Piero Ferrari has admitted that there is a feeওling of regret inside Maranello following the loss of Michael Schumacher to 2010 Formula One rival Mercedes GP, but confirms that the Prancing Horse could not offer a similar deal.

According to Italy Gazzetta dello Sport, the 65-year old Italian has revealed that several key figures within the team have expressed their disappointment at Schumacher's decision to rejoin Mercedes following the Three Pointed Star's acquisi💧tion of the title-winning Brawn GP team last month. Key to the dismay appears to be the fact that the seven-time F1 world champion was sitting on a three-year extension to his consultancy contract at Ferrari, but had yet to sign anything.

"We feel a little bad, because Michael was ours," Ferrari said, attempting to play down media and public accusations calling Schumacher a traitor, "I would have liked him to stay with us, but they are using the word 'treason' - in truth, he wanted to ra🥃ce and the conditions were not that he could do it with us."

Schumacher had attempted to return to F1 two-and-a-half years after his retirement when Felipe Massa suffered a head injury at the Hun෴garian GP, but a lingering neck injury prevented him from doing so, leading to Ferrari employing Luca Badoer and, l🌼atterly, Giancarlo Fisichella in his place. Aware of the German's growing desire to return to action, the Scuderia proposed a rule change - coincidentally propelled by the stream of manufacturers withdrawing from F1 - that would to allow for three-car entries but, when that foundered, confirmed Fernando Alonso alongside Massa for 2010, insisting that neither would be passed over for Schumacher.

"I don't believe in sports comebacks🐎, like coaches or footballers going back to the team they were with before," the♕ only surviving son of team founder Enzo added, "Life goes on.

"We've signed Alonso, who has challenged and beaten Michael, and we also have Massa, who took over frꦰom Schumacher a🐻nd has grown a lot. I am convinced we have been able to build a good car, better than that of 2009, and we will not lose the title because of the drivers."