Mika Salo is getting ready for his first appearance this weekend in a Grand Prix as Ferrari driver, but not without the help of the driver he is replacing - Michael Schumacher. "I have spoken to Michael a couple of times already by phone to ask his advice on certain matters and he has agreed to keep in contact with me during the weekend," Salo revealed. "It's not easy trying to fill his place and he has said he will help me in whatever way he can. Even though Michael will not be at the track he is still very much part of the team and is anxious that Ferrari keep scoring plenty of points."
Salo, who participated in two Grands Prix this year for the BAR team, said he does not expect a podium this weekend, but hopes to finish in the points. "I'm still getting to know the car," said the Finn, "But I can already get 90% out of it which should be enough for a fourth-place finish."
In the mean time, Ferrari team boss, Jean Todt, where he referred to the latest remarks made by his driver, Eddie Irvine, about the status the Irish will be holding from now on in the team, saying: "I don't want to react to things which have been said, but when Michael is back we will see how things are and will decide on a strategy then. However, it will not be up to the drivers to decide the strategy."
Q. Jean, there have been many strange reasons published for the events that led up to Michael Schumacher's accident at Silverstone. Can you please tell us exactly what happened?
Jean Todt: In trying to brake hard for Stowe corner, Michael just lost hydraulic pressure in his brakes, because a bleed nipple was loose. Unfortunately he could not do anything, so he lost control on the car and ran straight on.
Q. Can you give us an update on his condition, please?
Todt: On Sunday he went back to his home in Switzerland. He had left the hospital in Northampton on the Tuesday after the accident and I must say that he was very well looked after there. The operation went fairly well. On Tuesday he moved to a clinic near Geneva and left it to go home on Sunday. He immediately started rehabilitation, putting his right foot on the floor and working hard on the sensitiveness. All the doctors are quite happy with the way he is responding to this problem, which is of course something very unusual for him.
Q. Apart from the leg fractures, are there any other injuries?
Todt: He has a little damage to the rear part of his foot, but it is nothing serious. The major thing is the broken leg.
Q. When do you expect Michael to be fit to drive again?
Todt: I will not answer this question. He will definitely come back when the doctors feel it is the right time, and when he himself feels able to come back. We hope it will be before the end of the season, but there is no point in speculating over that. We know that most people will be speculating, but we have no intention of getting into that.
Q. Apart from Mika Salo, were there any other drivers under consideration to take over Michael's car? Why was Salo chosen?
Todt: It was definitely not an easy choice, because we have a very good driver in Luca Badoer, who is also racing with Minardi. In our opinion there were two options: either to take Luca from Minardi and use him as our spare driver; or to look for another driver who was available and would do a good job. Considering the tension and pressure that we knew we would be facing, we felt it was better to ask Mika Salo to drive our car. They were the only two drivers under consideration.