Retired world champion Michael Schumacher will not be attending this weekend’s Australian grand prix, his spokeswoman has confirmed.
Although the 38-year-old German is now an ‘advisor’ for the Italian Ferrari team, Sabine Kehm said Schumacher would simply follow the 2007 season opener from his Swiss home.
“He will have the telephone within reach,” she said.
Kehm insisted that Schumacher is still fully up to date with Ferrari’s progress, amid reports that the seven time drivers’ title winner attended the team’s last pre-Melbourne meeting at its Maranello base on Friday.
She added: “Of course, every now and again (this season) he will be on the scene to get a picture of the current situation and as the ideal footing for his ideas, suggestions and assessment.”
But Kehm said Schumacher was “definitely not” regretting his decision to hang up his helmet after sixteen years in F1.
She explained that a return to the test tracks for Schumacher was “not planned and also not necessary”.
“He seems extremely fresh, fit, rested and balanced,” Kehm explained. “He has the appearance of a man who is happy and clear with himself.”
