There has been intense speculation as to who will substitute for the injured Felipe Massa, whose recovery happily continues apace, with him taking his first steps today since the accident.

Just 24 hours after his manager Willi Weber totally ruled it out, comes the news from Ferrari that it will be Michael Schumacher! The Factory today issued the following release:

"Maranello 29 luglio 2009 - Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro intends to put Michael Schumacher in Felipe Massa's car until the Brazilian driver will be able to race again. Michael Schumacher said he is ready and, over the next few days, will undertake a specific training programme at the end of which confirmation will be given of his participation in the Championship with effect from the European Grand Prix on the 23rd of August."

This comes nearly three years after the main man retired, with the last time he drove an F1 car early in 2008. At 40 years old, he will be the oldest driver on the grid plus he incurred a neck injury whilst racing motorbikes earlier this year. It will also be the first time for many years he has raced without Ross Brawn.

Our hearts are with our greatest champion and we wish him every success, but cannot help but wonder if the season will pass without seeing Fernando Alonso, or even Robert Kubica in an F60.

We cannot but think that Michael's energies would be better directed into a Le Mans 24 hr campaign, the prospect of which Ferrari teased us with at the height of the FOTA/FIA war; but there again, there's really nothing quite like F1 for the real racing enthusiast.