London, July 28 (IANS) Former World champion Michael Schumacher can consider standing in for injured Ferrari driver Felipe Massa.
Brazilian Massa fractured his skull in Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying and may be out for the rest of the year. Schumacher, 40, is a Ferrari adviser.

“The whole thing will be considered by Ferrari. If they approach Michael, then he will consider it,” the seven-time champion’s spokeswoman Sabine Kehm was quoted as saying in BBC Sport.

“But there is no reason for him to step into their discussion.

“Usually, I would say he’s not interested because he’s fine with his life and he doesn’t miss anything but now the situation is so different - it’s very hypothetical - and Michael doesn’t want to step into that (discussion),” she stated.

Kehm added that Schumacher still trained every day but she did not know whether he was fit enough to race an F1 car again.

“Michael had a motorcycle accident in February when he had a neck problem - and I really can’t tell you if his neck would be fine to drive an F1 race,” she said.

“If Ferrari asked him whether he would consider driving, he would have it checked - and remember he is a 40-year-old man, too.”

Masa is in a “severe but not critical” condition, according to the hospital that is treating him in Budapest and there is also concern about damage to his left eye.

That means Ferrari need to find a team-mate for Kimi Raikkonen for the Valencia race.

Schumacher, who won a record 91 grand prix in his career, is under contract to the team after taking on a consultancy role following his retirement. He has not driven an F1 car since April 2008

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