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Red Baron aims for new F1 glory

August 12 - 18, 2009
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Michael Schumacher's return to Formula One has taken the world of motor racing by storm, and Bahrain International Circuit would like to know what race fans think about the seven-time World Champion stepping back into the Ferrari cockpit.

Visit www.bahraingp.com and submit your views. All entries will be entered in a raffle for the chance to win valuable prizes, courtesy of the 'The Home of Motorsport in the Middle East'.

"The return of Michael Schumacher to Formula One is one of the great sporting stories of modern time," said Martin Whitaker, chief executive officer at Bahrain International Circuit.

"The seven-time world champion hung up his helmet at the end of the 2006 season with an unprecedented record of 91 Grand Prix victories.

"Returning to the driving seat after such a long period will not be without its difficulties, but one imagines that Michael would not be taking such a bold step unless he had absolute confidence in his own ability and that of the team around him.

"Michael is still an integral part of the Ferrari Formula One operation and takes a keen interest in everything to do with the running of the sport and the team. He continues to give advice to the Ferrari drivers and it is his close relationship with former teammate Felipe Massa, whose freak accident at the recent Hungarian Grand Prix created the vacancy in the team, that has helped him make the decision to return to the cockpit."

Whitaker believes that Schumacher, despite being 40 years old, still has what it takes to compete at the highest level, and says that the German's unique physical gifts will help him excel once again at the pinnacle of motor racing.

"A racing driver's fitness is crucial to success both in and out of the driving seat," he says.

"Michael's legendary ability to look as fresh as a daisy when getting out of the car, however grueling the race had been, is well known.

"To reach the levels of fitness that allowed him to do this meant that he worked very, very hard on all aspects of his condition.

"One key area was his ability to cope with high G forces - particularly on the neck. Schumacher created his own specialist training equipment to keep him race fit, and this machinery will have been dusted off, and one imagines that he will have been conducting a rigorous training regime over the next few weeks prior to his 'first' race in Valencia, Spain, on August 23."

Whitaker adds that Schumacher will have an immediate impact on his return to Grand Prix racing - an impact that will not only positively influence his team, but his rivals on the grid as well.

"Will Michael be competitive? In short: yes," Whitaker says. "The 2009 Ferrari is not the pick of the crop it has been in previous years, but like McLaren and Red Bull, it is getting better.

"Michael will be quick, although this will be the first time that he has driven the new Valencia track, and will certainly be pushing a number of drivers around him, most notable being new teammate Kimi Raikkonen.

"While Raikkonen is unlikely to be phased by anyone, it could provide the internal competition that the super quick Finn and former World Champion needs at this moment in his career.

"Additionally, keen media interest will centre on the battle between Michael and reigning World Champion Lewis Hamilton. The two know a lot about each other but have never raced against each other.

"The beneficiary of all this? Well it could just be Jenson Button, whose season seems to have stalled somewhat in the last three races. Jenson still leads the championship by a healthy margin, but what he needs right now is someone else to be taking the points off Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber. "The combination of Schumacher and Hamilton, along with an increased performance from Raikkonen, could be just what his championship aspirations needs right now."







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