Return Holds No Fear for Ralf
Ralf Schumacher is relishing his comeback in Sunday's Chinese Grand Prix after a crash put him out for six races.
Ralf Schumacher is relishing his comeback in Sunday's Chinese Grand Prix after a crash put him out for six races.
The German slammed into a concrete wall at the US Grand Prix at Indianapolis in June, suffering two spinal fractures, but said on Thursday he would have no fear in Shanghai.
"There will be no fear," the younger brother of Ferrari's seven-times World Champion Michael Schumacher said. "I can't remember a thing about the crash. When I see pictures of it, maybe I was lucky to still be around but I won't do anything different. Racing is what I love to do."
Schumacher, who will race for Toyota in 2005, had his first look at the state-of-the-art Shanghai circuit when he went round it on a scooter this week, fuelling his hunger to get back behind the wheel.
"It would have been easy to stay at home but I wanted to come back," he said. "Certainly, there are little things and details I have to get into again but it's a tremendous circuit and I'm ready."
Schumacher said it would be hard to leave Williams at the end of the season.
"Somehow it's a bit difficult," he said. "I was here for six years - longer than any other driver in the past (at Williams) and to walk away is not easy.
"But after Brazil I leave the team, so I would like to finish in a good way with good results in the last three races and go in peace."
The Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos on October 24 is the last of the season. Schumacher sounded an optimistic note about his partnership with Italian Jarno Trulli at Toyota next year.
"I am a bit surprised Renault let him go," he shrugged. "So far he has been better than (Fernando) Alonso this year. Jarno is a very uncomplicated, nice person and I'm more than happy to be with him."
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