Shock as Michael Schumacher calls off F1 comeback

The seven-time world champion had been lined up to replace injured driver Felipe Massa at next week's European Grand Prix in Valencia but has now ruled out a return following a second test in a two-year-old Ferrari racer.

During that session at the Mugello circuit in Italy it became apparent that a neck injury the 40-year-old suffered in a motorcycle crash in February might hinder his ability to withstand the tremendous G-forces generated in a Formula One car.

Schumacher, who quit the sport at the end of the 2006 season, said: "Yesterday evening, I had to inform Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo and team principal Stefano Domenicali that unfortunately I'm not able to step in for Felipe.

"I really tried everything to make that temporary comeback possible. However, much to my regret, it didn't work out.

"Unfortunately we did not manage to get a grip on the pain in the neck which occurred after the private test in Mugello, even if medically or therapeutically we tried everything possible.

"I am disappointed to the core. I am awfully sorry for the guys of Ferrari and for all the fans which crossed their fingers for me.

"I can only repeat that I tried everything that was within my power. All I can do now is to keep my fingers crossed for the whole team for the coming races."

Ferrari asked the German to return two weeks ago after Massa suffered a fractured skull in Hungary where he was hit by a suspension unit that had fallen from the Brawn GP of fellow Brazilian Ruben Barrichello.

Schumacher, who claimed five titles with Ferrari and the other two with Benetton, has entered 250 grands prix, winning a record 91 of them.

Massa's replacement will now be Luca Badoer, who is a record breaker for all the wrong reasons.

The 38-year-old Italian holds the dubious distinction of being the driver who has competed in the most grands prix - 48 - without scoring a point.

He hasn't raced a Formula One car since the 1999 Japanese Grand Prix but has tested for Ferrari for the past 12 years.

His presence alongside Kimi Raikkonen in the Ferrari team, rather than that of a track legend, is a huge blow to motor racing fans eager to see if Schumacher might still have been competitive against young guns such as Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel.

Eddie Jordan, the former team owner who gave Schumacher his big break in Formula One, said: "We have been absolutely robbed of what was going to be the titanic battle between young Hamilton and Vettel against Schumacher, the old boy with the seven world titles. I was so much looking forward to this race."