Ralf closing in on race return

Ralf Schumacher will return to a Williams cockpit this week – providing he gets the all clear from doctors tomorrow.

The German has been out of action since fracturing bones in his spine in a heavy crash at Indianapolis during the United States Grand Prix on June 20. He has been recuperating at his Salzburg home and is closing in on a return.

He had planned to return this month in Hungary but was warned by doctors he risked being paralysed if he suffered another similar accident as his vertebrae had not fully healed.

Schumacher sat out another two grands prix but is likely to finally get back behind the wheel of a Williams this week in testing at Monza before the Italian Grand Prix.

He will be checked by doctors before being allowed to test in Italy, but if he can come through those sessions without drama, the Monza race in two weeks will see him make his long-awaited comeback.

Williams technical director Sam Michael said: “He will go to his own doctors first, which is what he did before the first shakedown [his aborted comeback].

“They will look at the MRI scans and decide for themselves, he is doing that tomorrow. If he is okay tomorrow, he will test in Monza on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Obviously if tomorrow his doctors say he is not up to racing it will not go any further.

“But at the moment we speak to him once or twice a week and there is no questioning his desire to get back in the car – it is just whether the doctors allow him.”

BMW engine boss Mario Theissen added: “I talked to him on Friday, he was very positive, he wants to get back in the car.

“He will have medical checks and based on that and [Formula One doctor] Sid Watkins’ view, as soon as he is approved he will go racing.”

Schumacher, who will move to Toyota next season, has missed five grands prix in his two months out, with Williams finding it difficult to substitute his experience.

Marc Gene was given a chance for two races but failed to score any points and was replaced by fellow Williams test driver Antonio Pizzonia.

The Brazilian, an ex-British Formula Three champion, has performed better but never really threatened team leader Juan Pablo Montoya before yesterday’s Belgian Grand Prix.

Pizzonia’s alternative pit strategy put him in pole position to take a maiden podium finish but his dreams were shattered by a gearbox failure with just 13 laps remaining.

He said: “What a shame. I had not had the smallest problem with my car all race and then suddenly I lost all the gears when I was running third. It was a bad day for the team and it is a true pity that Juan Pablo failed to finish too, but that is motor racing.

“I came to Spa thinking that I could achieve my first podium in Formula One here and I proved this was possible.”

Montoya, who retired from the race with a puncture, escaped a reprimand by race stewards despite punting Renault’s Jarno Trulli off after an overly ambitious move.

Both drivers were called to explain the incident but it was decided “the incident requires no further action”.