Valencia Organizers Will Not Refund Tickets for Schumacher's Return

With Michael Schumacher announcing his return to the sport a few weeks ago, no wonder ticketing underwent a considerable boost in both Valencia and Spa-Francorchamps. The chance to see the 7-time world champion back in a Ferrari cockpit and fighting for a race win made plenty of Spanish fans purchase F1 packages for the European Grand Prix in only a matter of days.

Earlier this month, a few days before Schu announced his cancellation of F1 comeback, media reports in Spain had revealed that tickets sold twice as good after Schu's initial announcement. The Valencia official also confirmed they sold around 10,000 tickets in only a couple of days.

And, bear in mind the fact that ticketing was successful despite Renault's one-race ban, which could have kept local favorite Fernando Alonso out of the European Grand Prix.

With Schu now certain to miss the Valencia race, the Spanish organizers dismissed rumors that they will refund the tickets under the pretext of the German driver not returning to Formula One anymore. According to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, the tickets will not be refunded, especially now since Alonso and Renault have been confirmed for the Valencia race by the decision of the International Court of Appeal.

The president of the Spanish Motor Racing Federation himself, Carlos Gracia, was present at the Renault hearing in Paris the other day, making sure the Enstone based team would be fairly judged by the members of the ICA. As a result of the immense pressure from the Spanish officials, the ICA reversed the ban and allowed Renault to race.

Nevertheless, Gracia insisted the ICA acted accordingly and not influenced by any sporting circumstances in recent weeks.

“One has nothing to do with the other. The Court of Appeal did its work with absolute independence and total autonomy,” Gracia was quoted as saying by Spanish newspaper AS.