Ferrari have hit back at the teams who blocked Michael Schumacher from testing this season's car before his F1 return.

He is set to replace the injured Felipe Massa, but Formula 1 rules prevent on-circuit testing during the season.

In an apparent swipe at Williams, who opposed the move, a Ferrari statement read: "Guess who opposed the test?

"A team that hasn't won anything for years and yet didn't pass over the opportunity to demonstrate once more a lack of spirit of fair play."

Williams, who have not won the world championship since 1997, were backed up by Red Bull and Toro Rosso, who are also opposed to Schumacher getting behind the wheel of Massa's F60 car.

All three teams argue that seven-time world champion Schumacher, 40, should be treated no differently to Spanish teenager Jaime Alguersuari, who replaced the sacked Sebastien Bourdais at Toro Rosso last month but was unable to track test his car before his F1 debut in Hungary.

"Just for the record, the Scuderia Ferrari had given its approval to let Alguersuari test, but it seems even in this instance someone decided to stick to the precise wording of the regulations," added Ferrari's statement.

Massa fractured his skull during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix after he was struck on the helmet by a spring from Rubens Barrichello's Brawn GP car.

Schumacher is due to replace the Brazilian at the European Grand Prix in Valencia on 23 August, but has only had a chance to drive Ferrari's 2007 car, at the team's Mugello test track last Friday.

McLaren, Renault, Toyota, BMW Sauber and Brawn GP were all prepared to let Schumacher spend one day behind the wheel of the F60.

Following approval by the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC), late on Friday night FIA President Max Mosley signed the 2009 Concorde Agreement, heralding a renewed period of stability for the FIA Formula One World Championship.

The Concorde Agreement - a contract between the FIA, Formula One racing’s commercial rights-holder and the participating teams - sets out the basis on which the teams participate in the championship and share in its commercial success.

The WMSC has also approved a slightly revised set of stable sporting and technical regulations (to apply from the 2010 Championship onwards), which have been agreed by the FIA and the teams and which will be published shortly.

The new Concorde Agreement, which runs until 31 December 2012, provides for a continuation of the procedures in the 1998 Concorde Agreement, with decisions taken by working groups and commissions, upon which all teams have voting rights, before going to the WMSC for ratification.

In addition, as agreed in Paris on 24 June 2009, the teams have entered into a resource restriction agreement, which aims to return expenditure to the levels that prevailed in the early 1990s.

Ferrari's Felipe Massa insists he will not rush back to Formula 1 after being serious injured in a crash at the Hungarian Grand Prix last month.

The Brazilian, 28, flew home to Sao Paulo on Monday after leaving the hospital that had treated him for the fractured skull he suffered on 25 July.

"Thank God, I'm feeling very well," the Brazilian said in a statement from his Budapest hospital.

"It is important to be fully recovered before returning to the track."

The accident occurred after a spring that had fallen onto the track's racing line from Rubens Barrichello's Brawn collided with Massa's helmet.

Massa was travelling at more than 160mph when the spring hit him, but pressure on the brakes reduced his speed to about 60mph when he hit the tyre wall.

Massa will now continue his rehabilitation in a Sao Paulo hospital for another two days upon his arrival in his home city.

After undergoing further tests he is then likely to be allowed to go home.

He added: "I've only a bit of swelling in the region of my left eye."

His personal doctor Dino Altmann said: "He is to continue his recovery and return to racing as soon as possible, that's the plan. He is in a very good mood, good shape, and he just wants to come back soon."

Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher has been brought out of F1 retirement by Ferrari to race in Massa's place and will have the first race of his comeback in the European Grand Prix in Valencia on 23 August.

The German, a team-mate of Massa during his final F1 season in 2006, will stand in until the Brazilian is ready to take up the seat again.

Kimi Raikkonen's debut in the World Rally Championship came to an end after the former Formula 1 champion crashed out of stage 19 of the Rally Finland.

The Finn was 15th overall when he rolled his Abarth Grande Punto off the road on Saturday's final stage.

He and co-driver Kaj Lindstrom were unhurt, although they narrowly missed the car of Mads Ostberg who had gone off at the same point moments earlier.

The damage to Raikkonen's car prevented the Ferrari driver returning on Sunday.

Raikkonen has appeared in three non-championship rallies this season, and a four-week break between the Hungarian Grand Prix and the European Grand Prix in Valencia on 21 August has allowed him to step up his involvement.

Raikkonen was not the only F1 driver at the Finland Rally with Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel watching from the sidelines.

"I've plenty to do in F1, but who know maybe one day I will compete in the WRC - I wouldn't mind doing some drives in the future," Vettel told the World Rally Championship website.

There was further proof of Felipe Massa’s strong recovery on Friday, as Ferrari revealed that the injured driver hopes to fly back to his native Brazil early next week. Massa sustained a fractured skull in an accident during qualifying for last weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix.

“Felipe Massa's health condition is improving day by day so that a return back home could be imminent,” said Ferrari. “If everything proceeds the best possible way, Felipe could leave Budapest on Monday to be brought to Sao Paulo.”

Massa left intensive care on Wednesday, having spent several days in an artificial coma following emergency surgery on his injuries. He has since made rapid progress and is now expected to continue his recuperation with his family.

It is hoped Massa will make a full recovery, though no date has yet been set for his return to competition. Former Ferrari team mate Michael Schumacher is planning to come out of retirement to take his place at the forthcoming European Grand Prix.

Michael Schumacher has begun readying himself for his expected return to Formula One racing at next month’s European Grand Prix. Assuming Ferrari are happy with his fitness levels, Schumacher will replace the injured Felipe Massa at the Valencia race.

The seven-time world champion travelled to Ferrari’s Maranello headquarters in Italy on Thursday to familiarize himself with the functionality of the F60’steering wheel, using the team’s static simulator, and to discuss preparations with engineers.

Although the ban on Formula One testing means Schumacher will be unable to drive the F60 before the practice sessions in Spain, the German is planning to get in plenty of mileage using an older car provided by Ferrari’s F1 customer department, and on Friday morning he completed several laps of the Mugello circuit in an F2007 machine.

“I contacted some of the guys from F1 Clienti if they could give me a car,” Schumacher told his official website. “Although those cars are not current or last year's ones, I simply like to drive as much as possible, so this is a good option.”

Schumacher, who retired at the end of 2006, has remained with Ferrari in a consulting role and last tested a Formula One car in April 2008, prior to the return of slick tyres and the introduction of KERS and moveable front wings.

Felipe Massa has opened his left eye and can see with it, according to his personal doctor Dino Altmann - raising hopes that the Ferrari driver’s vision has not been permanently damaged and he will be able to race again.

Three days into his recovery after being hit on the helmet by a bouncing spring weighing almost a kilo that had broken free from Rubens Barrichello’s car in Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying, Massa is continuing to make encouraging progress in Budapest’s AEK hospital.

Altmann said that the 28-year-old Brazilian is now alert, speaking coherently in different languages and has been able to open and use his left eye, which was giving doctors cause for concern.

“His condition is improving quickly and constantly,” he said.

“He is more and more awake and reactive.

“He spoke to several people today, using three different languages, replying always in a coherent way.

“He’s also progressing with his physiotherapy very well. He opened his left eye and confirmed that he can see with it.

“As far as the near future is concerned we have to be cautious, but I have to say that also today there are very positive signs.”

Ferrari driver Felipe Massa is to leave intensive care as he continues his recovery from a crash in qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix.

The 28-year-old fractured his skull on Saturday when he was struck by debris from another car while driving.

"He speaks, can sit upright and was even able to take his first steps," said a Ferrari team statement.

"From the clinical and radiological point of view everything is going extremely well."

I know this isn't Ferrari related news but it was a shock to me to hear this news that car giants BMW will leave Formula 1 at the end of the 2009 season after a very poor campaign.

The German car manufacturer, who took over Sauber in 2005, have cited "current developments in motorsport" as the reason for their decision.

BMW are the second major manufacturer to leave the sport in eight months after Honda's withdrawal in December.

BMW had given themselves three years to win the world championship and won their first race in 2008 but have amassed only eight points this season.

The team, who currently have Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld as their drivers, held a meeting on Tuesday where they made the decision to quit the sport.

BMW began the season determined to challenge for the world championship but the car they designed to meet 2009's major technical rule changes has been uncompetitive.
   
606: DEBATE
I can see exactly where they are coming from - three years work, and money, all gone with the new rules

BMW_Sauber_FTW

"Of course, we, the employees in Hinwil and Munich, would all have liked to continue this ambitious campaign and show that this season was just a hiccup following three successful years," said team boss Mario Theissen.

"But I can understand why this decision was made from a corporate perspective.

"We will now focus sharply on the remaining races and demonstrate our fighting spirit and put in a good result as we bid farewell to Formula 1 racing."

Bernie Ecclestone, Formula 1's commercial rights holder, believes the team's inability to match their title ambitions is behind their withdrawal.

"It has not quite been like that so perhaps that's why they've [decided] to stop," Ecclestone told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"When you consider how much money they've spent and the results they've got, it's probably not such a good investment.

"They were quite sure that they were going to win the championship within three years, and I was hoping they would."

However, the sport's governing body, the FIA, said it was not surprised by BMW's decision given the difficult global economic climate.

"The FIA regrets the announcement of BMW's intended withdrawal from Formula 1 but is not surprised by it," a statement said.

"It has been clear for some time that motor sport cannot ignore the world economic crisis.

"Car manufacturers cannot be expected to continue to pour large sums of money into Formula 1 when their survival depends on redundancies, plant closures and the support of the taxpayer."

BMW would be a loss to F1 - Croft

There has long been speculation that BMW could quit F1 along with fellow car manufacturers Toyota and Renault because of the effects of the economic downturn on car sales.

Ecclestone claimed on Wednesday that Toyota and Renault were among the remaining teams that have signed a new version of the Concorde Agreement, which is expected to be finalised by the FIA this week. The new legal and financial agreement commits teams until 2012.

The FIA has been pushing to cut costs but its plans to cap spending to £40m a year led to the Formula 1 teams' umbrella group, Fota, threatening to walk away to form a rival series.

While that dispute has now been resolved, the FIA says the teams could have prevented teams quitting F1 by accepting their proposals.

"This is why the FIA prepared regulations to reduce costs drastically," a statement added.

"Had these regulations not been so strongly opposed by a number of team principals, the withdrawal of BMW and further such announcements in the future might have been avoided."

Fota, which represents all teams on the grid with the exception of Williams and Force India, pledged to offer its continued support to BMW.

A statement said; "Fota teams have immediately consulted each other and are ready to assure all the necessary support to BMW, whose membership in the association is confirmed, to continue its involvement in the F1 sport."

The BMW Group have decided to divert their resources into other areas, although they plan to stay involved in other strands of motorsport.

"Of course, this was a difficult decision for us, but it's a resolute step in view of our company's strategic realignment," said Dr Norbert Reithofer, chairman of the board of management of BMW.

"Premium will be increasingly defined in terms of sustainability and environmental compatibility. This is an area in which we want to remain in the lead.

"Our Formula One campaign is thus less a key promoter for us."

BMW's takeover of Sauber in 2005 saw them enter their own team in 2006 and in their debut season they were fifth in the constructors' championship before being promoted to second in 2007 after the exclusion of McLaren-Mercedes.

They put up a strong challenge in 2008 with Kubica scoring their first win at the Canadian Grand Prix and the team finished third behind Ferrari and McLaren.

Bad start for BMW in Melbourne

BMW first entered Formula 1 as an engine supplier to Brabham in 1982 and the first victory of the pairing came in 1983 when Nelson Piquet won in Brazil on the way to claiming the drivers' crown.

But BMW pulled out as an engine supplier in 1987 before returning in 2000 as engine partners to Williams.

The duo were together for six years and ended up as constructors' championship runners-up in 2002 and 2003, while winning 10 grands prix and taking 17 pole positions.

Following their decision to withdraw from Formula 1, BMW will now focus on the touring car series, Formula BMW and the American Le Mans series.

Michael Schumacher will make a shock return to Formula 1 to replace injured Ferrari driver Felipe Massa.

The seven-time world champion retired at the end of 2006 but will drive at the European Grand Prix on 23 August.

Ferrari said the 40-year-old will stand in for as long as Massa is sidelined by the serious head injuries he sustained in the Hungarian Grand Prix last week.

"For team loyalty reasons I can't ignore this unfortunate situation," said the former Ferrari driver.

His spokesman Sabine Kehm had told the BBC on Tuesday that although Schumacher - who was working as an advisor for Ferrari - was not willing to make a full-time return to F1, he would not rule out standing in for Massa.

And the German racing legend has now decided to come out of retirement and make a sensational return to the sport.

"It is true that the Formula 1 chapter has long been closed for me," said Schumacher, who won five world titles for Ferrari.

"The most important thing first: thank God, all news concerning Felipe is positive, and I wish him all the best again.

"This afternoon I met with team principal Stefano Domenicali and Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo and together we decided that I will prepare myself to take the place of Felipe.

"As the competitor I am, I also very much look forward to facing this challenge."
   
SCHUMACHER'S F1 RECORD
1991: Makes F1 debut for Jordan, switches to Benetton
1992: First Grand Prix win (Belgium), finishes third in the championship
1994: Wins first world title with Benetton, winning eight races
1995: Retains world title, winning nine races
1996: Joins Ferrari
1997: Finishes season second but is disqualified from championship
1999: Breaks leg at Silverstone when leading world championship
2000: Ends Ferrari's 21-year wait for a world title, winning nine races
2001: Retains world title, again winning nine races
2002: Quickest ever world title win, with 11 race wins
2003: Breaks Juan Manuel Fangio's record of five world titles
2004: Wins seventh and final world title
2006: Retires at the end of the season
2009: Announces comeback to fill in for injured Felipe Massa

Schumacher has not driven an F1 car since April 2008 and competed in the last of his 249 grands prix in October 2006.

And the most successful F1 driver of all time now has slightly more than three weeks to prepare himself for the European Grand Prix in Valencia.

The ban on in-season testing means Schumacher will not be able to turn a wheel of the 2009 specification Ferrari before first practice on Friday 21 August.

Nevertheless, the team have chosen Schumacher - who won 91 grands prix in a glittering career - ahead of reserve drivers Marc Gene and Luca Badoer.

"Ferrari intends to entrust Michael Schumacher with Felipe Massa's car for as long as the Brazilian driver is not able to race," read a team statement.

"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."

There are six more races to go after Valencia, including trips to Belgium, Italy, Singapore and Japan.

Schumacher will undergo an intensive training programme to determine whether he is fit enough to return to the rigours of F1 racing.

Those injuries could affect his ability to drive an F1 car which places huge pressures on the neck because of the varying G-forces.

Massa could be out for the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on a fractured skull sustained when a spring from Rubens Barrichello's Brawn hit him on the helmet when he was travelling at more than 160mph during qualifying in Hungary on Saturday.

The Brazilian is set to leave intensive care and is making progress, though there is also concern about damage to his left eye.

Schumacher is close to Massa, who was his team-mate in his final season, and has taken a close interest in the Brazilian's career.

BBC Radio 5 Live F1 commentator David Croft believes Schumacher is coming back partly because of that close relationship.

"I think he's coming back because it is to replace Felipe Massa, temporarily. He is very close to Felipe, they've had a great relationship over the years," said Croft.

"I think it's his way of doing something to help Felipe, and doing something to help Ferrari at the same time, because if you look at the alternatives Ferrari had, they weren't really alternatives.

"Who else is there who could come into Ferrari and hit the ground running, who knows the car, who knows the team, who could give them a podium?

"The European Grand Prix, which was not one we were looking forward to at the start of this year, has now got a real spice to it.

"Lewis Hamilton against Michael Schumacher for the first time ever? Jenson Button up against Michael Schumacher? How will Kimi Raikkonen respond? It's going to be fascinating."