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[F1Fanatic]

In the wake of Felipe Massa's awful accident at the Grand Prix of Hungary, the Ferrari team today asked Michael Schumacher to help by substituting for Massa the rest of the 2009 season, and Michael has said yes! As long as Michael passes the fitness tests, not an automatic because he's recovering from a motorcycle crash earlier this year that injured his neck and shoulder, he will be driving the Ferrari at next month's Grand Prix of Europe in Valencia, Spain.

Needless to say, this news has stunned the sports world all across the world. Michael, of course, holds every record in the F1 books, and you just don't see an un-retirement of this magnitude take place that often. If he has any success in the car at all, his third race back, at Monza in Italy, will no doubt have an atmosphere unequalled in years.

In addition to recovering from his injury, Michael does have some factors going against him:

* He hasn't driven a F1 car in a race for almost 3 years
* He hasn't driven the 2009 Ferrari at all (he last test drove in 2008)
* He hasn't driven in a race with the new rules banning traction control and mandating the different tire formulas
* His "team" at Ferrari is scattered, so he'll be working with and relying on new people
* He has never driven at the Valencia track, while almost every other driver in the field drove there in 2008
* Because of the F1 testing ban through Valencia, he won't get any seat time/test time before his debut return race

and, of course, the 2009 Ferrari has shown itself to be a bit of a dog this season.

Bottom line: If Michael somehow scores a podium finish at Valencia, it will be an enormous achievement. I fully expect him to struggle to score a point in his first race back...huge improvement by the time they get to Spa, though.

At least the return of the best-ever driver is enough to bring some life into an otherwise drab season whose only highlight has been watching the incessent FIA-FOTA bickering. Welcome back, Michael!!!!

[F1Fanatic]

Upon further review, the neck injury proved to be too severe as to stand up to the rigors of a full F1 race, so Michael today announced he will not be standing in for Felipe Massa....essentially re-retiring. Ferrari fans will instead get to cheer on Luca Badour at Valencia in a couple of weeks. Needless to say, that's a huge disappointment to anyone who bought tickets and arranged travel plans to see Schuey in person once again.