This Mercedes advertisement features Mika Hakkinen and Michael Schumacher in a winter driving campaign showing off Mercedes all-wheel drive technology. Schumacher takes the role of the “Sunday driver” which might be unfortunate from his point of view in light of his return to F1 racing and how this season panned out for him. Perhaps not so much a funny car video as more mildly amusing.

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If you like Bugatti cars and just happen to have $ 745,680 just sitting around your savings account you could check out this Bugatti EB 110 (the name comes from Ettore Bugatti’s 110th birthday) that Formula 1 returnee Michael Schumacher is selling off on JamesList.

The 715hp SS version (Super Sport or Sport Stradale) was produced in just 33 units and this specific Bugatti has only 2875 miles on it.

Herr Schumacher must be easily bored by the toys he keeps in his garages, because last year he got rid off two Ducati motorcycles, a Ducati Desmosedici RR (a road legal MotoGP bike) and a Hypermotard.

Source | topspeed.com

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This funny video with Michael Schumacher is to promote safe driving and no drink-driving, and while it might come across as a nifty marketing tool for Bacardi, it’s amusing all the same. I’m quite cynical about alcohol companies and their “drink responsibly” campaigns, but at least some put the effort in. The best thing about the video? The Italian barista!

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The Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano China One-Off has been sold at auction for 1.2 million euros to an anonymous purchaser from Shanghai. The 599 China edition was the first collaboration between Ferrari and a Chinese artist, and shows livery inspired by traditional Chinese porcelain design from artist Lu Hao.

The proceeds from the auction will go to students and young researchers from the automobile engineering department at Tsinghua University. Students may then have the opportunity to study at Milan’s prestigious Polytechnic University for engineers and architects, and complete apprenticeship programs with Ferrari.

Other lots on auction were a suit from Giancarlo Fisichella, a helmet and a 599 GTB model scale signed by Michael Schumacher, who also personally presented the car.

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Michael Schumacher has withdrawn from his temporary substitution of Felipe Massa in Formula One racing due to neck problems from an injury he sustained while motorcycling earlier this year. Schumacher’s injury is more serious than previously imagined, as he is suffering neck fractures which give him significant pain when under the stress of F1 driving.

It now seems that reserve and Ferrari’s test driver Luca Badoer will take the wheel, although the last time that Badoer raced F1 was back in 1999 at the European Grand Prix. We wish him a successful campaign, and hope he has some fun!

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While we now focus on Michael Schumacher returning to F1 racing, we have a fingers crossed that Felipe Massa will fully return to live his life as previously. Apparently his condition has improved such that he may soon be able to return home to start his rehabilitation.

According to reports, Massa is to check out of hospital on Monday and return to San Paolo for further treatment. His physician has said that Massa has no damage to his right eye and that he will go back to racing as soon possible, saying this is all we need to know of his condition.

Meanwhile, Michael Schumacher has started training for his first appearance in Formula One since he retired, getting some practice in before Valencia. Schumacher has driven the F2007 of a collector on the Mugello circuit, and been in a simulator to get his body used to this kind of driving again.

The aim is for him to be as prepared as possible for the physical forces of racing, without breaching the stringent testing guidelines of the Formula One competition. Schumacher will drive Massa’s F60 and the plan is to finish the season with the veteran German at the wheel.

Source | Autoblog and Motorsportblog

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Michael Schumacher is set to come out of retirement and race the rest of the F1 season in place of Felipe Massa, who is recovering from his horrific crash. The replacement depends on Schumacher passing the physical required to race, after which he will appear on August 23 at the Valencia Grand Prix.

Schumacher has always been with Ferrari as a consultant since his retirement in 2006, and will have the next seven races in the driver’s seat to finish the season. About the development, Schumacher has said: “For team loyalty reasons I can’t ignore this unfortunate situation.”

Ferrari released a statement saying: “Ferrari intends to entrust Michael Schumacher with Felipe Massa’s car for as long as the Brazilian driver is not able to race. Michael Schumacher has shown his willingness and in the next few days he will undergo a specific programme of preparation at the end of which it will be possible to confirm his participation in the championship starting with the European Grand Prix.”

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Lately Michael Schumacher has been having a rough time and this is another episode to add to the list. The former Formula One driver has copped himself a speeding fine of 75 euros on a road with a 100km/hr speed limit.

He has also lost three points off his licence for exceeding the limit by 40 km/hr, which for a “normal” driver would entail a temporary suspension of licence.

Schumacher has said: “I’m really sorry, it’s not part of my character. There are autodromes for driving fast.” We’re happy that he’s recognised this, though we wonder how many of us, if we were ex-formula one drivers, would find speed limits a little tame…

Via | AxisOfOversteer

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This piece of news has done the rounds of the press and internet and we received a few notes in merit of it: apparently Michael Schumacher has destroyed a Ferrari 430 Scuderia prototype during private testing at the Nurburgring, without undergoing any damage himself. The news has been denied, although various versions of the story exist: check out Motorsportblog.it who decided to investigate. Their article (in Italian) gives some extra information on the event.

Via | Motorsportblog.it

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Attending a driving course with Ferrari on the Fiorano track is definitely an exciting appearance, but using a group of 430 Scuderia is even better, while having Michael Schumacher at the wheel to give advice and demonstrations would be a privilege. In the video, Michael talks about his involvement in the development of the extreme version of the 430, that he then puts under test on the track, leaving us in no doubt as to his driving ability.

With thanks to giulianog

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