Ralf Set to Get Back to Work

Ralf Schumacher will return to the gym on Tuesday in an attempt to complete his recovery from last week's high-speed testing crash in time to take part in this weekend's Italian Grand Prix.

Schumacher, who lost control of his Williams-BMW machine when it suffered suspension failure at Monza last Tuesday, is still suffering from concussion after being knocked out in the crash. But Schumacher's spokesman Tomas Hoffmann is confident he will be fit to return to Monza for practice on Friday and said: "He's fine so far, although he still has a little headache.

"He rode his bike at the weekend for a couple of hours and he will be training in the gym and running on Tuesday. We will see how he feels and he will have a medical in Salzburg on Wednesday. But it looks like he has no problems. He wants to come back but he will see when he starts training again. He has to feel comfortable but he can decide by himself."

Schumacher will have to meet with Professor Sid Watkins, the medical officer for the sport's governing body, the FIA, on Thursday for a check-up before being allowed to return to the track.

His presence is crucial for Williams-BMW's challenge in the Constructors' Championship even though his failure to finish on the podium at the last race in Budapest reduced his chances of challenging for the drivers' world title.

The team are eight points ahead of reigning World Champions Ferrari and Schumacher's teammate Juan Pablo Montoya is just one point behind Drivers' Championship leader Michael Schumacher with three races remaining.

The German driver's accident was the second heavy crash in as many weeks after Briton Ralph Firman crashed out of practice for the Hungarian Grand Prix when the rear wing on his Jordan snapped off. Firman will also meet Watkins in Monza on Thursday but the team are expecting him to recover in time to return to the wheel for the Friday morning test session in Italy.