Insurance clause kept Ralf from racing [updated].

While it was logical to assume that a lack of 'match fitness' has prevented Ralf Schumacher from returning to the cockpit of his Williams-BMW this week, it would appear that this may not have been the case.

The German has confirmed suggestions that he was indeed given the all-clear to appear in this week's Monza test, as a precursor to a possible race return at the Italian Grand Prix next weekend, but that WilliamsF1's insurers had vetoed the idea.

According to quotes appearing on the driver's personal website, the insurance company involved was wary about Schumacher making a comeback ahead of the three-month period initially stipulated by both his doctors and the F1 medical team. Having suffered a second serious concussion during his crash at Indianapolis, following that sustained in a testing accident at Monza last year, there was concern that he may not have been able to gain insurance cover as he still posed a risk to himself by making an earlier-than-expected return.

If this is the case, Schumacher could be ruled out of action until the end of the season, as he would not be able to return to the cockpit in time to test before the flyaway events in China and Japan. Antonio Pizzonia has been retained to stand-in for the German at Monza.

"I feel fit and have trained really hard for many hours a day over the last weeks," Schumacher said, "On Monday, I had a thorough medical exam, which included spinal stress tests. The diagnosis was great - optimal healing, excellent condition, no pains or ailments and the spine absolutely stable.

"Then the insurers vetoed my comeback plans. These twelve weeks would have been finished at the Monza weekend, so that would not have been a problem, but racing is only possible after testing - and that would be in the week before Monza. That was too early for the insurers, one week too early. No exceptions, no release, no race."