Schumacher will decide on F1 return only if Ferrari come calling

Jul 28, 2009, 13:43 GMT

Hamburg - Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher won't categorically rule out returning to Formula One as a temporary replacement for Felipe Massa.

'If Ferrari come to Michael then he will consider the issue,' Schumacher's spokeswoman Sabine Kehm told German Press Agency dpa Tuesday.

Massa remains in a Budapest hospital after being hit on the helmet by a flying spring from the car of Brawn GP's Rubens Barrichello during qualifying Saturday for the Hungarian Grand Prix.

The Brazilian suffered a fractured skull and concussion and needed emergency surgery. He is almost certain not to recover in time for the next F1 race of the season, the European Grand Prix in Valencia on August 23.

On Monday, Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali told the Tagesspiegel newspaper that he hadn't dismissed the idea of turning to Schumacher.

'It would be wrong to say yes or no at this stage,' Domenicali said. 'We will think about it this week.'

Schumacher won two F1 world titles with Benetton before moving to Ferrari in 1996 where he won five consecutive drivers' crowns from 2000-2004.

The 39-year-old German retired at the end of the 2006 season but has remained with Ferrari as an advisor.