Schu races karts but insists not comeback training

(GMM) With the media ready to pounce on any new development, Michael Schumacher has immediately ruled out claims he did not travel to Belgium this weekend because he is stepping up preparations to return to formula one.

With Ferrari openly contemplating whether or not to replace the struggling Luca Badoer ahead of Monza, Schumacher at the weekend was racing at the kart track at his German birthplace Kerpen.

He finished the two finals second and first respectively.

"My neck is okay, I still feel it a little bit but by far not as much as after the F1 (test) day," Schumacher told his official website michael-schumacher.de.

"But I could go karting even in the week after that day, as the stress is much less here," the seven time world champion added.

He categorically denied that his karting activities are evidence he is still pushing to occupy the race seat vacated after the Hungarian GP by the injured Felipe Massa.

"Whoever thinks this was practice for a later F1 comeback is interpreting way too much into that fun drive," said the 40-year-old German.