Mercedes GP CEO Nick Fry has hailed Michael Schumacher's impact on the team despite the seven-times Champion's comeback struggles. Schumacher has collected just nine points from the opening three grands prix of the year to trail close friend Felipe Massa by 30 in the Drivers' standings. The 41-year-old has so far been out-qualified and beaten in each of the three races by team-mate Nico Rosberg, who many expected would play second fiddle to his fellow German. Schumacher also suffered the team's first retirement in Malaysia on Sunday after losing the wheel nut on the left rear of his car. Regardless of his travails, Fry has been thoroughly impressed with Schumacher as he said: "Michael is, for me, quite remarkable. "The level of feedback he gives is something that I have never seen before, and is just not in the debriefs. "When you have the headphones on you hear amazing things. In qualifying he was driving around almost giving a commentary. "The FIA, who also listen, was also very impressed a driver can do that." Schumacher's professionalism and attention to detail are reasons why Fry is convinced the man who holds virtually every F1 record this season will come good again. "Every race he is learning a little bit more and it is all coming together slowly but surely, which is probably what you would expect," Fry told Autosport. "He has taken the disappointment of what happened in Malaysia very well, and he is old enough to realise that sometimes these things happen. "He has taken away the positives again. I would not underestimate him." http://www.planetf1.com/news/3213/6079503/Fry-Don-t-Underestimate-Schumi
I think a lot are far too quick to write him off. He certainly won't be challenging for the title this season, but I think podiums and maybe a win are realistic. Next season, in a car he's helped to develop with his feedback - I think he'll be very competitive. All the best, Andrew.
"In qualifying he was driving around almost giving a commentary" No wonder he has been slow. Maybe he should just shut up and drive.
+1,000 As Mike (?) said; "Underestimate him at your own risk." I honestly believe he's going to win one more WDC before riding off into the sunset as *unquestionably* the best ever....... Cheers, Ian
Schumi himself is not the real threat. It is the combo of Schumi providing the feedback that Ross Brawn needs to develop a car that Nico will win in.
Schumi has always been a driving commentator like no other. He states what the cars does, where, and when it happens. Most drivers barely communicate over their radios. As to the above post, Schuey's comments on the car are not data shared and it would not matter anyway as they have different driving styles. I only hope they develop a car that is best for both.
I agree. After three years off, the man needs to be given a chance to get back up to top form. The margin of error between being quick and slow is incredibly small. I don't think anyone could take three years off and not need a few races to get back to form. Remember, we are talking about mere tenths of seconds over the course of miles with the number of turns in the double digits. Mark
I'm glad there are at least a few of us that believe that Schuey hasn't "lost the edge." It's unbelievable that some people are willing to write him off after a few races. It's human nature to think that time stands still and that someone of his capabilities could just hop back in a modern era F1 car and start to win races. He was almost that supernatural. Unfortunately the reality of the situation is that he DID take three years off from one of the most demanding sports in the world. I highly doubt any athlete could step away from their game for three years and come back on top. I think Schuey has what it takes to achieve greatness again but it will take more than a few races to get there. Nick is right. You can't underestimate him. Furthermore, even if Schuey doesn't reach the top tier again I'm 100% sure his feedback to further develop this (and next year's) car will be invaluable. In some ways this might be even more important to the TEAM than whether or not Schuey is winning races or going for the title (although I would love to see him acheive an eighth!).
To put this another way, who thinks Michael Jordan's last NBA comeback was more successful than Michael's? And I agree that MS will get better w/ each pair of races. As I've said elsewhere on FChat, I think he will have a win by the time F-1 leaves the Monaco GP. Taking a much younger man being away for far less time, any predictions on how Tiger's return will fare? I doubt his return will be much better than that of MS thus far.
There is a huge difference between Schumi's situation compared to some one who is in an "athletic" sport like Jordan. Schumi has been very limited on the amount of on track practice he has been allowed before and since returning. Jordan or Tiger or whoever have no such restrictions and can practice day and night if they feel the need.
Yes maybe. The jury is still out for me, but underestimate him.. no-way. There is a lot of young blood out there chomping at the bit, thats Shoes problem, along with getting the car up to his liking before he starts showing them. Is is too late in the day who knows, but its great to be given a chance to witness it.
It's not just his car that Schumacher chats about on the radio. Back when he was driving for Ferrari, Ross Brawn would tell people that Schuey could be leading a race and he'd start asking how drivers back in 8th, 9th, 14th, 15th etc., were getting on, what their lap times were like, when they were stopping for fuel and tyres, who else was fast, who was struggling, all sorts of things. Brawn said he used to tell Schuey to concentrate on his own race, but where most drivers needed 100% concentration just to drive the car, Schuey had mental capacity to spare!. One thing I would say though (that most will not agree with I suspect), is that Nick Fry's comments in this article sound like a bit of a morale booster for his drivers to Me.
A bit off the subject, why did you put Athletic sport like Jordan? Are you saying Michael is not an athlete?
One of the things I was glad to see this year was Michael inspecting the other cars in parc ferme after the races. Something he did at every opportunity in the past. That's a total commitment to excellence, that is one of the attributes that seperates him from others. Kevin
..yes, and I would apply that same distinction to Golf .... although a good analogy would be how Tigers Wood would perform after three years off the circuit and not allowed to do any practice Tees.. I am sure given a few weekends he would show form again.. but becoming #1 player again would certainly take longer...
..yes same kind of commitment to excellence that Jenson Button as been known to have when checking out the Grid girls
Certainly. The G-forces these guys are subjected to are incredible and they need to be able to hold their heads up, turn the wheel without bracing themselves against it, and I think it takes about 90kg of pressure on the brake pedal at the end of the straight. Imagine having to do one-legged presses of 90kg repeatedly all afternoon. Several of the drivers have shown journalists and TV cameras just how gruelling their training regime needs to be so that they are fit enough just to make it to the end of the races. Then do all that in 35 degree Celsius heat of the desert sitting inches from a very hot F1 engine, and in the wake of the scalding exhaust of the car in front of you, while dressed from head to toe in hot fire resistant clothes. It's amazing that those guys not only cope with all of that, but they have such precision control of the car that a 'mistake' is anything that costs them as much as a tenth of a second. Those guys are astonishing athletes... and Michael Schumacher scored points at 41 years old. All the best, Andrew.
I certainly think GP racing (and many other racing disciplines) is an athletic endeavor. And for a 41 year-old w/ a 3 year layoff, I say he's doing OK. I'm telling ya, by Monaco ...
F1 is an athletic sport. They run some EKG monitors and noticed that many drivers' heartbeat is racing (pun intended) for the entire duration of the race. Schumacher is certainly one of the fittest driver. Always was. So I have no doubt that he compensated in the gym for his aging body. However no workout can bring back the slowing reflexes. Therein lies the problem. I would say: Overestimate him at your own risk as well. So far your bet isn't doing too well, is it? As for the 8th WDC, I'm happy to bet another case of beer against that one as well. Read an article by a German (!) journalist who argues the point that MS will not win a single race this year. He left the door open however for next year.
By the time his three years at Mercedes is up, I'll have a job so could pay up if I lose. I'll take that bet too if you're serious - I'll wager funds for a case of beer (24x330mL bottles of Becks beer or equivalent) that says he does win an 8th World Driver's Championship title before he permanently retires. Are we patient enough to wait three years to find out who wins, and will we remember this bet three years from now? All the best, Andrew.
You got yourself a bet (which will exclude Ian, I do only one bet per subject). We need however to define retirement or somebody could extend this bet until he dies. So I'm willing to define it as the end of his Mercedes contract or beyond, but I wouldn't go beyond he is 50. Nor would Corinna. BTW: I have another long term bet going: That Hami is a multiple WDC in the making. I'm sure I'll win that one day. Problem is, I forgot with whom on here I made it... +1 Try some serious gokart racing for half an hour and see how "unathletic" it is. You'd be surprised. F1 is that times 10.
I will put my hand up and say i was wrong. An F1 driver fits perfectly into the "proper" definition of an Athlete - "A person possessing the natural or acquired traits, such as strength, agility, and endurance, that are necessary for physical exercise or sports, especially those performed in competitive contexts." I was only trying to refer to that the word Athlete is normally used to refer to some one who competes in Track and Field or Ball Sports.
