Berger urges quick return for Ralf

Ex-Formula One star Gerhard Berger has urged Ralf Schumacher to return to racing as soon as possible.

Schumacher suffered cracked vertebrae in a heavy accident at Indianapolis last month and was ruled out initially for up to three months.

But his treatment has progressed well and his Williams team recently suggested an earlier than expected return at Hungary in August was on the cards.

World champion Michael Schumacher revealed at the weekend that his brother was raring to get back into action and Berger believes a quick return is best in the long-term.

Berger suffered burns in an horrific accident at Imola in 1989 – at the same Tamburello corner which would claim the life of close friend Ayrton Senna five years later – and he claims dwelling on a crash will not help.

“Ralf won’t have lost it, he will return as the driver he has been before,” said Berger, Schumacher’s former boss during his time with BMW.

“I don’t think that his injuries have been that serious that he won’t be as fast and competitive as he has been prior to his accident.

“As a former racing driver, I’d recommend him to return into the cockpit as fast as possible, to get rid of the fear.

“It’s true that I wasn’t as daring after Imola as I had been prior to the accident.

“But whenever I was involved in an accident, I tried to return behind the wheel as fast as possible to take the car it to its very limits once again.”