Brawn on MS - proof is in the telemetry

My point is that if you choose to live in the public eye you become fair game.
(But I think that you know that )

 

As we age our perspectives change. When we're young, we gamble and take big chances, it's win or bust, all or nothing (in the style of Lewis Hamilton these days, take Monza last year for example). we feel invincible, like there's nothing we cannot achieve.

When we get older, we see the bigger picture. We way up the odds more carefully and take less risks (although not always, sometimes the youthful devil comes out for one last fling, like in Hungary for Schumacher). Our priorities change and what was once the most important thing in the World in our youth, becomes less important.

Schumacher's no different. He knows he's aged, he also knows F1 is really a young mans sport and that he's now on borrowed time. He's beaten all around him seven times and left his mark on F1, so he has nothing to prove to anyone anymore, therefore, his priorities in life may well have changed. Unlike the Vettel's, the Kubica's, the Rosberg's ET AL, he's not desperate to win a WDC because he's already been there and done that.

As for: “I think the tyres are just an excuse, because Schumacher always adapted to any sort of car".

There have been plenty of races in the past where even with Schumachers ability, he hasn't been able to pull off a result (not often I grant you, but there have been some).

You say it's not about approval from others, but the likes of Prost and Briatore, amongst others, are criticizing his decision to race again, saying that it's damaging his legacy. Again I say, so what?, what's it got to do with them?, it's his choice, his life and his legacy.


Schumacher has always struck Me as a very realistic person, so his reaction to the position he finds himself in this season comes as no surprise to Me and if he's enjoying himself doing what most of us can only dream of doing (or can only do on a play station), then fair play to him!.

 

I understand the whole public eye/fair game point and to be fair to Schumacher, he's not risen to the bait and either ignored the comments made or brushed them off as being their opinion and nothing more.

What I don't get is this theory that he shouldn't do whatever he wants to do because it could damage his legacy. If he's happy racing then fair play to him and if others don't like it, tough!.

Also, My problem with this latest article from Prost is that he seems to be implying that Schumacher said he was going to come back this season, dominate races and win the WDC, whereas in the interviews I have seen with Schumacher he has pretty much said the exact opposite.

 

4rePhill, Just wanted to compliment you on a series of outstanding posts...

Very well stated.

Frank

 

Yes its his life I get that..

'No value' in beating Schumacher - Hamilton..

 

Hamilton's a great driver (yes!, I really did type that!), but beating him is not that difficult as he tends to be his own worse enemy. He needs to learn that there are times to push hard, times to play the cautious game and times when you dictate to the team what you want and not just passively accept their decisions.

Monza last year was a classic example, crashing out on the penultimate lap trying vainly to pressure Button whilst in third place, thus throwing all the points away.

Monza again this year, putting his car in the danger zone alongside Massa on the first lap.
Singapore this year, yes he was unlucky but he should have known to give Webber (of all people!), a bit more room.

He'll learn eventually!, and then one day maybe we'll be discussing if he's damaging his legacy by making a comeback.

 

Like any other man he can do as he likes as long as it hurts no one else. That he chooses to do so in a public forum opens him up to public comment. He, and none of his proxies, have no right to complain about that. The fact that some of us would rather remember him as he was not as he is now is our right too.

 

Sorry this thread is about MS...not Hamilton... nice try

MS is on the world racing stage so he can expect to be under the spot light. Alot of excitement was created when he was came out of retirement, so all of this is to be expected, the flak and the praise ...thats life.

No matter what we think, Mercedes-Benz/Norbert Haug will decide when enough is enough.

 

There you go again. Being all reasonable.
What have you done with the Steve we all know and love?
(Well at least know)

 

I agree with you on this, thats the trouble here I fear..

BTW the Euro Millions Rollover £113000000 - Still Not Claimed..!. maybe my dog ate it..

 

I wasn't trying to divert this thread into a Hamilton one (but as we used to say when we were kids: "You started it, so nah!" ). However, he does highlight My point about the difference between youth and experience which I believe we are now seeing in Schumacher.

Yes, Schumacher coming back out of retirement to race again was the biggest news in F1 for decades, especially as it was for a team other than Ferrari, and yes the expectations for some were massive, but it just seems to Me that a lot of people are getting their knickers in a twist over something that Schumacher himself doesn't seem that concerned about.

As I have already posted, Prost in this latest article seems to be making statements on behalf of Schumacher about what he would achieve this season that I don't recall Schumacher ever making. I seem to remember Schumacher being very humble and completely playing down how he felt the season was going to go. Maybe that was just Me and I imagined it!.

 

Not true. He was talking about his 8th title and that he is back in top form and ready to fight. Even when it started to look like a fumbled start, he was still publicly defending his chances for the title THIS year.

http://www.bild.de/BILD/sport/motorsport/formel1/2010/01/20/michael-schumi-schumacher/formel-1-star-glaubt-an-weltmeister-wm-titel-mit-mercedes.html

http://www.bild.de/BILD/sport/motorsport/formel1/2010/04/01/michael-schumi-schumacher/gibt-den-weltmeister-titel-noch-nicht-auf.html

http://www.bild.de/BILD/sport/motorsport/formel1/2010/01/25/michael-schumi-schumacher/vorstellung-neuer-silberpfeil-bei-mercedes-im-liveticker.html

http://www.bild.de/BILD/sport/motorsport/formel1/2010/02/11/michael-schumi-schumacher-testet/im-spanischen-jerez.html

There are many more links, but these should suffice.

Prost is absolutely right. The tires are an excuse the MS of 2000 wouldn't have needed.

 

Ah!, it was just Me then!. Oh well!, tough s**t Schuey, you brought it on yourself!. Serves you right for leaving Ferrari!.

There we go, all sorted! (sometimes life is easier if your fickle! )

 

Sometimes?
I like a man whose "allegiance is ruled by expedience"*
Truth is that those of us bothered most by Michael's attempted comeback are those who were among his biggest fans back when.



*Tom Lehrer

 

F1 or any other major motorsport is not some place to drive around in just because you enjoy it. If I owned a team I would want someone that wants to win first and enjoy it second. If they are not out to win, what's the point? And if they don't enjoy what they do, why are they there?

Guys lie all the time, guys tell the press exactly what they (the press) want to hear...

Take off your rose colored glasses, I would not give a c**p if a guy had 20 WDC's - I'm there to beat him, not respect him on the track. Yes, I respect what he has accomplished - until the green flag drops, then he is just another driver, I'm not going to pee my pants if I pass the guy or finish ahead (or behind) him.

That - and about 18 years of experience, and hundreds of thousands of test laps before the test 'ban' came in a couple of years ago.

 

Truer words have rarely been spoken.

 

No value in beating Hamilton - Kimi

 

Kimi who?

 

Why act as if your in it to help the team or some other pretense just to save face if your real goal (to win) doesn't materialize.

I'm here to win works for me.

 

Sure, but Michael has always been fast at those tracks.

 

So how come you are not a fan now? And why were you back then?

 

My point exactly...

Just as us Dallas fans had to live with Emmitt Smith going to the lowly Cardinals to continue his career because Jerry Jones didn't want him as his starter any more... so MS left since there was no cockpit available for him at Ferrari...

Some members on this forum have brought up other athletes such as Roger Clemens leaving the Red Sox and they therefore hate him and now do the same to Schumi.

I personally believe that if an athlete has given his all to my team, he still has a warm place in my heart, even if my team has no place for him and he has to go elsewhere to prolong his career...

I still have good feelings for Emmitt due to the glory he brought to the Cowboys, and I still have good feelings for Schumi due to the glory he brought to the Scuderia.

Others are entitled to their own opinions and I respect that, but I don't abandon athletes that have brought glory to my team just because my team no longer had a place for them

Frank

 

Hold it there.
I brought up Clemens as an example of a pro athlete who, while claiming heartfelt thanks and allegiance, was able to "overcome" those obstacles" later in his career.
At no point did I indicate any hatred toward the man and to extrapolate that non existent animus to a hatred of Schumacher is completely unwarranted.