Schumi to slot in for Massa?

Now this is a point worth pondering. Niki Lauda, the triple world F1 champion with Ferrari (1975 and 1977) and McLaren (1984) has come out with an outrageous take on who should replace Felippe Massa in the Ferrari team till the time the Brazilian recovers completely from his near fatal head injury.

Niki has been one of the most perceptive figures in F1 and even today his insights into many issues on the Grand Prix scene hold weight. Luca Badoer and Marc Gene are the two reserve drivers for Ferrari but since the FIA curtailled F1 tests during the season, this issue has been contentious. When an unfortunate incident like the one which involved Massa happens, you do not have the safe zone to fall back on solid players. Or at least people who have tested the F1 car, have race experience and could fill in the vacant cockpit soon.

Michael Schumacher has that uncanny ability to get in and do a good job and he has certainly kept in touch though whether he would be able to get up to speed as quickly as his billions of fans would hope him to do is another question altogether. There is also the slight issue of his grith which is certainly a bit more around his waist then when he was driving!

However I am seeing this, like Niki does, from the perspective of what such a move could do for F1's image and reputation among its fan base which has got tired of the Max Mosley - Bernie Ecclestone good cop - bad cop routine. Such a move could inject a vital spark in F1 and could get many more to tune into the sport once again.

I quote Niki Lauda talking to the Austrian press on this very theme: "Michael needs to take a decision, and for the whole business of Formula One, which is ill anyway because nobody is coming, he (Schumacher) would improve it by 20 to 30 percent interest," added the Austrian.

If Michael can show even half of what he did in his heyday, present day F1 would be a major winner. I for one would love to see that happen but again like Niki Lauda states, it is Michael who has to be receptive to the idea and soon. Otherwise, it would be one of those glorious "what ifs" the sport has always given rise to for its bench racers to debate

So do write in and let me have your thoughts, I am sure that the many millions of Schumacher fans in India could be counted on to give their opinion on how the seven time world champion would do and would his coming into the sport be good for the F1 of today.