Ralf 'could risk brain damage'
Formula 1's medical delegate Professor Sid Watkins has warned Williams driver Ralf Schumacher from returning to the cockpit of a racing car too soon, otherwise he could be risking his life from side effects of his 165mph United States Grand Prix smash
Schumacher has missed the last two grands prix as he recovers from fractures to his spine from his Indy crash in June, but has targeted the Hungarian Grand Prix next month as his comeback race. The 27-year-old German also missed a race last year after a massive testing crash at Monza, and Watkins - a brain specialist - has advised against a hasty return.
"Ralf must make sure he is fully recovered and rule out the chance of suffering side effects from the crash," said Watkins. "Otherwise a secondary impact syndrome threatens and with a young brain such as Ralf's that could mean the vibrations lead to brain swelling and, in the worst case scenario, death.
"Ralf has had two very similar heavy impacts in the last year in Monza and Indianapolis, and the effect if he returned before he was fully fit could be the same as you see in a boxer."
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