Ralf delay down to insurance

Contrary to reports on Tuesday, Ralf Schumacher has in fact passed his medical examination but will miss the Italian Grand Prix and this week's F1 test in Monza due to an insurance issue, his manager Willi Weber has confirmed

Williams released a statement yesterday (Tuesday) saying that Schumacher would not take part in this week's test at Monza and as a result test driver Antonio Pizzonia would take the German's race seat at the Italian Grand Prix.

It was thought Schumacher had failed his medical examination, but a statement released by Weber says this was not the case.

"After a final medical examination Monday afternoon by Dr Peil in Bad Nauheim, Ralf Schumacher received the medical consent in order to test in Monza prior to the Grand Prix," the statement read. "But due to the insurance cover, that was initially based on a 12-weeks period for a complete rehabilitation, a comeback for this period would be at Ralf's own risk and not considered prudent. It is for this reason that Ralf had to cancel his involvement in testing in Monza this week."

Team boss Frank Williams told Schumacher's website that he will only allow Ralf to return to the cockpit once the medical and insurance issues have been resolved.

"I will let Ralf back in the car only when the doctors and the insurance company give me the all-clear," Williams said. "Unless Ralf signs a statement where, in the case of an accident, he renounces any kind of demands, he will not drive my car. I don't want, in the event of another accident with one of my cars, Ralf ending up in a wheelchair like me."