Watkins urges Ralf caution

Professer Sid Watkins has urged Ralf Schumacher to make sure he is fully recovered before making a return to the cockpit, or he could suffer serious consequences. Schumacher, who cracked two vertebrae in a crash at Indianapolis, was advised to take eight to 12 weeks recovery time but the German reportedly hopes to be racing before that.

Ralf Schumacher.

Photo by BMW PressClub.

"Ralf must make sure he is fully recovered and rule out the chance of suffering side effects from the crash," Watkins told the Sunday Mirror. "Otherwise a secondary impact syndrome threatens and with a young brain such as Ralf's that could mean the vibrations lead to brain swelling and, in the worst case scenario, death."

"Ralf has had two similar heavy impacts in the last year in Monza and Indianapolis and the effect if he returned before he was fully fit could be the same as you see in a boxer."

Schumacher said recently that his health was making progress but did not know when he would be back behind the wheel. He was previously quoted as saying Hungary, at the end of August, was his goal but it would depend on his doctors' advice.

Meanwhile, Renault's Jarno Trulli is fit to race at Hockenheim this coming weekend, after a big crash in the British Grand Prix. The Italian's car spun off track at Silverstone's Bridge corner, had a heavy impact with the barrier then flipped over.

Trulli walked away unharmed and is eager for this weekend's race. "The car did an excellent job protecting me, and I felt fine immediately after the race," he said of the crash. "I just want to get back in the car, and put in a more positive weekend than we had in Silverstone."