The drivers who missed out to Schumi

This weeks news that Michael Schumacher is to come out of retirement and return to F1 in place of the injured Felipe Massa might have shocked many, but for team principles at Ferrari the choice seemed a simple one given the German drivers exemplary record and experience.

But given that Schumacher isn't actually listed as a Ferrari test driver, who missed out on a golden opportunity to grab a seat with the Maranello team?

Luca Badoer

The 38-year-old Italian driver is no stranger to Formula 1 participating in four seasons between 1993 and 1999. Badoer holds the unfortunate distinction of being the driver who has competed in the most grand prix (48 starts) without scoring a single point in his F1 career.

Having been one of Ferrari's longest serving test drivers, Luca has been in this position before. During the 1999 season when Schumacher broke his leg at the British grand prix, the Ferrari test driver expected to be promoted to the vacant seat, despite driving for Minardi that season. Instead the team overlooked the Italian and opted for Finn Mika Salo.

Like every F1 driver on the grid today, Badoer made his way to the top end of motor sport through karting, winning the Italian Championship. He next moved onto the Italian Formula 3 Championship beating the likes of Alex Zanardi in the final round during the 1990 season.

1993 saw Luca's debut season in Formula 1 with the Lola Scuderia Italia team. Despite the team boasting a Ferrari engine it was one of the slowest and most un-reliable cars Badoer would drive during his scattered career. Failing to qualify twice, the Italian driver only finished six grand prix out of a sixteen race series. The team itself only took part in fourteen races that season, pulling out of the final two races in Japan and Australia due to a lack of money.

Given the reliability problems that Luca had during his debut season it would be ironic that 1993 would bring him his best ever result in his F1 career with a 7th place finish at the San Marino grand prix (back then one place off a points scoring position)

From this point on it could be argued it was all down hill for Badoer, losing his seat the following season when Scuderia Italia merged with Minardi. The Italian driver returned to action in 1995 with slightly improved reliability grabbing two 8th place finishes in Canada and Hungary.

The following season was the Italian's worst! Switching to Forti Ford, Badoer only managed to qualify for six out of the ten races the team entered that season.

What followed was a three year exodus from racing in F1, however it was this period in the Italian's career that saw him begin his spell as a test driver for the Ferrari team.

He returned for his final season in 1999 returning to Minardi. The Italian nearly achieved his illusive first points during that years European grand prix when he ran 4th with thirteen laps to go. Unfortunately a gearbox failure shattered the unlucky drivers dream, TV pictures caught Badoer weeping by his car after retiring from the race.

Marc Gene

Ferrari's other 35-year-old Spanish test driver. Like Badoer has also competed in four seasons of Formula 1, unlike this Italian counterpart with less races under his belt (36 starts) Gene holds five career points to his name.

.

Gene broke into F1 much later, only competing in his first full season in 1999 partnering Luca Badoer in the Minardi drive. Despite a difficult season Marc rubber stamped his authority as the teams number one driver with less retirements, more finishes and his first point in F1, coming during his fourteenth race at the European grand prix. The single point was Minardi's first since 1995.

Gene continued with the Italian team the following season but failed to repeat his point scoring heroics.

Unable to find a suitable team in 2001, Gene signed for Williams and began his test driving career behind the scenes of F1. Many believed that the Spaniard over-reached in looking for a seat that season and was looking for a team that was too higher placed instead of settling for a mid-to-back of the grid drive that he would have been assured.

However Gene patients eventually would pay off and after testing for Williams for three season's his drive with a solid team came in 2003 at the expense of Ralf Schumacher who missed the Italian grand prix due to concussion. The Spaniard bagged a points finish at the first and only time of asking that season with 5th place. Ralf Schumacher was back in his seat by the following U.S. grand prix.

Marc Gene last outing in an F1 race came in 2004 when he again replaced Ralf Schumacher following a back injury the German sustained at the U.S. grand prix that year. Gene's return to the cockpit didn't deliver as much success as his last outing the previous year, finishing an unconvincing 10th and 12th at the French and British grand prix.

Gene was eventually replaced by Antonio Pizzonia for the four other races Schumacher Ralf missed that season.

At the end of 2004 Gene signed a contract with Ferrari to be their test driver which was renewed in 2007.

In the twilight of his racing career it's thought that the Spaniards competitive racing days in F1 could be over. However it's believed Gene is one of four drivers in line to race with Campos Grand Prix, one of the new teams to take to the grid in 2010.

Heidfeld looking to secure F1 future

With confirmation yesterday that BMW Sauber are to pull out of the 2010 season, two drivers are now left without a seat for next season. Polish driver Robert Kubica, who only last season was in the running for the world drivers championship and is viewed by many to be one of the finest prospects in F1 and 32-year-old German driver Nick Heidfeld who is competing in his tenth year at the top level of motor sport.

The Formula One Blog understands that Heidfeld is not waisting any time in looking for a new team in order to secure his F1 future and is already in talk with other teams.

With one less team on the grid in 2010, a continued question mark over Toyota and Renault's future in F1 and drivers like veteran Alexander Wurz reportedly considering a return to the grid with US F1, one of three new teams that will be introduced next season, options for Nick Heidfeld could be limited.

During his ten years and 160 starts in Formula 1, Heidfeld has earned himself 206 career points and 12 podium finishes, his first coming during his second season with a third place finish at the 2001 Brazilian grand prix in the Sauber Petronas. The German's best season in F1 to date came just two years ago when the driver finished fifth in the drivers world championship with 61pts, a season that saw Heidfeld finish in points scoring positions in all but three races.

With many critics believing that the BMW Sauber drivers best days are behind him and with more teams looking for youth over experience, this could be the last season we see Heidfeld.

However, there is a possibility that Heidfeld and Kubica's seats could be saved in a similar way to that of Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello when Honda pulled out of Formula 1 in December. It's understood that former owner Peter Sauber still owns a 20% stake in the team and could act as a lifeline in resurrecting the Sauber name for 2010.

In the meantime the FIA will begin to investigate options for the replacement of BMW team. It is possible that one of the teams rejected when three new positions became available in past months could be revisited as a replacement.

Spanish based Epsilon Euskadi who compete in Le Mans 24 and the World Series by Renault, has already been identified by the Press Association as one such replacement. Team boss Joan Villadelprat has insisted his team would be willing to step into the breach "if the opportunity arises, we are going to attack it"

*****
Images from formula1.net.au and wikipedia.org

Schumacher makes dramatic F1 return

The rumour mill has been churning all week, the F1 forums have been buzzing and talking of nothing else, even F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone made his feeling clear, that he thought he was too old and not physically fit enough to cope with the strains grand prix racing can do to the body.

However, after all the talk and theories of who could replace the vacant seat at Ferrari it has this evening been confirmed by the Italian team that seven time world champion Michael Schumacher will be making a return to F1 at the European Grand Prix in Valencia next month.

40-year-old Schumacher will stand in for the injured Felipe Massa, who today left intensive care and continues his recovery after sustaining a fractured skull at the Hungarian grand prix weekend last Saturday.

A huge question on many minds will be can Schumacher, who is arguably one of the greatest drivers to ever take part in the sport, make a success of his return when the sport has seen so many technical changes in recent years?

It has been three years since Schumacher drove a competitive race in F1, his last bow before retirement came at Interlagos, Brazil where he finished a disappointing 4th losing out on another world title to Fernando Alonso by 13pts. Many belived at the time that the tourch had been past.

This season will bring no world titles for Schumacher as he only has a maximum of seven races before the end of the season and Massa's certain return for 2010, but the German does have an opportunity to improve on his already impressive win and points ratio that makes him stand out as the most successful F1 driver.

This includes 91 wins (72 for Ferrari), 154 podiums, 1,369 points, 68 pole positions and 76 fastest laps.

The German driver who made his F1 debut for Jordan at the Belgium grand prix in 1991 secured five consecutive drivers world championships in the Ferrari between 2000 and 2004 and two for Benetton in 94/95, his 249th career race will be contested at the Spanish street circuit at the end of August.

For many F1 fans this will be a dream come true and a move many could not have imagined. I personally am looking forward to seeing what sort of effect Schumacher will have on deciding the 2009 world championship.

With the Ferrari's fast improving and boasting podium finishes in the last two races and the Brawn GP's early season dominance fizzling into only bagging one or two points a race, it could make this years world title climax one of the most exciting yet.

Don't forget that a few weeks ago Schumacher was rumoured to be joining Ross Brawn and the GP team as an advisor for next season, something he denied when questioned by the BBC. Any moves that had been in the pipline will obviously now have been put on ice while the German gets ready to make the grid for Ferrari once again, but I wonder if the welcome would be so warm if Schumacher performances split those of Brawn and Red Bull who chase this seasons drivers and constructors championships.

The other exciting aspect I am looking forward to is seeing a new generation of driver up against an old master. In previous posts I had likened the performances of fellow countryman Sebastian Vettel in the wet as Schumacher-esc (A new master in the wet!!!). Well if we have a wet grand prix in the next months (I predict Spa-Belgium) then we really will get to see who the true master of the wet really is.

Schumacher is also likely to get another chance to race at Monza and the Italian grand prix (the home of Ferrari) where the German driver has dominated in past years with five victories already to his name earning himself a sepcial place in the heart of every Italian race fan. The tifosi really would be overjoyed if he could deliver a sixth.

And lets not forget Lewis Hamilton's words in his 2007 autobiography that he regretted not getting the opportunity to race against Michael Schumacher. Well now the young world champion has his chance! As the count-down to Valencia begins and with a dominant win in Hungary under his belt re-igniting his and McLaren's poor season who could resist a Hamilton v Schumacher battle.

.

Will Schumi be making is trade-mark leap of victory in 2009?

*****

Images from f1fanatic.com, bbc.co.uk and Getty

BMW Sauber to pull out of F1

BMW Sauber will withdraw from F1 at the end of this season, question marks now hang over the future of current drivers Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld who will be left without a drive in 2010.

The German car manufacturer took over from Sauber in 2005 and had experienced success in the F1 constructors championship in recent years with a second place finish in 2007 and a third place in 2008.

At the start of the season, BMW boss Mario Theissen insisted it was the teams intention to push for both titles following Robert Kubica's impressive displays last season that saw him in the hunt for the drivers world championship until the final two races.

This season however has been a blow for both drivers as the team have failed to get to grips with the introduction of new regulations that has seen the German outfit only take 8 pts from ten races, languishing eighth out of ten constructors with only Torro Rosso and Force India on less points.

BMW's issues have been compounded by the fact that despite Ferrari and McLaren also making slow starts to the 2009 campaign, the two teams have recently begun to find form with Hamilton and Raikkonen both securing podium finishes during the weekends Hungarian grand prix.

BBC sources have confirmed that BMW have cited the "current developments in motor sport"as the reason for their pull out.

Following the departure of Honda from F1 back in December last year today see's another huge name leave the grid.

The move now see's both Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld driving for their future in the remaining seven races of the season.

Following my post yesterday if Kubica is having doubts about his future in F1 or a suitable team doesn't secure the signature of the Polish driver maybe now would be the right time for him to make a short term move into rally.

*****
Images from bmwf1blog.com and businessweek.com

Kubica jumping ship into Rallying?

Could BMW Sauber driver Robert Kubica be about to leave the F1 circuit in order to try his hand as a rally driver in 2010?

The Pole currently in his third full formula 1 season lies 15th in the drivers standings with just two points that came from finishing 7th in Turkey last month. This season is an entire world away from the one experienced by Kubica in 2008 which saw the Pole win his maiden grand prix in Canada alongside six other podiums ensuring he was in the running for the world Championship alongside Felipe Massa and eventual winner Lewis Hamiltion until the last two races.

Kubica, who admits being a big fan of rallying told British F1 racing magazine that "there is a high possibility that i'll be in some rallies. I've had a rally car for five or six years and used to drive it quite a lot"

The Pole went on to say that he enjoyed watching the sport and respected those that took part. "To be on the limit, to fight for tenths of a second on roads lined with trees...I know what big balls these guys have - in racing, we know every corner and every kerb. But rallying is different"
Kubica cut short committing himself to a future in rally after F1 insisting that, it depended what stage of career he was at. However with the Polish driver competing in what is likely to be his most unsuccessful season in F1 could a year in the World Rally Championship be the right move for Robert?

If Kubica did decide to jump ship and attempt a season on the rally circuit it would certainly be a shock move and one that no one could have predicted. However could anyone blame his decision?

The 2009 season has seen a rapid demise of many teams, caught out by the technical changes the cars have had to endure, BMW Sauber are no exception. After two season's as a top three constructor (2nd with 101pts in 2007 and 3rd with 135pts in 2008) the German team find themselves placed eighth out of ten constructors, with only Torro Rosso and Force India behind them.

One man who is certain to hit the rally circuit this season is former world champion Kimi Raikkonen. Could he also see his career in the WRC come 2010?

The Ferrari driver who picked up the first podium of the season with second place in Hungary at the weekend is due to compete in his home country Rally of Finland on Thursday. All eyes will be on the "monosyllabic Finn" to see if his performances can cut it in the rally world.

Whether Kubica or Raikkonen do make the jump from one motersport world to another remains to be seen, we just have to watch this space at the minute, bigger question marks of course lay over a fact of whether they could succeed at such a level that surely offers too many different challenges.

One fact is certain however. It would take a super human effort for the F1 pair to beat five time and current Rally World Champion Sebastien Loeb. The Michael Schumacher of world rally! Loeb currently lies second in the RWC with five victories out of eight rounds already under his belt. Good luck Kimi!

Look who's back!!!

"It's like he has never been away" An incredible dominant win from the front as world champion Lewis Hamilton became the fourth grand prix winner this season in Hungary claiming his tenth career victory.

Hamilton who qualified and started from fourth position on the grid successfully used his KERS system to fend off the oncoming pursuits of the only Ferrari on the track, Kimi Raikkonen and to outpace the speed of the Red Bulls to move into second place by the first corner. Winner of the previous grand prix Mark Webber did well and used his skill and speed to outbreak the Briton to take back second place into the second corner pushing the McLaren back down to third, while pole sitter Fernando Alonso began to speed away into the distance on his light fuel load.

All weekend, throughout all three practice sessions through to qualifying the McLaren car, that had struggled for pace and aerodynamics all season, seemed to have a new lease of life. Hamilton began to hunt down the Australian of Webber's rear wing. With the help of the KERS system that only the McLaren's and Ferrari's still carry, Hamilton quickly gained and and got Mark Webber and second place by lap five and then began to put the hammer down on race leader Alonso.

However despite being fueled light for a speedy get away race leader Fernando Alonso began to be caught by Lewis Hamilton as he continually set the fastest laps. As the Spaniard continued to push the Renault rear tyres began to degrade faster than expected forcing Alonso to pit one lap earlier than expected on lap 11, allowing Hamilton to take the lead.

It would be this pit stop that would be fatal to Alonso's chances of a win as the right front wheel failed to be secured. As the Renault left the pit into the first corner it was evident something was wrong as Alonso began to drop down the grid like a stone, his race and hopes of victory ended when he lost the tyre half way round the track sustaining suspension damage as the Spaniard crawled the car on three wheels back to the pits.

Hamilton from that point was untouchable and never lost the lead as he went on to claim his first win in 2009 and after all the troubles the young world champion and McLaren team had been through in this difficult season who could begrudge him victory that will no doubt go down as one of the sweetest in his career.

.

Results Hungarian Grand Prix - Top 8

1. L. Hamilton - (McLaren) - 10pts

2. K. Raikkonen - (Ferrari) - 8pts

3. M. Webber - (Red Bull) - 6pts

4. N. Rosberg - (Williams) - 5pts

5. H. Kovalainen - (McLaren) - 4pts

6. T. Glock - (Toyota) - 3pts

7. J. Button - (Brawn GP) - 2pts

8. J. Trulli - (Toyota) - 1pt