Ralf Laments Insurance Problems

German Ralf Schumacher lamented he was ruled out of the Italian Grand Prix due to problems with his insurance company.

Ralf was declared fit and ready to return to Formula One after being sidelined since fracturing his back at the United States Grand Prix. However, the Williams driver said insurers wanted a 12-week period of convalescence after the high-speed crash at Indianapolis.

"The insurers unfortunately vetoed my comeback plans," Schumacher said. "These 12 weeks would have been finished at the Monza weekend. That would not have been a problem. But racing is only possible after testing and that would be in the week before Monza.

"That was too early for the insurers, exactly one week too early. No exceptions, no release, no race."

Schumacher added the doctor gave him "a green light from a medical point of view to participate in Monza."

"I feel fit and have trained really hard for many hours a day over the last weeks," Schumacher said on his website. "On Monday I had a thorough medical exam. It included spinal stress tests.

"The diagnosis was great: optimal healing, excellent condition, no pains or ailments and the spine absolutely stable."