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[Leo-The_Red]

As soon as I heard the rumour that Schumacher might return to Formula One in place of injured Felipe Massa, my first reaction was "Not a hope on earth".

In my opinion there was no way that he would be physically fit enough to drive a Formula One car. Especially seeing that he had been in a motorcycle accident in February, which required hospital treatment.

The accident he suffered affected the neck, the most important part of any race driver’s body, the part of the body that feels all of the G forces of a Formula One Car and the part of the body that Formula One drivers focus on the most. In my opinion there is no way that a man of Schumacher’s quality, experience and knowledge would have thought he would have been able to drive.

He claims to have made the decision because of 'Team Loyalty'. That sentence can mean absolutely anything. It can range from, 'I was forced to by the team' to 'I felt guilty' or even 'We needed to attract some positive attention'.

Personally I was sceptical right from the start. As soon as I first read the rumour that he may be returning I thought something suspicious was going on.

The next two races on the Formula One calendar, Valencia and Spa Francorchamps, have been struggling to sell tickets for the races. As soon as Ferrari announced that Schumacher would be taking over from Massa, tickets for the races starting selling like hot cakes. The European Grand Prix ticket all sold out within a week and a half of the announcement and tickets for Spa were selling very quickly as well.

I recently checked the prices for these races and ticket prices were ridiculously high. A Sunday pass for a grandstand at Spa is over £350 per person. And that's only the tickets not the flights, not the hotel not even Qualifying or Practise! Just the Sunday races.

Millions of pounds will be spent at these two venues, both of which were struggling before the 'Schumacher Announcement' but now both races will be sell outs.

Looking at all this information I believe that Schumi knew he wouldn't be able to race, that Ferrari knew he wouldn't be able to race and that the Grand Prix Organisers knew this, the organisers and Ferrari would have seen an opportunity to make a 'quick buck' from the horrific Massa incident by selling hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of tickets and thousands worth of Ferrari and Schumacher merchandise, instead of giving a young up and coming driver a chance to show his skills.

There is, in my opinion, no way on earth that this was not a publicity stunt.

[texasmr2]

I think and will continue to believe it was a genuine attempt until PROVEN otherwise.

[Gilles 27]

yup me too

[racechick]

Then it was very naieve of our 7 time world champon.

[bud]

I think Schumacher was also the 2nd gunmen on the grassy knoll.

[texasmr2]

[Gilles 27]

I don't see why Ferrari would be particularly interested in helping the Valencia race sell more tickets. Not to the extent that they would pull a stunt like that. I think Ockham's razor could be well applied here as with most conspiracy theories.
Also my understanding from people I know who regularly attend the Belgian GP is that it is usually packed and that ticket prices are so high because the demand for them is high.

[texasmr2]

Also my understanding from people I know who regularly attend the Belgian GP is that it is usually packed and that ticket prices are so high because the demand for them is high.

That is always what I have heard aswell. Spa has always been one of the few venues which never failed to sellout with or without MS.

[McLaren Fan]

I honestly believe Schumacher wanted to make a comeback and did his best. The problem was that the media, Schumacher's PR guys, and Ecclestone (intentionally, no doubt) lost perspective on the whole situation, failing to make clear that Schumacher's return was dependant on his health. At the moment, it still seems as though Schumacher would like to get back racing again, as he's not ruled out returning later on in the season, should his neck condition be improved, and neither has he ruled out coming back full-time in 2010, should the three-car rule get the green light (which I don't think will happen).

[Selcouth_Feline]

I don't see why Ferrari would be particularly interested in helping the Valencia race sell more tickets. Not to the extent that they would pull a stunt like that. I think Ockham's razor could be well applied here as with most conspiracy theories.

I have to admit I thought it was a partial publicity stunt, particularly given Alonso may not race at Valencia and therefore the tickets sales for the European Grand Prix were likely to be down. In fact, the first thing my OH asked me when he heard MS was racing in F1 again was whether I fancied a holiday in Valencia

I personally feel that MS always intended to race and it's just unfortunate that he's not fit enough to do so.

So, yeah, I think it was a publicity stunt (partially) but I don't think there was any duplicity (can't think of the right word?) towards the fans in that I don't think MS would have said he was making a comeback if he never intended to do so.

[Gilles 27]

If it was a stunt, it would have involved the Valencia organisers, Bernie, Ferrari and Schumacher (or his people) being in conversation over who could replace Massa. i just don't see that happening, its far too complicated. We are looking at it the wrong way, seeing the end result and then putting together an explanation as to why it may have a happened. If you look at it from the perspective of thinking about what the various parties involved would have been doing, what their priorities were and whether or not that were in conversation, then it becomes clear that the conspiracy theory is really quite unlikely.

[racechick]

I think Selcouth's got it about right. Michael wanted to race but didnt think it through and other interested parties saw a way to profit from the situation.

[Gilles 27]

Sure they profited but they did not organise the whole thing with the aim of profiting. It was nothing more than a happy coincidence for the Valencia organisers

[Selcouth_Feline]

Sure they profited but they did not organise the whole thing with the aim of profiting. It was nothing more than a happy coincidence for the Valencia organisers

I don't think it was specifically engineered in advance for Valencia - that would be silly I've always said I felt the past couple of F1 seasons felt more like WWE than actual racing, however even I can't accuse F1 of orchestrating this one

However I do think that Ferrari saw it as a good publicity opportunity. The fact that it also coincided with Renault, and therefore Alonso's, suspension was merely good timing, and was therefore a good publicity stunt for the European Grand Prix organisers too.

[bud]

Ultimately dont you think that if Ferrari even cared about how many of Bernies tickets Valencia sold (which i do not think they would) that they would put Alonso in the Ferrari seat?