Lauda keen but Schu rules out Ferrari comeback

Having already said the scenario was unlikely, Michael Schumacher's manager has now categorically ruled out an imminent return to formula one for the retired champion.

The 40-year-old has been linked with injured Felipe Massa's Ferrari seat ffor the forthcoming European grand prix and beyond, and former triple world champion Niki Lauda for one would like to see it happen.

"Who else?" the great Austrian said at the Hungaroring on Sunday. "There is nobody available anywhere near Michael's performance."

Lauda dismissed Ferrari's test drivers Luca Badoer and Marc Gene as "useless", and slammed suggestions the recently ousted Sebastien Bourdais might be a possibility.

"What do you want to do with Bourdais? I can drive (rather than him)," Lauda said.

"Honestly. He is a waste of time -- there is no way Ferrari would even consider him when he couldn't perform in a Toro Rosso against (Sebastien) Buemi."

However, as Schumacher issued a message of best wishes for his friend and former teammate Massa on Sunday, the German's manager put a stop to the rising speculation.

"That Michael is going to make a comeback is ruled out," Willi Weber told Germany's Bild newspaper.

The newspaper, raising the possibility that under-fire Renault driver Nelson Piquet might be another possibility, added that Schumacher no longer possesses a formula one superlicense.

Ferrari spokesman Luca Colajanni said in Hungary: "For that sort of thing (speculation) it is much too early."