The Formula One legend Michael Schumacher was due to replace Brazil’s Felipe Massa, who was seriously injured during the Hungarian Grand Prix late in July. However, the dream of the king returning back to “the Grand Prix” will never come true.

"It's a great pity. A lot of people were looking forward to it. Me too. [It] would have been a reason to watch Formula 1 racing again. To tell the truth, I did not very often watch the races since he was gone," a Schumacher’s fan said as quoted by AP.

"This won't be without reason. People say that he's still suffering a neck injury due to a motorcycling accident. He quit from sports on the top of his career and I think for him personally it will very likely be better this way," another Formula One fan told AP.

Another Formula One legend, Niki Lauda, also took Schumacher’s side.

"I think that Michael has definitely tried everything possible to arrange his comeback, which would have been a sensation. He has simply failed due to his motorcycling injuries. He has tried everything to get it under control, according to his personal statements. And unfortunately, his injuries are still not healed in such a way that he's able to drive a Formula 1 car," said Lauda.

Ferrari test driver Luca Badoer will be the number two driver beside Kimi Raikkonen in the races to come. The 38-year-old Italian last raced in Formula One a decade ago. Badoer has started 49 races for Scuderia Italia, Minardi and Forti, but has never scored a point.