Unfortunately for all Formula One and Michael Schumacher fans, the wait for the return of the king will have to go on for longer after Michael Schumacher announced that he would be unable to return to Formula One, albeit temporarily, after the pain in his neck refused to go away despite a tight training regimen. 
Schumacher had a suffered a neck injury in a motorcycle accident earlier this year. “Yesterday evening, I had to inform Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo and team principal Stefano Domenicali that unfortunately I’m not able to step in for Felipe,” Schumacher announced on his official website. “I really tried everything to make that temporary comeback possible, however, much to my regret it didn’t work out.”
Schumacher had driven the same old 2007 model of the F1 car for 67 laps across the Mugello circuit. Although pleased with the lap times that he recorded, Schumacher reportedly strained his neck too much and it flared up once again.
“Unfortunately we did not manage to get a grip on the pain in the neck which occurred after the private Formula One day in Mugello, even if medically and therapeutically we tried everything possible,” he added. “The consequences of the injuries caused by the bike-accident in February, fractures in the area of head and neck, unfortunately have turned out to be still too severe. 
“That is why my neck cannot stand the extreme stresses caused by Formula One yet. These are the clear results of the examinations we did on the course of the past two weeks and the final examination yesterday afternoon. As there were no improvements after the day in Mugello, I decided at short notice on Sunday to do that thorough examination already yesterday.
“I am disappointed to the core. I am awfully sorry for the guys of Ferrari and for all the fans who crossed fingers for me. I can only repeat that I tried everything that was within my power. All I can do now is to keep my fingers crossed for the whole team for the coming races.”
Luca Badoer, the third official driver for the Scuderia Ferrari team, will be in the hot seat now as Felipe Massa’s replacement. Badoer was on the sidelines, simultaneously preparing to take Schumi’s place, should the 7-time world champion fail to make it to ideal fitness and health conditions, a problem that has occurred now. 
Schumacher added, “First of all I have to say that Luca is a great friend of mine. Over all these years he has always prepared himself in the best possible way to be ready to race; this is his work: being ready for the tests and in case something happens. He’s not someone just sitting there and waiting for something to happen. He’s always ready and has obviously worked very hard after Felipe’s accident. We’ve always said that I first need the confirmation that I’m physically ready, so it’s normal that he is ready now. Knowing him and the team, I think that he is the right choice, the best choice Ferrari could make. It’s true that he hasn’t raced for a while, but a driver never looses his competitive spirit. I wish him well for this difficult task.”
What this decision will mean to the thousands of fans who have already bought tickets for the European Grand Prix in the hope of being a part of this momentous occasion, is something that cannot be imagined. One can only hope that their respect and love for Schumacher and Ferrari would help them forgive and forget this situation.