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Schumacher abandons planned F1 return

F1 legend Michael Schumacher has to abandon his planned Formula 1 return due to the neck injury, Schumacher announced Tuesday on his website.
“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 told his website.
“I really tried everything to make that temporary comeback possible, however, much to my regret it didn’t work out,” he added.
Previously, the seven-time world champion had announced his return and was set to replace Felipe Massa at Ferrari from the next race in Valencia onwards.
Schumacher said Tuesday that medical tests had showed his neck wasn’t strong enough to withstand the physical demands of racing an F1 car.
“Unfortunately we did not manage to get a grip on the pain in the neck which occurred after the private F1 day in Mugello, even if medically or therapeutically we tried everything possible,” he said.
Schumacher had admitted that concerns about his neck might derail his comeback plans after experiencing discomfort following a 67-lap test at Mugello in a 2007 Ferrari on July 31.
He pressed on with his physical preparations, losing 3kg in body weight and doing two days of karting in Italy last week, and was planning to get back behind the wheel of an F2007 on Tuesday.
The 40-year-old said further medical checks on Monday afternoon had revealed that the neck problems were persisting.
“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,” he said.