Jerez: No Kimi-Schu clash

The programme for Michael Schumacher's Jerez test has been modified so that the retired champion does not go head-to-head with his successor Kimi Raikkonen.

Although Ferrari's head of track activities Luca Baldisserri revealed last week that Schumacher will be driving at Jerez on 4 December, it now emerges that the German will not exit the Spanish circuit's pitlane until two days later.

Instead, the opening two days of the final test of 2007 will be reserved for Ferrari's new world champion, with the other side of the Italian team's garage to be occupied by test driver Marc Gene.

"Kimi will test on 4 and 5 December (and) Michael on 6 and 7 December," a Ferrari spokesman told the German newspaper Bild.

After more than a year on the sidelines, Schumacher set the pace when he tested for two days earlier this month in Barcelona.
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'The comparison (between Raikkonen and Schumacher) will not take place,' the Italian sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport mourned.

Bild, meanwhile, reasoned that separating the two famous drivers will 'enable Ferrari to make its excuses if Schumi is faster than Kimi'.

Like Raikkonen, 2007 runner-up Lewis Hamilton will also return from a post-season break to test at Jerez.

 

interesting...thanks for the post remy. looking forward to hearing the test results.

 

I'm happy for Ferrari achieving what they have this year, under dire circumstances. But my heart still goes out to Schumacher no matter what his detractors say about him. HE IS STILL NUMBER ONE!!! He still draws headlines like no other driver. He still fascinates like no other driver. Obviously I'm biased...and proud of it! Way-to-go Schumi !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We'll see if he betters the times that Kimi sets. I'm mixed about it, I hope he does beat Kimi's times, but then again it sends a bad message...so I kinda hope he doesn't. What a wicked double-edged sword!

 

...I was looking forward to compare them...but I can see Kimmi´s ego will be bruised even if he looks like he doesnt care...

 

actually, it's a win win thing for both Kimi and MS. if MS beats Kimi, it's not a good thing for him, and if Kimi beats MS, he'll be critised and asked to stay at home and not to come and help on the track, etc.

 

no prob Pete

 

yep...pretty salomonic...but good for all...

Although from the look in the time tables he will have spanked everybody else but...now is ALL SPECULATIONS...

forza Ferrari!

 

I think regardless of what you want to say about Schumy, the press these tests are getting shows how much of an impact he had on Formula 1. People who don't even watch the races know he was fastest at the last test. It's mind boggling to think that someone who isn't even driving anymore can draw this kind of attention to a test. I have to say though, I'm not sure running Kimi and schumy against each other would be the smartest move. It would probably distract both of them from accomplishing what they are supposed to because both are so competitive it would be a race. Then everyone would have an opinion about which setup was faster ect and it would just be a giant distraction. If they did test at the same time they could probably sell the TV rights and make money, I sure would be watching.

 

It is interesting to note that Schumacher and Hamilton will be on the track together. The press will have a field day with that comparison.

 

Great stuff of course its only testing ..

 

just what i was thinking

 

I wish it was on TV..

 

I guess Ferrari figured out a way to keep Kimi motivated. Pure genius!

 

Interesting that Schumi has the self-confidence that possibly losing to those young whippersnappers just doesn't seem to phase him. Has any other retired WDC ever put himself in this position before?

Schumi: greatest F1 driver of all time.

 

Lewis better hope he can top the time sheets.

 

he'd better call Fred and ask Fred to set the car up for him

 

MS really has nothing to loose. If he gets beat we will all say it because he has been out of F1 and training for a year. But I am not disagreeing with you that MS was and may still be the best.

 

Nice avatar, Tony.

 

Thanks Brian!

 

Yes, quite a few as a matter of fact.

As far as self-confidence goes, whose idea was it to move Schumacher to another date so that he doesn't have to drive on the same day as Kimi? My money says it was not Kimi's...

 

And if he does, some of you need to start working on your excuses for Schumacher. Maybe you can recycle some of your Massa excuses??

 

Nope, Nuvolari by far