Schumacher brave for making comeback: Button

London: World championship leader Jenson Button expects a tough challenge from Michael Schumacher when the German makes his Formula One comeback next month.

Brawn GP`s Button described the seven-time champion as "brave" for coming out of retirement for Ferrari until Felipe Massa is fit to return after a high-speed crash left the Brazilian with multiple skull fractures last weekend. The 40-year-old Schumacher, who last raced in 2006, has been acting as an adviser for Ferrari."Ferrari are very lucky because they have someone working in their team who can jump straight into the car and be competitive - and Michael will be," Button said Thursday. "It`s an interesting one, though, because if he wins people will say they expected him too, and if he doesn`t, they will say he should not have come back." "So it`s a tough position for him to be in, although I`m happy he has taken up the challenge. It`s very brave of him." With seven races to go in the season, Button has an 18.5-point lead atop the drivers` standings ahead of Mark Webber going into the European Grand Prix. Since retiring in October 2006, Schumacher has raced occasionally in a motorcycling series but was injured in a crash in Spain in February. There will be no opportunity for Schumacher to test the Ferrari until the first practice session in Valencia, Spain on Friday Aug. 21 ahead of the Sunday race. The circuit in Valencia has been modified since Schumacher`s retirement and testing has been banned to save costs. "I expect him to be quick and turn up in Valencia and be on the pace - that`s what you expect from Michael," Button said. "He is still going to be fit. He will get to grips with the car for sure, pushing Kimi (Raikkonen). He will be up there." Schumacher enjoyed 91 wins in 250 F1 races in a 15-year career. "He has achieved more in the sport than anyone else has," Button said. "We`re going to have to go a long way to achieve what he has." Schumacher`s return is emulating that of Niki Lauda, who quit F1 in 1979 after winning two titles for Ferrari but returned with McLaren in 1982 and went on to win a third championship in 1984. "Schumacher will do a super job - the comeback is a sensation," said Lauda, who retired again at the end of the 1985 season. "Formula 1 needs positive inputs for the fans and for Ferrari, for everything that will happen in Valencia." Reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton said it will be "an honor and a privilege" to race against Schumacher. "Michael is one of the sport`s greatest competitors, a legend in his own right, and it would be great to compete against him," Hamilton said. "The whole world will be watching his return to the cockpit in Valencia." Former team boss Eddie Jordan, who gave Schumacher his F1 debut in 1991, believes the German`s return could serve as "a big wake-up call" to Ferrari teammate Kimi Raikkonen. The Finn has struggled in his Ferrari since winning the 2007 world title, although he came second last weekend in Budapest. "You will see a new Raikkonen because he will not want to be disgraced by Michael Schumacher," Jordan said. "In fact, it could rejuvenate the whole of the Ferrari team which has been a bit lackluster this year." "But the competitiveness of the car, and certainly of Schumacher, will drive that team forward." The 28-year-old Massa has been recuperating at the AEK hospital in Budapest since he was hit in the helmet by a loose part from another car and crashed into a protective tire barrier at about 190 kph (120 mph). He sustained skull fractures and a concussion, but is now walking again. "He is back to normal," Massa`s family doctor Dino Altman said Thursday. Bureau Report