Rome, 11 August (AKI) - Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher has abandoned his bid to return to Formula One because of a neck injury. The 40-year-old German was expected to replace the injured Brazilian, Felipe Massa, for Ferrari at the European Gran Prix in the Spanish city of Valencia on 23 August.

"Last night, I told the president, Luca di Montezemolo, and the team captain, Stefano Domenicali. Unfortunately, I am not fit to replace Felipe," said Schumacher.

Schumacher's injuries are side affects from an accident earlier this year.

"Unfortunately we did not manage to get a grip on the pain in the neck which occurred after the private F1-day in Mugello," Schumacher said on his website.

"The consequences of the injuries caused by the bike accident in February, fractures in the area of head and neck, unfortunately have turned out to be still too severe," he added.

Schumacher won five championships with Ferrari and was working as a consultant for the Italian team before his decision to resume driving and stand in for Massa.

The German has entered 250 grands prix, winning a record 91 of them. At his peak he earned 80 million dollars a year.

Italian Luca Badoer, a Ferrari test driver whose name was already given following Massa's crash, will replace Schumacher in the race.