and he rejoins the field as the oldest driver on the grid, narrowly eclipsing his former team-mate Rubens Barrichello at 38. Although he moved to F1 after winning the Formula 3000 title in 1992, in his four seasons and 48 grands prix in the big league (all with Italian teams, incidentally), he failed to score a single point (let alone a race win) and famously broke down in tears alongside his car after it failed to take him to a fourth-place finish at the 1999 European Grand Prix. Ten years later, he's looking to improve his record, and we'll be watching to see how he does. Follow the jump for the official press release.

[Source: Ferrari]

Continue reading Big Schu to Fill: Ferrari's Luca Badoer hasn't raced in ten years, never scored a point

Big Schu to Fill: Ferrari's Luca Badoer hasn't raced in ten years, never scored a point originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ferrari was in with a bang, now it looks like the scarlet racers will be out with soggy whimpers: Michael Schumacher has canceled his F1 return due to lingering pain in his neck from a motorcycle accident earlier this year.

Schumacher has been testing in Ferrari's 2007 car at the company's private track in Mugello. After the first test, though, he found that the mere strain of driving aggravated the injuries from a crash he suffered in February while motorcycle testing at a track in Spain. At the time, although he went to the hospital, it was thought that everything was fine. Eventually fractures in his neck were discovered, and that is what is causing the problem now.

After laying its hopes on the 7-time world champion, Ferrari now chooses among its reserve drivers to pilot one of their cars in Valencia in 48 hours: Marc Gene or Luca Badoer - Gene's last F1 race drive was the 2004 British Grand Prix, while Badoer hasn't turned an F1 wheel on race day since 1999, at the European Grand Prix. This morning Ferrari head Luca di Montezemolo chose 38-year-old Badoer for the role.


Gallery: Schumacher tests the Ferrari F2007 at Mugello


[Source: F1 Live | Photo by Andy Hone/Getty]

Officially Official: Schumacher not coming back after all - driving is a pain in the neck originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Aug 2009 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingf1ferrariferrari f1FerrariF1formula 1formula oneFormula1FormulaOnemichael schumacherMichaelSchumachermotorsportsschumacherscuderia ferrariScuderiaFerrariTue, 11 Aug 2009 10:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Schumacher prepares in old F2007, stiff neck <strike>may</strike> stalls comeback [UPDATED] ]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/11/schumacher-prepares-in-the-old-f2007-manager-halts-production-o/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/11/schumacher-prepares-in-the-old-f2007-manager-halts-production-o/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/11/schumacher-prepares-in-the-old-f2007-manager-halts-production-o/#commentsFiled under: ,

Michael Schumacher behind the wheel of the Ferrari F2007 at Mugello - Click above for high-res image gallery

Michael Schumacher's hopes of testing the 2009 Scuderia Ferrari F60 may have been dashed, but that doesn't mean the seven-time world champion is resting on his proverbial laurels. In addition to a rigorous fitness regimen to lose weight (he's already dropped three kilos) and tone up his muscles, Schumi's found another way to get behind the wheel of a Ferrari F1 car thanks to the company's F1 Clienti department. The service maintains several retired F1 cars for wealthy customers, and Schumacher's reportedly ponied up out of his own deep pockets for some seat time.

Following the announcement last month that he'd be filling in for the injured Felipe Massa, Schumacher took the old F2007 for 70 laps around the company's Mugello circuit, which you can view in the high-res image gallery below. And this week he'll be back at it again, running the car - which he also tested to considerable effect after his retirement - on the GP2-spec tires which the Clienti division fits to the grand prix cars for customer use.

However, while Michael may be hard at work preparing for his return, said comeback is anything but guaranteed at this point. With his neck still hurting from a motorbike accident, his physical condition could keep him from getting back on track, at which point it'd be anybody's guess as to who would take his place. Schumacher's longtime manager Willi Weber is confident that his client will be ready, but apparently learning from his mistakes - having been left literally holding his hat when Schumi lost the 1997 title to Jacques Villeneuve - Webber has also reportedly ordered that production of merchandise celebrating Michael's comeback be canceled in the interim. Schumacher's longtime strategist Ross Brawn, now directing Jenson Button's championship lead, has given Michael a vote of confidence, however, betting on Schumacher winning a race this season as assuredly as his own team will win the title.

UPDATE: Schumacher has confirmed on his own official website that the comeback will not happen due to his neck injury from earlier in the year.


Gallery: Schumacher tests the Ferrari F2007 at Mugello


[Sources: Autosport and F1-Live]

Schumacher prepares in old F2007, stiff neck may stalls comeback [UPDATED] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Aug 2009 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sour grapes much? Both of Italy's Formula One teams had to switch drivers mid-season during the year: Scuderia Toro Rosso (because Sebastien Bourdais wasn't working out) and Scuderia Ferrari (due to Felipe Massa injury). However, due to the comprehensive ban on in-season testing, neither could put their replacements into the cockpits of their F1 cars until the following grand prix weekend. So STR's newcomer Jaime Alguersuari was thrown straight into the deep end to sink or swim, while Ferrari, for its part, has been unable to give a returning Michael Schumacher any seat time in the new car. Not that the Maranello squad didn't try - their request for a one-time exemption was opposed by Williams, Red Bull and Toro Rosso. Now a message has appeared on the Ferrari website lashing out at the junior Toro Rosso team.

The statement calls out STR - which, it's worth noting, has used Ferrari customer engines for these past three seasons - as a "team that hasn't won anything for years and yet didn't pass over the opportunity to demonstrate once more a lack of spirit of fair play", while noting that Ferrari had given its consent for an exceptional test for Alguersuari. Ouch. (For the record, though, Toro Rosso won the Italian Grand Prix last year.) We would have to assume the message was somehow posted by a rogue with access to the Ferrari website, but that only begs the question as to why, several days later, it still hasn't been taken down. Follow the link to read the message in full on the Ferrari website.

[Source: Ferrari | Image: KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP/Getty]

Statement on Ferrari website lashes out against Toro Rosso "indiscretion" originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Aug 2009 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Michael Schumacher's return to Formula One could be in jeopardy due to a neck injury the seven-time World Champion sustained while testing a motorcycle in Spain earlier this year.

According to a (awkwardly translated) release from Schumacher's spokeswoman, Sabine Kehm, "It is not sure yet the neck will hold and the comeback can be started."

Schumi's physical fitness has been tested over the past week as the 40-year-old racer prepares to replace Felipe Massa for the duration of the 2009 F1 season, beginning with the European Grand Prix in Valencia on August 23.

"I'm currently in the midst of my preparations for the upcoming race. I already lost three kilograms even if it is also important to me to build up muscles." Schumacher said on his official site yesterday, "So all in all, the practice works pretty well. I only have to admit that my neck pinches a bit."

It's unclear if and/or when the FIA will sign-off on Schumacher's physical fitness, although we'd expect an announcement sometime late next week.

[Source: BBC]

REPORT: Schumacher's neck could stifle comeback originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 Aug 2009 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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According to a report from German newspaper Die Tageszeitung, Michael Schumacher - already one of the richest athletes in the world - will earn a cool million Euros (that's $1.44M USD to us Yanks) for each race in which he's substituting for injured Ferrari factory driver Felipe Massa.

Schumacher stands to earn an extra million Euros for each race victory, which initially seems like an oversize bonus until you consider that wins have been in uncommonly short supply so far this year for the Italian race team. It's also expected that Ferrari will keep the German driver in his non-driving advisory role with an extension of his current five million Euro per year contract.

In related news, Schumacher won't be getting the chance to test the latest Ferrari F60 F1 chassis until the next scheduled practice session for the European Grand Prix. Ferrari had petitioned for an outside-the-rulebook exception to get Schumacher a bit of seat time in its current car but the request was reportedly denied by Williams, Red Bull and Toro Rosso. Suffice it to say that the Scuderia was not pleased.

[Source: Autocar, Ferrari | Image: BacardiLimited]

REPORT: Schumacher to earn a tidy 1M Euros per race for return effort originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 Aug 2009 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Yesterday's rumors have been confirmed: Michael Schumacher will take Felipe Massa's place for the remainder of the 2009 Formula One season.

A Ferrari spokesperson said Schumi's return hinges on the seven-time F1 champion's ability to pass the FIA's physical (we doubt that'll be a problem) and he'll be back in full-force on August 23 at the European Grand Prix in Valencia.

Schumacher has been under the employ of Ferrari as an advisor to the team since his retirement in 2006, and although Massa is reportedly well on his way to recovering after sustaining a serious head injury at last weekend's race, Schumacher will take his place for the remaining seven races of the 2009 season.

[Source: BBC Sport]

BREAKING: Schumacher to return to Ferrari F1 for remainder of season originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Could Michael Schumacher pull a Lance Armstrong and unretire back to the sport he so dearly loves and was almost impossibly successful at? If reports coming out of Formula One-obsessed European media outlets are to believed, the 40-year-old, seven-time F1 Driver's Championship winner is in the running as a possible replacement for Felipe Massa, who suffered a life-threatening head injury during the qualifying sessions at the Hungarian Grand Prix. According to Luca Colajanni, a spokesperson for the Italian racing team:
We have said before that it is possible that Michael Schumacher could return to help us out... We have two test drivers at Ferrari (Luca Badoer and Marc Gene) at the moment and Michael is an advisor. We have not spoken to him, but it is possible that this might happen. But we will have to wait and see what happens. It is something for (Ferrari team principal) Stefano Domenicali to consider over the coming weeks.
Even under the best-case scenarios, Massa will undoubtedly miss the European and Belgian Grands Prix, after which a four-week racing hiatus will allow Ferrari additional time to assess its numerous options. Sabine Kehm, a spokesperson for Schumacher, hasn't ruled out the possibility that Schumi could make a short-term return:
It's really up to Ferrari. They must first decide what they want to do. And if they decide to ask Michael, they would then talk to him and he would think about it. But the decision could be just as well negative.
Further complicating the issue are some concerns over Shumacher's physical health following an apparent motorcycle crash back in February. Regardless of whom Ferrari chooses to put in the newly-vacated driver's seat, we join Schumacher himself in again wishing Felipe Massa a speedy and full recovery.

[Sources: The Press Association, USA Today | Image: BacardiLimited]

Could Schumacher come out of retirement to replace Massa? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Jul 2009 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Schumacher's Ferrari FXX hot lap - Click above to watch video after the jump

Alright, so whether you've seen it already or not, most of the enthusiast world is aware that Top Gear has revealed its mystery "tame racing driver" as none other than F1 maestro Michael Schumacher. That unhelmeting came as part of the new season's first show which aired in the U.K. on Sunday, and we now have a clip from that show of Schumi's own FXX tackling the <i>Top Gear</i> track. How how the World Champion's personal Prancing Horse stack up? Click on the through the jump to find out.

[Source: Top Gear via You Tube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Schumacher's Ferrari FXX blitzes the Top Gear test track

VIDEO: Schumacher's Ferrari FXX blitzes the Top Gear test track originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Jun 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Click above to watch video of Schumacher talking Ferrari after the jump

When he's not racing superbikes or reliving the good old days, seven-time Formula World Champion Michael Schumacher gets his thrills testing new Ferrari supercars. The Prancing Horse recently had Schumi take a 599 GTB with the company's new Handling GT Evoluzione (HGTE) package around Fiorano with a vengeance, and then they got the man to talk about his hand in developing Ferrari models from the ground up.

Schumacher's flogging of the tauter 599 was part of Pilota Ferrari, which is Ferrari's multi-level driving school program for owners. In a second video after the jump, the German pilot also discusses the importance of driving schools for every day driving. Somehow, we have a feeling that the "on-the-limit" maneuvers he speaks of just aren't the same in a 599 GTB HGTE as they are in the Pontiacs at our local track.


Gallery: Schumacher Tests the Ferrari 599 HGTE


[Source: Ferrari]

Continue reading Schumacher gets down with new Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano HGTE [w/VIDEO]

Schumacher gets down with new Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano HGTE [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Jun 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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