Schumacher hits the gym

“Had Michael not worked so hard in recent months,all this would not have been possible,” Peil said.

Schumacher was considered one of the fittest drivers until he retired at the end of 2006,and Peil said the seven-time world champion has been working out at home regularly,especially on his neck muscles.

In February,Schumacher crashed during a motorcycle race,but his neck injuries were never described in detail. He has not believed to have raced on two wheels since. Neck muscles are critical for F1 drivers,who experience great G forces during a race.

While the 40-year-old Schumacher hopes to compete in the next race,the European Grand Prix in Valencia on Aug. 23,he and Ferrari were downplaying any chance of him adding to his record 91 victories in 250 starts.

“I hope he’s up to it physically and he can pass the

tests that must be administered for the neck muscles,which he hasn’t used in a while,” Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo said in Rome.

“But already today,the entire team is working to prepare him. Tomorrow he’ll have his first tests on the track.”

Montezemolo said Schumacher had little time to become accustomed to the Ferrari and new KERS overtaking technology.

Also,the circuit in Valencia has been modified since Schumacher retired,and testing has been banned to save costs.

“This will be a big problem,at least for the first race,because he’s going to find himself on a circuit he’s never driven on,with a car he’s never driven,and with technology he doesn’t know,” Montezemolo said. “But,unfortunately,this is the price we have to pay.”

Former world champion Niki Lauda,also a Ferrari alumnus,agreed. “He doesn’t know the circuit in Valencia,he doesn’t know the car,he is not allowed to do any test driving,” Lauda said. “These are tougher conditions than for his rivals. And on top,Ferrari doesn’t have a top car.”

Massa ‘back to normal’

FELIPE Massa is already planning a return to racing and joking about keeping Schumacher away from his car as he continues to return “to normal” following his crash,his doctor said on Thursday. Massa’s family doctor Dino Altman said the Brazilian driver has begun eating food normally,was walking around his hospital room and took a shower. He also appeared to have “no problem in the (left) eye.”

“He is back to normal,” Altman said. He added that Massa was already sending warnings to Michael Schumacher that his comeback may be short-lived. “Let’s see if I let him drive my car because I don’t give up,” Altman quoted Massa as saying.