Ralf to Test at Silverstone Next Week

Williams-BMW boss Mario Theissen confirmed on Saturday that Ralf Schumacher will make his comeback in testing at Silverstone next week but refused to confirm his participation in the Chinese Grand Prix until after the test.

Schumacher was sidelined with two cracked vertebrae after a crash in the United States Grand Prix in June and insurance problems, not health issues, prevented him from returning in this weekend's Italian Grand Prix.

Team boss Sir Frank Williams explained: "Ralf was passed medically fit and mentally fit - I don't think they even talked about that - he had some cognitive tests as well which he sailed through, of course.

"However, when the insurance doctor and also the prof separately examined the damage they said this is typical of a minimum of 12 weeks requirement and the insurance specialist said 'we said 12 weeks, and it's going to be 12 weeks.'"

The team did not want Schumacher to drive uninsured and Brazilian test driver Antonio Pizzonia has continued as his replacement for the fourth successive race after Spanish tester Marc Gene initially took his place for two races.

But Theissen said: "The 12 weeks are over tomorrow and he will be in the car in Silverstone on Tuesday or Wednesday next week."

Schumacher is expected to do one full day of testing before the team decide whether to allow him to make his racing comeback in Shanghai but when asked if he would be back in the car Williams added: "If he is fit, absolutely."