For Formula One Grand Prix motor racing, Wednesday was a day of some good news and bad news - followed up by the sensational. First, there was the news was that badly injured Ferrari driver Felipe Massa's condition in a Budapest hospital continued to improve after his horrific accident at the Hungarian Grand Prix last weekend.
Then in Munich, German carmaker BMW announced it is pulling out of Formula One racing after this so far lacklustre season in a further blow to international motor racing in a time of economic turmoil.
But then legendary German driver Michael Schumacher stole the headlines. On his website, the former seven-time F1 champion announced plans to come out of nearly three years of retirement to replace Massa in the Ferrari team.
Under the title, Michael Happy To Help Ferrari, Schumacher said: "Thanks God, all news concerning Felipe are positive" - a reference to the improvement in the Brazilian driver's condition in Budapest and prospects that he could be transferred to a Paris hospital. "I wish him all the best again."
Schumacher said he had talked with Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo and racing team boss Stefano Domenicali and "together we decided that I will prepare myself to take the place of Felipe."
The German racing star added that although the F1 racing chapter had been completely closed for him, "it is also true that for loyalty reasons to the team I cannot ignore that unfortunate situation.
"But as the competitor I also very much look forward to facing this challenge," Schumacher concluded in his brief statement.
Before his announcement Wednesday, the speculation about a comeback was running at high pitch after Schumacher's spokeswoman, Sabine Kehm, had told the German Press Agency
