Now you see him, now you don't....

So it emerges this morning that Schumacher will in-fact not be returning to formula 1 after all this season, since his neck isn't healed enough for the stresses (in the physics sense) of a race. Can't really say I'm too sad or surprised. The level of fitness required of a formula 1 driver is high and it realistically would take more than four weeks for someone to get back to that level, even someone without a previous neck injury.

Two questions remain:

1. Who will now drive the second Ferrari?
2. Will all those people who bought tickets for the remaining races because they wanted to see Schumi be entitled for a refund?

For the first, Ferrari must now turn to one of their two test drivers, Luca Badoer or Marc Gene. Now those are two names from the past! While they may not be immediately competitive, Ferrari are running out of time to find someone else who can get race ready in time. Speculation has linked Alonso and Kubica to the seat, but I really can't see the team letting a driver from another team into the cockpit with the potential to gain valuable information. This applies especially to Alonso since Renault will still be around next season.

And the second question? The answer clearly is going to be a resounding 'no'. I suspect some circuit managers will be rubbing their hands in glee at the extra revenue they've gained from the Schumacher circus.

EDIT: Speculation over, they've given the seat to Luca Badoer. I like the line in this article. "In agreement with Stefano Domenicali, we have therefore decided to give Luca Badoer the chance to race for the Scuderia after he has put in so many years of hard work as a test driver." Yeah, so many years of hard work that we'll only give you a chance because wunder-boy is unfit... Being not-Schumi at Ferrari has always been a tough gig.