Schumacher's comments the day after the race - delighted

Schumacher delighted with Bahrain form

March 15 2010
Michael Schumacher says he never expected to be his old self right away after finishing in sixth position at the Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday. The seven-time champion, in his first Formula 1 race since he retired from the sport in 2006, had a low-key return, qualifying in seventh position and finishing a distant sixth behind Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg.

But despite the expectations placed on Schumacher following his ultra-successful career, the German insisted he never expected to up to fully competitive form right from the start, and declared himself very happy with his performance.

"Still today, a day after my comeback race, I feel extremely well," Schumacher wrote on his website. "With regards to the fitness, this race was not at all difficult for me and I was not exhausted at all. This is partly due to the fact that those tires, in that heat, do not allow for more speed.

"But, all in all, I have to say: I am very, very happy and proud about how it went, considering I was completely out for three years and did not have a lot of driving for preparation. It would be strange to assume that I would come in, sit in the car and drive circles around the others – I, for my part, did not assume that in any case.

"What was nice was that I was very calm and relaxed prior to the race; as I was in former years. The only thing I did not manage to do this time was to sleep shortly before the start – the photos and the drivers parade simply took too much time. I only came back to the garage very late and we had to start the preparations for the race immediately."

 

Great... so the slowness was the car then. I'm sure that by Barcelona Mercedes will be on top form again.

I'm glad he's still feeling well anyhow.

 

Very interesting little tidbit here IMHO. If that's true, then why didn't he do a 2 stopper? I *suspect* we may see at least a few of 'em trying that strategy next time out. This race they were just trying to figure it out and be conservative - Nobody wanted to look like a fool, even if it meant going slower and conserving tires. They are sheep after all

Cheers,
Ian

 

I too was curious why none of the front-runners tried starting on hard tires for 20+ laps going as fast as possible, then switching to a two stop strategy of ~15 laps and ~10 lap stints on soft tires. Considering at the end they would be doing laps 3 seconds faster or so with relatively fresh tires it could have been a gamble that paid off. Throw a safety car in there (I assume they still have the safety car) and it would have been very interesting.

They probably had to be conservative, but since it appears Ferrari and Vettel have the real speed maybe others will take chances now.

 

Because the top 10 had to start the race on the same tyres they qualified on. And the the soft tyres are quickest for short runs like in qualifying.

 

Looking back I am sure a lot of teams are saying we should have run a 2 stopper 15 laps switch to hards then run those about 24 laps then run 10 flying final laps on the softs.

 

Sutil was the ony one of the top 10 to start on the harder compound. Unfortunately we never got to found out how that would have played out for him.

It was an interesting strategy that could have seen him pick up quite a few places during the course of the race when the front runners pitted.

I would look for a similar strategy when one of the mid-fielders cracks P3. They have no chance to be at the sharp end of the grid, so go with the harder compound and work their way up the order in "tortoise mode", when the "hares" pit.

Traditional strategy that has paid off in the past for mid-fielders.

Frank

 

Ahh, that's cute.

I guess that will help him stomach the reviews he got from the Euro press:

Bild
"Did your gas foot not work? Is he now going to be just following for the rest of the season?"

Spiegel
"Old champion without a rythm."

Sueddeutsche
"Third best German driver"

Gazzetto della Sport
"anonymous 6th place"

La Stampa
"The traitor ends up on the mediocre sixth place"

Corriere della Sera
"With all due respect to Schumacher, the 41 year old living legend, but Ferrari made the right choice with the 28 year old Alonso"

 

LMAO! I dunno why but that was really the funniest by far.

 

Yup, that one had me in stitches too.

Another way to look at it:
He beat Sutil and Hulkenberg! Yeah!

 

lol...OMG they're harsh!

 

I've got to say that having seen his interview on the BBC after the race, his body language didn't say he was "delighted" to Me. I got the impression that he was thinking something along the lines of : "This isn't the F1 racing I used to love!" and that he was less than impressed.

I can't help thinking that unless the rest of the races this season differ greatly from Bahrain, Schumacher's going to give it up before his third contracted year!. Pootling around, looking after the tyres for a whole race is not going to keep him entertained in My opinion.

 

All of them looking after their tires the whole race is not going to keep anyone entertained.

Boring is what it was IMHO, fueling needs to come back and they need to let them refuel after qualifying.

That or drop the race to 1 hour sprint race and forget about pitstops entirely.

 

Zzzzz is right. As I said on the other thread, Michael may quickly realize that retirement was more fun than this horrible form of racing. Even Ferrari admitted the race was dull. As Srtmike said, F1 is the curling of motorsport.

 

Man you guys are harsh on him...i predict after 4 more races, once he figures out the car abit better, he will start being on the podium.

If he was in a ferrari and he was 6th, we all would say the car is crap...

Im still having trouble taking Alsono as a tifosi...after all, he's still a cheat in my book from 3-4 yrs ago

 

Did I miss something, or did I hear one of the TV guys say each car is REQUIRED to run a full set of 'hards' at some point during the race???

 

I think I will take the cougars on the (women's) Canadian Olympic Curling Team over F1 at this point.

 

Not me brother! Alot of people are conviently forgetting what he did for our beloved Ferrari. I'd rather see a 41 year old Schu in the red car than the 28 year old unibrow.

 

Alas, not to be my friend....i can live with it, since i have too

But i wish schumi well, and for this season i would love to see him win number 8, with Alfanzo second if had be....but if Massa could raise to the cause, nothing would please me more than him getting with the red horse.

 

Evidently the press is not as one sided as it appears above;
Germany hits back after Italy's Schumacher criticism
Racing series** F1
Date 2010-03-16
By Motorsport.com/GMM


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The German press has hit back after its Italian colleagues were scathing of Michael Schumacher's comeback performance in Bahrain.



The widely circulated German daily Bild Zeitung hit back: "Just as there are bad losers, it is also possible to be a bad winner".

The newspaper pointed out that the Italians failed to mention that its "double victory" only took place due to "Vettel's technical problems".

And the German weekly Sport Bild added: "Does Schumacher really deserve this (criticism)?"

Rome-based Corriere dello Sport said: "There was no disgrace (in Schumacher's performance), but he doesn't deserve much praise, either."

 

Huh?

All Alonso ever did was beat MS twice to the title.

Or are you referring to spygate, which was started by a disgruntled Ferrari employee and on which Alonso himself blew the whistle?

 

I think he was referring to Michael. I would say Alonso beat Michael once fair and square, which was in 2006. Otherwise in 2005, Ferrari was one of the worst cars that season. The reason was bridgestone.

 

While you are right about that, the counter argument is that the very same Bridgestone helped MS/Ferrari to their titles the previous years against the Michelin shod McLaren and Renault. You live by the sword, you die by the sword. Besides: Ferrari was free to pick Michelins for 2005.

 

Then how about mentioning the 3 times MS beat Alonso to the WDC? It's either 1-0 Alonso or 3-2 Schumacher. Can't have it both ways...

 

I'm not arguing that. Schumacher has beaten Alonso more often to the WDC so far. No question there. I'm just saying that 2005 is every bit as valid as 2006 was. And perhaps 2010 will be.

PS: Once Alonso has won a WDC with Ferrari I will turn on him. 3 titles is enough. Just as I was an ardent Schumacher fan until 2004.