Granted I was sleep deprived at the time but wasn't Michael off the track once or twice while the Safety car was out?
woulda coulda shoulda. Don't know if Schu would have passed Nico or not, but if his race pace was anywhere near what it was at Suzuka -which it looked as if it was- I would not be surprised if he did pass Nico.
Woulda, coulda, shoulda right back at you. He didn't pass Nico in Suzuka either. Both times Rosberg was out in front and DNFed for no fault of his own.
Thank you for confirming that small aspect of my sanity Given the atypical conditions yesterday I wouldn't draw any conclusions about Michael's return to his old form.
Well I think MS didn't pass Rosberg, because media would have said Rosberg let him. He did drop 1 second a lap once Rosberg broke. As for Korea, Rosberg was quick in the beginning and MS got quicker towards the middle and the end. I think it would have been very close between the 2 of them. MS however made some great passes yesterday( Kubica and Button) also stuck with Massa most of the race until the last SC came out. As for him spinning, I think everyone spun at least once.
Schu's lap times immediately dropped a full second after Rosberg out of his way. CLEARLY the superior driver during that race. He crept up on Rosberg many times and backed off on purpose to avoid any kind of possibly unpleasant maneuvers the media loves capitalizing on him for making. And I agree with Vizsla not to get too excited about this 4th place fluke. The conditions were whacky as were the circumstances. But he did manage to keep Barichello and everyone else off his tail a very reasonable amount by the end of the race. Gotta give credit where it's due, and it is most certainly due this time considering his last outing on intermediates was one of the worst of the year.
You must believe what you see. But you must also listen to the master. Here is what he had to say - "Schumacher had a few excursions during the long early safety car period, but said he had just been trying to test out the potential for late-braking ready for his charge when the race began. "Because we didn't have much practice, I used the safety car laps in order to find out where was the maximum grip, and get my tyres, car and brakes prepared, and learn as much as possible in the overtaking zones - and what was too much..." he explained." http://www.itv-f1.com/news_article.aspx?id=49526 He was all the better for it, wasn't he? Michael has just not unlearnt how to drive. He is using the current equipment as best as he can, granted Nico is using it better in quali. Let's see how the dice rolls in 2011.
I hadn't heard that quote. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. Yesterday's horrendous conditions favored experience and patience. Two of Michael's strengths. A lot of other drivers without a guaranteed future in the sport took risks trying to secure a good result and a seat for next year. It ended badly for most of them.
Yes, according to Martin Brundle, he was testing and finding where the grip was, in case the race gets underway. Which is why he passed Button and Kubica pretty easily. He knew where the grip was. The old MS is back, i hope
Gotta hand it to him, that is a very clever strategy. All the other drivers (except Hammy) and fans were busy whining about the conditions rather than looking for tactical advantages.
+1. This is also why MS leaves the pits on cold tyres during practice sessions on the ragged edge. He is testing what he can do when the race starts and how his first lap might go ... he definitely is not an idiot . Pete
No one in their right mind would ever suggest that but it appears that old age and cunning can go only so far against youth and enthusiasm
MS definitely looked more like his former self in Korea. Probably his best race this year. I think it might also have something to do with the fact that here the playing field was more level as nobody had driven/experienced this track before.
I still think he should retire, but I did enjoy his race this time ... might have something to do with the fact that I am the same age Pete
Just calling it how I see it. I don't like the guy but he drove pretty well. If he finds his former speed again it will make F1 only more interesting (and I loose some bets but so what).
