Rivals welcome Schumacher's return

Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton have welcomed Michael Schumacher's return to racing, eagerly anticipating the opportunity to race against arguably the best driver ever in F1 history.

Schumacher will return to racing at August's European Grand Prix, replacing the injured Felipe Massa at Ferrari, the team with whom the German won five of his seven World titles.

However, a lot has changed in Formula One since Schumacher last raced - and not just the regulations.

When Schumacher put in his final laps in the 2006 Brazilian GP, Ferrari, Renault and McLaren were the sport's leading teams while Honda and Red Bull were lapping in the midfield.

This year, though, it has been Brawn GP, the former Honda team, and Red Bull Racing who have emerged as the dominant forces leading Button, the current Championship leader, to admit it's "very brave" of Schumacher to return.

"It will be good to have Michael back out there racing again," said Button, speaking at the launch in Birmingham of Bridgestone's Driving Nation roadshow designed to gather opinions on motoring.

"There are very good people out there racing at the moment, but to have Michael there again will be very special, although I'm sure we all wish Felipe was there also.

"But it's a strange situation because the reason for Michael being there is because another driver can't take part.

"In a way Ferrari are very lucky because they've someone working in their team who can jump straight into the car and be competitive, and Michael will be.

"It's an interesting one, though, because if he wins people will say they expected him too, and if he doesn't, they will say he should not have come back.

"So it's a tough position for him to be in, although I'm happy he has taken up the challenge. It's very brave of him."

He added: "It will take a bit of the limelight away from us at the front, and maybe that's a good thing because we can get on with it and fight it out.

"But it will be good to have him out there again as the Ferrari is a good car now. They've made some good improvements.

"Kimi (Raikkonen) was second in Hungary on Sunday, so Ferrari are competitive and Michael is going to be at the front fighting with us, which is good."

Meanwhile, Hamilton, who has previously stated in his autobiography 'My Story' that he was saddened to have missed the opportunity to race against Schumacher who retired the year before he entered F1, says it will be an "honour and a privilege" to compete against the F1 "legend."

"I am excited by the possibility of Michael Schumacher's return to Formula 1 assuming it happens, but my thoughts are still with Felipe and his family following his terrible accident in Hungary," said the McLaren driver.

"Michael is one of the sport's greatest competitors and a legend in his own right and it would be great to compete against him.

"The whole world will be watching his return to the ****pit in Valencia and it will not only be fascinating to see how he readies himself for his grand prix comeback but also an honour and a privilege to race against him for the very first time. I wish him well."

Rivals welcome Schumacher's return - Planet-F1 News - from planet-f1.com

^ thats the spirit

Originally Posted by SoMxNemesis

^ thats the spirit

waiting for Schumi,,hope ferrari live up to fans expectations

Originally Posted by kimiiceman

waiting for Schumi,,hope ferrari live up to fans expectations

DOnt expect instant results. He might take a few races before hes back

Originally Posted by SoMxNemesis

DOnt expect instant results. He might take a few races before hes back

Yeah..Fans should understand that.....

Here are tooo much expectations.

I don't think Schumi is out of shape, as he has always been racing cars & testing cars.

Originally Posted by SoMxNemesis

^ thats the spirit

I think you must say it to Schumi rather than Button n Hamilton.

Originally Posted by SudarshanSMD

Here are tooo much expectations.

I don't think Schumi is out of shape, as he has always been racing cars & testing cars.



I think you must say it to Schumi rather than Button n Hamilton.

Yeah.....Schumi has always been with the spirit of sporting and lets see how big cry hamilton reacts in the track