MARANELLO, Italy, Aug 6 - Michael Schumacher was told on Friday he faces further surgery on his broken leg but there is a chance he could be racing again by the Italian Grand Prix at Monza on Septmber 12.
The twice world champion, injured in a high speed crash at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone on July 11, had hoped to test drive a Ferrari at the team's Fiorano track this weekend.
But an examination by five doctors in Switzerland dashed his hopes.
Ferrari said: ``The clinical evolution is very good at this time, but it is too early for him to return to Formula One racing in the coming weeks.
``In order to improve bone healing, the consultant surgeons have decided to perform a partial hardware removal of the distal tibia.
``The rehabilitation programme will start again on the next day after surgery. This might allow Michael Schumacher to make his comeback at Monza.''
No date for the operation has been set.
Schumacher was second in the world championship before his accident but has dropped to fourth, 20 points behind his team mate Eddie Irvine, who leads the standings after winning the last two races.