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Well if people actually bought tickets to see MS's return rather than an F1 race then they're the kind of fans F1 doesn't need.

Just like the 'free ride' media whipping themselves into a frenzy over Luca di Montezemolo's obvious and blatant attempt to circumvent the testing ban with Schumacher, they're the kind of media F1 could do without too.

I still think that Ferrari should have just bit the bullet, coughed up some dosh to Renault to get Alonso in the car NOW as opposed to waiting until next year. It would have given him seven races to get used to the Ferrari under race conditions - with no pressure. We all know the season is a non-starter for them and this would have given them a bit of a head start on 2010. Ten years not being under race conditions is a very long time - I'll be surprised if Badoer finishes the first lap.

I was a big fan of Luca Badoer back in his F3000 days where he beat a whole host of future F1 stars to the title, but never had an F1 car to demonstrate his talents. I was shocked at the time when Salo got the drive ahead of him.

I feel that he has been given this drive as a reward for his loyalty, and it is well deserved. Pole position and a race win - now that would be a story.

I don't understand why people are saying things like "to be frank, is not one of the most glamorous events on the calendar."

There has been one race held there, and it looks like it is a much more interesting circuit than Singapore - it's just unfortunate that last year it didn't really get the chance to prove that.

I was actually more excited to hear Badoer back than I was Schumacher. Badoer beat many later F1 drivers in F3000 and Italian F3. He also beat his teammates in F1 and was always overlooked in almost every team - at Minardi they chose Alboreto over him for a race seat despite Badoer soundly beating him at Scuderia Italia in 1993.
He never had a car that was good enough to score points but it seems he was always considered a good development driver, so he ended up staying in F1 a lot longer than many other backmaker drivers and thus he ended up with his record of most starts without points.

After winning F3000 and beating the likes of Rubens Barrichello and David Coulthard in 1992, he ended up with an F1 drive. At the time you probably would have said Scuderia Italia looked the safer bet compared to where Barrichello went in Jordan. Alas, after switching from Dallara to Lola chassis for 1993, the car was no where near as good as the last year's. I think this sums up Badoer's career - very unlucky and very overlooked.

I hope Luca has a good weekend and silences some critics. Even better if he scores points and finally rids himself of that record.

I thought that chief amongst Ferrari's reasoning for not putting Badoer in the car back in 1999, was that they could not see an Italian driving for Ferrari being prepared to surrender the lead of a Grand Prix to an Irishman. Mika Salo was seen as a safer pair of hand's in this regard to Badoer. In the first race of Schumacher's absence - the Greman Grand Prix at Hockenheim, Mika Salo strongly led the race until the call from the pit's came to let Eddie Irvine through. Would Luca Badoer have been so keen?

I think that Badoer should target at least Q3 followed by a race finish as good result. He should also look to beat the Renault debutant Romain Grosjean.

Regarding the Valencia circuit, I would agree with neiltc13 (post#4) about waiting to see if this year's race produces a greater spectacle than the last. Give it time. Ok it wasn't as glamourous as Monaco, but let's be optimistic that what was seen last year as a race around an indusrtrial port will regenerate over the coming years to begin to rival the more glamourous locations of Monaco and Singapore.

The Valencia circuit is a dump. It is never ever going to rival Monaco (tied as the most tedious F1 circuit around along with the Hungaroring and possibly Silverstone) and should be dropped or modified asap.

You never miss what you didn't have. Schumacher never came back. People crying about it should get over themselves. Doesn't say much for Ferrari's strength in depth if they prefer a retired racing driver over their own drivers?

It doesn't say much about that state of F1 if the return of a driver from 3 years ago could be the best thing to happen in what I regard as one of the most intriguing seasons for a long time. I think that this incident has brought into relief the biggest problem that F1 has to face in that the personalities are now more important than the racing, which is not a formula for long term success.

hi

hi there well i think schumi is gr8 but i expect button to win the title but i hoped lewis could win it

Frobnitz wrote:
"Doesn't say much for Ferrari's strength in depth if they prefer a retired racing driver over their own drivers?"

Maybe you are unaware of this but Michael Schumacher is the most successful F1 driver of all-time, not just "a retired racing driver". You should check up on your F1 history chap.

Czar-Orac wrote:
"Well if people actually bought tickets to see MS's return rather than an F1 race then they're the kind of fans F1 doesn't need".

I would've thought any kind of incentive to draw in more F1 fans was a welcome boost to the sport. Basically you are saying F1 only wants certain types of fans. I thought it was more case of beggars can't be choosers? You are exactly the type of "fan" F1 doesn't need.

Hey Czar-Orac, who are you to decide what fans F1 can do without? I have been watching F1 since 1979 but have never been able to afford to go to a race. When I heard that Schumi was coming back I dipped into my savings and spent £800 on tickets to Spa justifying it that it would be a once in a lifetime opportunity. I am still going to the GP but the tickets were bought to see MS. I am sure that most people buy tickets to watch a specific driver or team.

Thats some neck injury Schumi has there (see pic above)!

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

"The Valencia circuit is a dump. It is never ever going to rival Monaco (tied as the most tedious F1 circuit around along with the Hungaroring and possibly Silverstone) and should be dropped or modified asap."

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Yeah right! And Monaco races are always SO exciting aren't they.....?

Blasos
F1 doesn't need 'here today gone tomorrow' fans, it needs a solid fan base.
1tank1
I'm not deciding! Just like I didn't decide to spend £800 on the off chance a retired driver might grace some track with his presence!

As for Valencia, it's very much like Montreal, except it's only 2 and a half hours away, has similar and fun nightlife, and some excellent beaches.

I'll tell you why Ferrari decided to hire Badoer this time around - they'd banked on Schumacher being available and didn't have time to headhunt anyone else! Badoer's not the best guy available, he's the only one available within just a few days(rather than a few weeks) notice.

Czar-Orac is right. The whole saga has been over-hyped, Michael Schumacher formally declared his retirement on the weekend of the 2006 Italian Grand Prix, fittingly after he had won the event - and then went on to take the title battle to Fernando Alonso all the way to the final race of the year.

Given the finality of his exit, I was shocked to hear he was going to come back. OK, it would have been interesting, but for goodness sake, it is not a disaster in the slightest that he cannot participate. As Jenson says, we have a whole host of QUALITY drivers and world champions who currently compete, and to be honest, we have already seen many, many, many, many Schumacher wins, and I am still relishing the change of scene.

Also, F1 fans seem to be sadly largely made up of pessimists, and here again, looking at the article and some of the subsequent comments, people shoot down the Valencia circuit in flames.

I have said this once, and I will say it again. There has only been ONE race at this new circuit EVER! Yes it was boring, but look at some examples from this particular season. MONACO was TERRIBLE, as was SILVERSTONE. The fact that each of the circuits have had glory days in previous years, all the way from 1950, means they are classified as classics. If Monaco was new this year, then the race we saw would have also been slated.

Now get a grip, and keep your fingers crossed for a race in which the drivers make it exciting for us. This Valencia circuit is by no means a flop, and lets enjoy it, before people who moan take it from the calendar before it's even had a chance.

:(

Blasos,

Thank you for your patronising comments. Yes, I am aware of the achievements of M. Schumacher. No need to "check up on my F1 history there.

He is still, however, retired. I know this because I checked the F1 history books, and at the end of the 2006 season he retired. Maybe you are unaware of this...

My point is that the team that is seen as some by the biggest player in F1 looks to someone that has not competitively raced for three years to drive its car. That is Ferrari's back-up plan? Why is MS the best option? Surely it should have better drivers that are able to step up to the plate.

That is the point I was trying to make, chap!

I think ferrari are playing this one very smartly.
Whats the chances of winning any titles this year, none really.
in season testing is banned.
So they put their test driver in the seat for the rest of the season, nice way to get some miles under the belt ahead of next years rules changes, esp going out on full fuel loads.

they could have tried bruno senna, davidson, gene, a younger driver to gain experince would have been nbetter and more beneficial badoer not the right choice

however shcumacher is till a fezza employee so hats why prnbabnaty