Badoer: "Only Massa Will Take Away My Seat!"

Although several reports have linked Michael Schumacher with a potential return to Formula One in the near future, despite his medical problems with his neck, Ferrari's test driver and Felipe Massa's substitute Luca Badoer doesn't seem too convinced of that. While reckoning he is very sad for Schu not being able to make his comeback at Valencia, the 38-year old insisted the No 3 Ferrari F60 is all his until the Brazilian's return.

The Italian driver hasn't raced in Formula One at a professional level since the 1999 Japanese Grand Prix, holding the world record for point-less starts in the series (48). However, he insisted he has trained regularly for a potential maiden drive with Ferrari and that he'll be ready to perform well enough in Spain.

While setting a quite unexpected goal for the European Grand Prix this weekend – finishing the race would do just fine for the Ferrari veteran – Badoer insisted no one will have access to his racing seat until Massa's return. And, since the Brazilian is aiming for a home grand prix comeback at Interlagos, that would mean 5-race stint for Badoer.

“There is no fixed date. I will stop when Massa is in a position to come back, and when that happens I will be very happy for Felipe. But until then the Ferrari is mine, and nobody else's,” Badoer was quoted as saying by Italian newspaper Le Stampa.

Badoer also denied being bothered by certain comments coming from former 3-time world champion Niki Lauda, who last week characterized as disastrous Ferrari's decision to name Badoer as their second driver in 2009. According to the Austrian ace, that's like having only Raikkonen to drive for Ferrari for the rest of the season.

“That doesn't bother me. Lauda speaks like that about everyone,” Badoer told the aforementioned source.