Will Ralf be back for the next race in France?

[AlesiUk]

Originally posted by Suzy
It's up to Professor Sid Watkins to decide if Ralf races or not.

I think you will find that it is not any more up to Sid alone. Sid is not allowed to make the decision without a second doctor nowdays.

[alesi95]

Seeing how Ralf escape srious injury, here come the jokes

Magny Cours will no doubt see Ralfs best race. (asuming he's not there.

Hopefully Ralfs Indy shunt has knocked some sense into him.

Ralf was aiming for the guy in front

Ralf thought the wall was Montoya.

Ralf will be replaced by Jacques Villeneuve.

Ralf is worth $16 MILLION

Ralf is a good driver.

Ive said my peace. Get well Ralf.

[gert]

that's a bit harsh, alesi95!

I personlly don't think we'll see Ralf in France or Silverstone.

What about: Gene for France and Pizzonia for Silverstone?
Unless they can "borrow" Webber (very unlikely) or call Villeneuve (don't think so - he has nothing to gain, only to loose)

[Kicking-back]

I believe that Gene's contract will virtually guarantee him the seat if Ralf is unable to take part.

[grumpy1]

Word from the US is Ralf is not to bad and will return home within the next couple of days.
The word I have is he will not be eligable to race for one month and only after he passes a FIA medical exam.
Mark Gene will take over his seat until Ralf is declared fit to race.
Love him or hate him one must feel bad for him.I don't think there is a person out there that would like to see any driver in this situation or have a hit like Ralf did.

The Grumpy1

[Kicking-back]

This opportunity, in unfortunate circumstances, could well be Marc's chance to drive his way into a full time drive for 2005 at Williams.

[Kirk]

Originally posted by gert
that's a bit harsh, alesi95!

What about: Gene for France and Pizzonia for Silverstone?
Unless they can "borrow" Webber (very unlikely) or call Villeneuve (don't think so - he has nothing to gain, only to loose)

I can almost guarantee that JV would not hesitate for a second if called upon. Yes, he has a lot to lose, but the man is an enigma, and would undoubtedly give it a go. Right or wrong.

[Big Mac]

If JV got the call it would shades of John Watson replacing Lauda at McLaren in 1985. I'm hardly a JV fan but the bloke, as Kirk said, is an enigma and would add a bit of (old) spice to the next few TGF slaughters!

[Kicking-back]

Marc Gene, I'm sure, is contractually guaranteed the seat as reserve driver.

[Led ZeppF1]

According The Sport Telegraph, Williams have placed test drivers Marc Gene and Antonio Pizzonia on alert for the French Grand Prix, even though Ralf Schumacher was released from hospital yesterday after his 200mph crash at the United States Grand Prix.

http://portal.telegraph.co.uk/sport/...2/smform22.xml

[JohnSSC]

A concussion or pot-concussion syndrome is not affected by the general fitness level of the patient.

The physical confitioning undertaken by any athlete/regular person is not a factor as the concussion is all about damage to the brain tissue. There is no relation to the musculo-skeletal system.

Case in point: Hockey players. They have extremely high fitness levels. Despite that, each player who becomes concussed has varying recovery periods depending on the severity of the concussion and also their susceptability to a concussion. Eric Lindros is a good example of someone who is fairly easily concussed and because of repeated concussions is now even more apt to have one.

Much as I am not enamored with Schumi Lite, it would be a poor decision to trade a proper long-term recovery for a quick rush back for the French GP. No one wants to see a young man experience memory loss, etc.

[Led ZeppF1]

The Guardian are speculating that it may be Villeneuve who replaces Ralf Schumacher in France.

http://sport.guardian.co.uk/formulao...244480,00.html

[Suzy]

Update from Ralf Schumacher himself - courtesy of Bild:

"I saw a few scenes on the hospital television - that's it. I can't remember anything else - except for perhaps the start of the race.
I can't remember how, where, when. There's nothing there. It's as if the scenes of the accident have been erased.
Right now I need some rest, just rest. At the earliest, in a few days, I'll be able to say what's going to happen next. At the moment, I'm definitely not thinking about motor racing. I just want to go home. I want to go to my wife and son.
I had a severe concussion and a large bruise on my back - that's what hurts the most. I try to sit rather than stand up or walk."

[Led ZeppF1]

I think, from Ralf's comment, there is big chance that Ralf will lose France GP, and maybe British GP.

[Super Tourer]

Certainly doesn't sound like someone who is raring to go - and who can blame him.

[BertMk2]

I can't see Ralf racing in France or Britain, I'd have thought the bruising alone would keep him out of the French GP if he's trying to avoid walking at the moment. As far as the concussion goes I doubt if he'll be cleared to race anyway, he was concussed last year as well so they'll want to be certain he's ok before they put him back in the car, concussions aren't something to be taken lightly.

[Kicking-back]

That Guardian article is pure speculation.

Gene has thousands of laps of experience of the current Williams car, Villeneuve doesn't.

[Suzy]

There is a big investigation being carried out by Professor Sid Watkins into the long-term effects of concussion on a racing driver in all levels of motorsport. I'm not sure how advanced the study is yet or whether any early results are available.

However, I predict that Professor Watkins will rule Ralf out of the French Grand Prix and will continue to assess him for several months.

In fact, I'm sure I heard something a while ago about a study into the long-term effects of an accident on a racing driver. I seem to recall it was started some years after Mika's Adelaide accident because there was concern in 1999/2000 that Mika's form could be related to some sort of Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder which manifested itself some years later. Certainly his reaction to events after the big Australia 2001 accident (which left him with a fractured helmet and concusson - he admits himself was a major deciding factor in ending his F1 career) indicates that such a thing could occur some years later.

Ignore Niki Lauda's demands for Ralf to get back into a car straight away. Okay Niki only missed 2 races after his inferno - but burns and concussion are very different conditions - and for Niki to put such pressure on a driver with a brain injury (and let's be honest here, concussion IS regarded in the medical profession as a brain injury) is extremely unhelpful and irresponsible.

The brusing is another issue. It's not clear if the bruising is external or internal. Either way, you don't muck around with the back or spine - it's your nerve centre. If that goes, then everything goes with it.

I would say that Ralf is taking the right approach. Rest and recuperation with his family (who mean the world to him) is the most important thing he can do. Why be desperate to get back to work early before being fully-recovered and then find that impatience to return has made the condition worse? He's being extremely sensible.

[garcon]

Yep, very sensible words from Ralf. I imagine he finds the fact he can't remember any of it even more scary than the accident itself.

Have a rest Ralf, spend a little quality relaxation time with the family, and don't even think about motor racing until that need for the adrenaline fix returns. We'll all still be here when you come back, so there's no need to rush it.

[alesi95]

Gene for Magny Cours.....if not i'll eat.......Ralf.

[alesi95]

http://www.f1i.com/articles/ARTICLE_567762.html

[Kicking-back]

Quote from Ralf about racing at Magny Cours:

"I don't think so."

[BootsOntheSide]

Considering how well Pizzonia did at Silverstone last year, the idea of giving them one chance each seems feasible. Returnign at his home race oculd be ideal, especially as Williams usually go well there (even after the changes) and it could be a glorious return simialr to Berger's in 1997.

If there's any doubt over his fitness, he shouldn't return. It's well-known that the cumulative effects of repeat boxing concussions is usually worse than the after-effects of all but the most severe impacts, and Ralf has looked off-form since Monza.

There's a lot that's still unknown about the after-effects, and it's worth remembering that Chronic Fatigue Syndorme (which I have, and wouldn't wish on anyone except maybe Bernie) can be caused by head injuries, and owuld be consistant with Ralf's recent history.

[Kicking-back]

If Ralf has already signed for Toyota for 2005, maybe Gene will be racing for the rest of the season.

[Adam43]

I don't think that. Ralf will be back in a Williams when fit.

However it was rumoured that the announcement would come soon. It'd be odd if it came and the driver wasn't there. I guess that the announcement would be at the German GP (Toyota's home GP in a way), in which case Ralf will probably be back.