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GENEVA: Former world champion Michael Schumacher said on Wednesday he was too disappointed at present to contemplate a return to Formula One later this year or in 2010.
Schumacher on Tuesday announced that he had abandoned plans to replace injured Ferrari driver Felipe Massa at the European Grand Prix in Valencia on August 23 due to the consequences of a neck injury.
"Speculation in this business is pretty natural, the fact is that I'm disappointed I'm not able to do what I looked forward to do ... that's how I feel for now," a downbeat Schumacher said after being asked on Wednesday about suggestions of a comeback at a following Grand Prix in Monza or next season.
The 40-year-old German, who won the world title seven times before retiring in 2006, had been primed to replace Massa in the Ferrari team for the race in Spain following the Brazilian's high speed crash last month.
But he injured his neck in a motorcycle accident in February and medical exams after recent test runs in a Ferrari at a circuit in Italy showed that Schumacher had not recovered enough to withstand the strains of F1 racing.
"The consequences of the accident were the worst Michael has had in his career," Schumacher's doctor, Johannes Peil, revealed at a joint press conference in Geneva.
Schumacher sustained fractures to the base of the head, neck vertebra and a rib in the motorcycle accident on a racing circuit.
But most had fully healed and the German driver was tremendously fit even for other racing, Peil added.
Highlighting his frustration and sadness, Schumacher on Wednesday simply declined to discuss a possible racing comeback for now.
"It's very disappointing because all the rest of my body, my weight, went really fast, because I kept fit basically," he added.
"Getting inside the car, driving the car was partly natural, I didn't have any problems getting in the rhythm... except for the pain."
"If it were a little thing, you can take medication, but it was strong enough to be physically unable to drive," Schumacher said, adding that he had not set out to "cruise around."
"I live in the belief of fate. I believe it was my fate to have this accident."
The former Ferrari driver, who is still a consultant for the team, revealed that he had not been so ready to replace Massa when he met Ferrari boss Luca di Montezemolo.
"I was quite honestly on the 'no' side before this meeting, but you know Montezemolo. He managed obviously to convince me."
"I have always been someone who took care of himself and that has got stronger in recent weeks," Schumacher acknowledged.
Peil said the only way to find out Schumacher's full condition had been through intensive testing in a Formula One car at Mugello.
Ferrari announced that the team's test driver Luca Badoer would take the place for the European Grand Prix.
Schumacher called Badoer the "perfect solution" and offered to help the Italian driver if necessary.
Peil did not rule out a full physical recovery for Schumacher, although it could take anything up to 18 months. - AFP/de
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