Saturday August 1, 2009
Button says Ferrari hero has nothing to gain and everything to lose
LONDON: World championship leader Jenson Button admits Michael Schumacher has put his reputation on the line by deciding to come out of retirement.
Schumacher, 40, has accepted Ferrari’s offer to replace injured Brazilian Felipe Massa at next month’s European Grand Prix in Valencia.
The seven-time world champion quit Formula One in 2006 but has returned to help his former team after Massa required surgery to repair a fractured skull following a freak accident in qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Brawn GP driver Button believes Schumacher deserves credit for taking such a decision but he warned the German legend he could tarnish his reputation if he doesn’t make a big impact.
Back for more: Michael Schumacher going through the paces in a Ferrari F2007 car at the Mugello track in Italy yesterday. — AP “It will be good to have Michael back out there racing again,” Button said on Thursday.
“There are very good people out there 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 to, 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.” — AFP
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