Prost - Schu right not to race

Four-times world champion says physical risk would have been too great

Last updated: 13th August 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Prost - Schu right not to race

Prost: Right decision

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Alain Prost has backed Michael Schumacher's decision not to make a comeback, the seven-times world champion having ruled himself out earlier this week because of a neck injury.

The German ace had been due to stand in for Felipe Massa while the Brazilian recovers from injuries sustained in a qualifying crash at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

However, Schumacher ultimately decided that his own injuries, suffered in a motorbike accident in February, meant his neck would not withstand the g-forces imposed by a Formula One car.

His decision not to drive for Ferrari at next weekend's European Grand Prix was backed by four-times world champion Prost, who said the risks the comeback would have posed Schumacher were too great.

"The desire and motivation to return takes time to disappear, it takes several years to abandon F1," the Frenchman told Le Parisien.

"Michael and I hung up our helmets for different reasons, but when you were competitive the temptation to return when asked is great.

"If there was any physical risk, Schumacher was right. The neck is crucial in motorsport and if there is pain you can quickly feel nausea and have impaired vision."

Doubts

Even so, Prost also pondered whether Schmuacher had doubts about how competitive he might be three years after announcing his retirement.

"It remains to be seen if Schumacher stopped solely because of the health problem, or because when he resumed driving he realised that the task was enormous," he said.

"He has not started in F1 for three years and only had three weeks to prepare. The body changes very quickly when you stop racing, a driver does not react the same way and the vision is not as sharp."

He added: "When I returned in 1993 after eight months it was very difficult to find the best level, Schumacher may need more time.

"In 1994 McLaren asked me to take the wheel. I conducted three days of testing and I immediately realised that something was broken. The speed was there, but not the will to manage the pressure, travel and media that comes with a championship contest.

"A year later, Jean Todt suggested that I become team-mate to Schumacher to help him become champion at Ferrari. I would have been clearly number two, which was ok - I almost drove, but finally I did not, for the same reasons."