From Autosport "The new Rosberg deal has prompted talk that Schumacher too is pondering extending his deal into 2013 with some reports in the German media even claiming that the deal was done. Speaking ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, however, Schumacher said that it was not guaranteed he would sort out a fresh deal and that he wanted to wait before working out both his own and the team's future prospects" http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/96059
I'm on that camp too. Hard to ignore a simple statistic: Winning races is heavily dependent on qualifying well, and Nico outqualified MS 15 to 3. And don't forget the '11 car was supposedly developed by/around MS (that was the excuse for his dismal 2010 season). His considerable experience would be best used in that capacity indeed. Unfortunately, nobody can defy the effects of aging (like reflexes, which are critical in F1), regardless of physical shape. That little difference is enough to separate a world champion from a 2nd tier driver at the top level. And whether fanboys like it or not, that's why you'll never see a MS, Barrichello, etc., as world champions again. The good news is there're less demanding forms of racing where drivers can still participate even in their 50s. Have a good one folks.
If I'll ever meet you in a bar your drinks are on me Yeah it was fun how Hobbs stressed the 15 to 3 factoid. I would have paid his drink too but we were both guests. )
As a huge MS fan the only thing I wish for him is to atleast win another race in 2013, maybe more, but I am not dissatisfied with his results. I believe he is a great asset for the team regardless of what area he persues. Long live the King!!!!!
Here is some thing that I still scratch my head on. When Webber was driving a inferior car, he was way down in the pack. Now he drives a dominant car and is always near the front. When Button drove for Honda he was always down in the pack, but when he gets into a better car, he wins or is always near the top. Rubens was fast in a Ferrari, then slow in a Honda then fast again in a Brawn. These guys are getting older but getting better. So is it the car or the driver? Now any newbie can see that Vettel is in a league of his own, but I would love to see him in the MB just for a few laps and compare his times from the RB26. Nico is slow compared to Vettel or Hamilton in their respective cars. So does that mean Nico and MS will be faster in a better car. I would think F1 fans would want to throw MS to the wolves if he drove a better car but still finished down in the current positions.
Wet race. Vettel is a special driver. It was Torro and not a MB or even a current F1 car ( different regs.) I say stick MS in a RB and if he is still slower than Vettel, then flame him. But then same for Nico, Kobi, Button etc. This is really going to chap some people here but go MASSA. Not a fan but a fan of underdogs. In matter of fact all the drivers are underdogs compared to Vettel. I love the guy but hate to see him win all the time. Same went to Schumi back in his prime.
The flames are definitely unwarranted. Nico outqualifies Michael, then Nico started fairly and performed to the level the car was capable of at times. If Nico were knocked back for any reason then his race was over. Nico never has come back and passed Michael in similar deficit situations. The other facts which are more important for a 4th place team are as follows: quickest average lap times and fastest laps: Michael best starts and most passes: Michael ability to hold off faster cars and other cars in general: Michael And the most important factoid I am surprised is not more publicized is that the gap between Michael's quickest racing lap times to Nico's quickest racing lap times are the largest gap between two teammates on the field. Points are futile compared to these statistics. All this says about Nico is he is a good qualifier but he can't keep the car there which has been proven numerous times through the season. No one cars about 7th or 8th place or even 2nd or 3rd place for that matter. 1st is what counts, and unless we are talking about a championship car with a fight between 1st and 2nd place, the points standings are worthless I know it kills the Michael haters to look at objective data, but that's sort of what racing is. Data and the application of the data. That or they pull a political move and only look at certain data they deem to be more important than others lol.
Vettel was on a rain setup and they had extremely lucky tire strategy. Great drive by Vettel, but definitely another situation of excellent circumstance. Same with Michael in Canada. Had it not been for DRS and fallapart tires I am sure Michael could have wrenched W02 onto the podium for a win or at least a podium.
You earn your way into a fast car. Vettel was always quick and then with his win in a Torro Rosso (former Minardi), which was nothing short of a piece of ****, Red Bull upgraded him to a new seat in their higher ranking team. Almost won the WDC in a lesser car than the brawn, next year he claimed it at the last round despite some bad luck and a couple of mistakes, and now he completely annihilated the field. He wouldn't have been able to do it in the MB or the Ferrari for that matter, but he earned his way to the top. Webber OTOH, has always beaten his teammate until now...that must say something about Vettel's abilities . I'd say it's about 70% car, 30% driver, but I suppose on some years it could differ slightly.
I agree that Vettel has been in a league of his own but I think it is more the car than the driver simply because he imho still lacks racecraft. We all know MS has the best racecraft in the game but he is plagued by an inferior chassis, hopefully that will change with the all new 2012 chassis. If the 2012 MB proves to be a race winning chassis I would not be surprised to see MS extend his driver contract for atleast one more season but only time and results will tell. How about lets put MS and SV in the 2011 RB and see who comes out on top? That would be more telling imho.
I have heard that MS was one who took full advantage of unlimited off season testing back in his days. Now that that is limited, is it effecting his race strategies? Also heard some where a rumor that they might bring back more winter testing???? Even though I feel MS is a great driver, and not even taking his age into consideration, I think Vettel would still come out on top. He is in the zone right now.
Anyone with common sense would see the fact that MS is not MS in his first 5 yrs. Vettel is what MS wishes he was now. I like MS but he is NOT a champion in the making....again. He is just another very very experienced driver with a great record. He is not the one making the history in a significant way. Vettel is making history. Period.
That was true ten years ago. Not today as evidenced by the numerous accidents he has been involved with. I'd say the driver with currently the best racecraft is Alonso. Followed by Button.
Apparently Vettel is the best driver in the world. Alonso is 'only' 5th http://www.castroledgerankings.com/rankings
