F1 Just Got Slightly Less Interesting

One of the cooler story lines going into the European Grand Prix at Valencia just got shut down: Michael Schumacher will not be driving Ferrari's F60 at that race or any other this season.

From what Mr. Schu has told us, he has a bit of a crick in his neck that, when he's standing around in the Ferrari garage accruing money or thrashing a superbike around, doesn't pose a problem. Unfortunately, things like 4Gs in the turns and 0-60 in .00056 seconds compound on the problem a bit and the man who is, statistically, the most successful driver in grand prix racing will keep the helmet on the shelf.

There is a good outcome from this and a bad outcome from this:

First, the bad: the organizers of the Valencia race cannot be happy right now. The possibility of seeing Schumi drive a Ferrari again sold tickets on a massive scale for them. Now, that sales boost is gone and all of those people who spent copious amounts of money to see Schumi race are going to be unhappy. Add that to the people who are going to be pissy depending on the result of Renault's appeal of their one-race ban, and to say there might be some vitriol in Valencia would be a huge understatement.

Second, the good: Luca Badoer, faithful employee of the Scuderia for years, will finally get his shot to race in a red car. Luca has raced before with Scuderia Italia/Minardi and Forti, with his best result being a 7th at San Marino in his rookie season of 1993. Ten years ago, he took a spot as Ferrari's permanent test driver and has logged more laps in Ferraris than just about any of the drivers who have driven the Grands Prix in that same span. As Rick Mears or Will Power might tell you, it can be better to be a simple employee of a top-flight race team than the top dog on many other teams. Luca has put in his time as a grunt, and now he gets his big chance in the spotlight. Watch out for the reaction from the Tifosi at Monza when the dedicated Italian in the Italian car takes to the grid.

One thing that is good for the Scuderia in this situation: while other teams didn't want to allow Schumi to test the F60, Luca has been in the car for just about every stage of its preseason development. Nobody -- and I mean nobody -- knows this car better than Luca Badoer.

Cars on course at Valencia next Friday. For those of you who like the parade nature of the IRL's roadies and streeties, you will absolutely love the Valencia round of the F1 championship. See ya.