Ralf to test at Silverstone

Williams confirmed that the intention had been for Schumacher to drive at Monza and, at an examination before last week's Monza test, Ralf was found to be wholly medically and mentally fit, a situation that, in fact, has been in existence since the Hungarian GP last month. A medical consultant advising Schumacher's insurers, however, proclaimed that the standard recovery period for injuries such as Schumacher's was 12 weeks.

Schumacher had his accident at Indianapolis on June 20 and 12 weeks are up today, the day of the Italian Grand Prix. Ralf, however, would have had to do the Monza test and the Italian GP practice days without insurance.

"Neither Ralf nor us wanted him to get in the car uninsured, but he will be back in the car next week at Silverstone," confirmed BMW motorsport director Mario Theissen in Monza.