The seven-time Formula 1 world champion confirmed that he was to make a sensational comeback for Ferrari as temporary cover for the injured Felipe Massa, who fractured his skull at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

At the time, former world champion Niki Lauda said Schumacher "will be the saviour of Formula One" after a flurry of politics surrounding the season, including Honda and BMW withdrawing from the tournament.

However, Schumacher (who originally retired at the end of 2006) called off the comeback just over a week before the event in Valencia. He revealed that a previous neck injury, which he received in a motorbike accident in February, had been aggravated in the F1 training.