'Schu' puts brakes on his return

BERLIN: Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher has cancelled plans of a temporary return to Formula One with Ferrari because of fitness concerns, the German driver said yesterday.

The 40-year-old was due to stand in for the injured Felipe Massa, but with a neck problem suffered in a motorcycle accident earlier this year still causing him pain during testing, Ferrari have given the seat to veteran test driver Luca Badoer.

"I really tried everything to make that temporary comeback possible, however, much to my regret, it didn't work out," he said in a statement on his website (www.michael-schumacher.de).