Ralf faces 12-week lay-off
Ralf Schumacher could be out of action for three months after tests revealed the Williams driver sustained two fractures to his vertebrae in his crash during the United States Grand Prix nearly two weeks ago.
The German crashed into the wall backwards at the fastest corner of the Indianapolis race track and was taken to hospital where he stayed overnight before flying back to his home in Austria the following day.
A spokesman for Schumacher said today (Wednesday) that doctors in Germany, where he is now being treated, believe he could require eight to 12 weeks to recover.
It is tough news for Schumacher, who turned 29 today, but he remains positive. "To be honest I imagined my birthday would be rather different. Yesterday's diagnosis was a real blow," Schumacher wrote on his website. "But so be it. What's happened has happened."
Williams has confirmed that reserve driver Marc Gene will replace Schumacher in this weekend's French GP. Should Schumacher take the full 12 weeks to recover he would not return until the Italian Grand Prix on September 12.
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