Ralf Schumacher faces three-month layoff

Ralf Schumacher could be out for the next three months after doctors found two fractures in his back today.

The injuries are a result of a high-speed crash during the United States Grand Prix, his doctors said.

Doctors at the Bad Nauheim clinic said he had two fractured vertebrae and needed between eight and 12 weeks' rest.

This means he could also miss the British, German, Hungarian and Belgian Grand Prix and not be fit until the September 12 Italian GP at Monza.

The BMW Williams driver suffered a horrific collision on June 20 when his car spun out of control and slammed backwards into a wall at 300kmh in Indianapolis before coming to a standstill in the middle of the racetrack.

The German driver, who stands ninth in the championship with 12 points and who won the 2003 race around the Magny-Cours circuit, will be replaced by Spanish test driver Marc Gene in France.