new Schumacher article reflecting on the year and issues

Go MS!

 

For 2010 MS announced to be fighting for the title.
For 2011 MS announced to be fighting for podiums and victories.
For 2012 MS will announce to be fighting for points?

PS:

So much for all his fans on here who boldly claimed that age has nothing to do with it.

 

I'm with REMY ZERO.....GO MICHAEL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's so easy for all of the armchair experts to criticize...I really hope...and expect....things to improve. Go Schumi !!

 

Pirelli test showed him as 7th which is where he was about all season long.

Kovalainen has won ROC before. Didn't make him a champion.

 

How about the armchair experts who predicted him dominating F1: you like those better?

MS himself was talking about winning the title and then got dusted off all season long by his teammate. ROC is meaningless.

 

Hope and change. Where have we heard that before? Sounds like he's trying to leave the door open so there's hope he's not washed up and no one pulls the plug. He certainly wasn't one to blame the car etc. before. Seems like when you take a break you just lose your edge especially as time marches on. Surprised he didn't use the neck thing?

 

+1

He is also defending his, Brawns and Haugs position vs the Merc board. If he doesn't score Podiums next year they might just pull the plug.

 

That lap was dismissed because he shortcut the chicane.

If you are so sure of his success then why not accept the bet I offered?

 

Do you have a gambling problem? Why must everything be a bet? It's the offseason - let it rest....

 

I was impressed with his performances at the end of the season, he picked up his game, no question. Can't wait for round 2 of Rosberg vs. Schumacher.

I'm already selecting my second bottle of Pinot Noir, Ian.....

 

This issue has been talked to death by both sides. The only place it will be settled is on the track. Either he'll win or he won't.

 

I don't gamble and only take bets I'm fairly sure I win.

It is called put your money where your mouth is.

Great men like SRT Mike are even taking bets they are not sure of but because they support an idea/driver.

 

+1 It should be good, whichever way it turns out.

The fat lady hasn't sung yet!..... I have a suspicion (hope?!) that Ross and the boys will have the testing program to end all testing programs come February....... Whatever happens, it keeps us talking (again, again!)

Cheers,
Ian

 

Agreed on the talking part.

As for the test program: I've seen the calendar and it is very limited on what the teams can do. Only so many days. And then there is the whole thing about hiding your cards.

In essence you either come with a great car or you don't. History has shown us that teams normally continue where they left off except you have a strike of genius.

 

Indeed, they're still very limited. But, superlative organization to get the most from said days will give them an advantage. Michael remains arguably the best development driver there's ever been so should get the most from any miles possible. (I hope!)

Yes and no..... Even with the tight rule restrictions it never ceases to impress me how close they are - They've been locked in their labs & wind tunnels all winter, designing & developing their cars in total secrecy and then appear on track within a second or two of each other (with a few exceptions). Outside of F1, only "spec" classes can do that.

Cheers,
Ian

 

MS was a great development driver. Not sure what is left of that. Not picking on the man, but seriously wondering how much the team will listen to his input/his wishes as compared to Nico. Just thinking back on the season when he was complaining about the understeer and they changed the car to make him less unhappy but screwed Nico in the process.
Are they still seeing MS as their #1 driver for whom they want to develop the car or do they think his days are numbered and an overall fast car is more important for Merc's and Nico's future? Brawn alluded to that with statements that they want to make a fast car and not necessarily as MS car.

Then again IMHO this is all a mood point because I don't see Merc develop a top car anyway: Fast cars are developed by race teams, not by board members.

+1

 

Then again IMHO this is all a mood point because I don't see Merc develop a top car anyway: Fast cars are developed by race teams, not by board members.

Where on earth do you come up with this stuff? No wonder you like Alonso so much - you're as delusional as he is.....

 

BWAHAHAHA. So SRTMike is a great man because he takes a bet????? hysterical. You bet because for some reason you have an 'I told you so' complex. Betting is supposed to be a friendly wager - not because someone wants to act like he has superior intellect, or insight.
Sorry - this attitude got old along time ago....

 

Nice going on the personal attacks there...Running out of arguments?

In the modern F1 so far only Renault has managed to build a winning car as a car manufacturer. All the other big ones have failed: BMW, Jaguar, Toyota, Mercedes.

Racing teams need to have short command hierarchies, some budget autonomy and a big R&D staff behind them.

You can argue that the Merc team is just another British racing team but they seem to lack the financial autonomy from the mother house. Unlike e.g. Ferrari. Brawn has more than once talked to the media this year about the budget restrictions they're under and that they're running out of cash etc.

PS: Where was Alonso delusional? Unlike MS he said all year long that it was an uphill battle to win the title. MS touted his horn before the season even began talking about winning the 8th title.

 

I've been saying all year that this is a better suited discussion for when his 3 years are up. But of course, know it all's know what's going to happen. So, I'll say it again. MS was disappointing this year, I felt disappointed after almost every Quali and race. I tried to defend him, but you can't defend poor results.

But I still believe after the first few races, when the whole team realized they couldn't win, They focused on the 2011 car. So after that, we don't know. But we do know, Nico was faster, and that no one can explain.

So, I still believe Mercedes will be a competitor next year and be fighting for wins. But only TIME will tell to prove me wrong(or right).

Alex

 

Believe what you want, but here is the story:

http://www.speedweek.ch/Formel1/news/16511/Schumi-zurueckgestuft.html



Der Mercedes-GP-Star wurde am Samstag beim Abu Dhabi-Test nur wegen Abkürzens besser gewertet, als er tatsächlich war.
Der Mercedes-GP-Pilot hatte auf seiner schnellsten Runde eine Schikane abgekürzt und dadurch um 1,1 Sekunden besser ausgesehen, als er war (in unseren Ergebnissen hatten wir dies bereits berücksichtigt). Der 41-Jährige belegt in der korrigierten Zeitenliste nun mit 1:41,757 Minuten «standesgemäss» Position 7.

Translation:
The Merc star was ranked higher on Saturday only because he did a short cut. The Merc driver cut a chicane on his fastest lap and therefore was faster by 1.1 seconds than he really was. The 41 year old now occupies his "standard" position of 7th with a time of 1.41,757.


PS: The reporter Hesseler is a big MS fan.