Massa set for Schumacher helmet tribute
MELBOURNE: Felipe Massa will display a message of support for Michael Schumacher at Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix, the first Formula One race since a skiing accident left the German legend fighting for his life.
The Brazilian driver, a former teammate of Schumacher’s with Ferrari, has said he will drive with the initials “MS” emblazoned on his helmet for the season opener in Melbourne.
Seven- time world champion Schumacher remains in a medically induced coma since hitting his head on a rock while skiing at the French resort of Meribel on December 29.
The 45- year- old is showing “small, encouraging signs” of recovery, his family said on Wednesday, while acknowledging that he faces a long battle ahead.
On Thursday Massa, who was a teammate of Schumacher’s during the German’s glory years at Ferrari in the early noughties, paid an emotional tribute to his friend on Twitter.
“Michael is always with me !! Be very strong Brother !! Love !! #19,” he tweeted, signing off with his car number.
“I always think about him every day. I’m praying for him every day,” Massa told an official media conference Thursday.
“So I hope everything can go back and he’ll be okay.
“For sure it was a shame to see what has happened, but I keep thinking about him.
“He’s on my helmet and I’ll keep praying and hope that things can be okay for him and he’s coming back.”
Schumacher’s precarious condition has cast a dark cloud over the build up to the new F1 season with drivers and officials alike praying for the German’s successful recovery.
President of the Federation International de l’Automobile (FIA) Jean Todt, who was the principal of Ferrari during Schumacher’s time with the Italian team, said he has visiting his former charge almost weekly.
“I am monitoring the situation every day,” Todt told Britain’s Daily Telegraph newspaper.
“I can tell you that we still have big hopes for Michael.
“He is a great guy, a great champion, a great human being, and I only hope that he can be back with us.” — AFP MELBOURNE: Formula One stewards are likely to make allowances for any driver who fails to qualify for the season- opening Australian Grand Prix due to problems with the new engines, race director Charlie Whiting said on Thursday.
Under the regulations, to qualify for the race drivers must clock a time within 107 percent of that set by the driver on pole position.
However, the sport is coming to terms with a new V6 turbo power unit with complicated energy recovery systems that have proved tricky, and time- consuming to work on, in pre- season testing. — AFP