So when Merc are slow, the drivers are mediocre, but when it is McLaren Lewis is god and Whitmarsh runs a Satanic Conspiracy against him. Yeah, right.Quote:
Originally Posted by Knock-on
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So when Merc are slow, the drivers are mediocre, but when it is McLaren Lewis is god and Whitmarsh runs a Satanic Conspiracy against him. Yeah, right.Quote:
Originally Posted by Knock-on
It's funny. Michael's supporters use his titles & race win stats to convince anyone prepared to listen that he's the greatest F1 driver there has ever been, and yet, for some reason, they are prepared to ignore his post comeback stats.
More than two years in he has accumulated just one podium finish. He has been out scored by his teammate each season. This year he has just 23 points, whereas Rosberg has 75. In teammate comparison terms it could be argued that he's performing at at Massa or Senna level.
Yes, luck and circumstance have played their part in Michael's lack of results, but they always do for every driver. That has to be taken into account, but we're not just talking about one season here.
Alguersuari & Buemi were given three years to prove themselves at Toro Rosso. Why should Micheal be given a fourth year? How are things going to change & improve?
It would be a pretty weak argument.Quote:
Originally Posted by ArrowsFA1
Contracts are signed on current form. Or don't you think Webber should have re-signed either, seeing as last season counts?Quote:
Originally Posted by ArrowsFA1
Red Bull's driver farming team doesn't form a valid comparison.Quote:
Originally Posted by ArrowsFA1
Any criticism of Hamilton whether constructive or not is usually greeted with a stern defence with circumstances that cannot be applied to any other driver in my experience.Quote:
Originally Posted by henners88
Any criticism of Vettel whether constructive or not is usually greeted with a stern defence with circumstances that cannot be applied to any other driver in my experience.
Any criticism of Alonso whether constructive or not is usually greeted with a stern defence with circumstances that cannot be applied to any other driver in my experience.
Any criticism of Maldonado whether constructive or not is usually greeted with a stern defence with circumstances that cannot be applied to any other driver in my experience.
Any criticism of Petrov whether constructive or not is usually greeted with a stern defence with circumstances that cannot be applied to any other driver in my experience.
You see what I did there? :p
Okay. I have been writing posts about replacing Schumacher before. And he is performing really well now, which creates a dilemma. Considering his age, I would think the only reason to keep him would be if he was beating Rosberg. And this is exactly, what he is doing right now. Let's see if he can keep it up. But if he was being beaten (even if he ran close), I would like to replace him with a current Force India junior or someone else for 2013.
What about the other reason? His face sells Mercs in markets where his face is recognised as a sporting superstar. Thats something Rosberg can't do and nor can Di Resta (or whoever else is on the replacement list).Quote:
Originally Posted by jens
We can't ignore that marketing value is a strong component of what keeps Michael's seat his (though I agree with you, this season he is more than justifying his place).
Perhaps, but the gap in points between Alonso/Massa and Maldonado/Senna is comparable with Rosberg/Schumacher IMHO.Quote:
Originally Posted by Matthew
Webber had a very strong 2010 season. He struggled last year but has come back very strongly this season. His situation is different to Schumacher IMHO.Quote:
Originally Posted by Matthew
Why? Their two drivers were given three years to perform. If you view Schumacher as you would any other driver, and if contracts are signed on current form, as opposed to being based on past achievements, then Schumacher has not done enough to retain his seat IMHO.Quote:
Originally Posted by Matthew
Oh yes, marketing is an important reason indeed. I feel that marketing was one of the main reasons, why Michael was hired in the first place, because his sporting form must have been a big questionmark anyway. And especially as Mercedes is a midfield team (sort of), they need any attention they can get. If they could genuinely fight for the titles, they would need less marketing based on names and can afford more marketing based on raw results and popularity that derives from it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Malbec
I have to admit though that in my previous post I was largely arguing from driver's (future) performance point of view. :)
But Massa, at least, has generally performed badly this year. Schumacher's points deficit would be much less were it not for the numerous mechanical problems he's suffered. His own performances have been far superior to most of Massa's.Quote:
Originally Posted by ArrowsFA1
Schumacher has already shown he has much higher potential than Buemi and Alguersauri. I was thinking of his first career but now I think of it, his second career too, for I don't think Buemi or Alguersuari have ever put in a race performance that would put them 30sec up the road from Nico, as Schumacher is often doing.
Also for those of you (I mean you Johnny Herbert :) ) who suggest Rosberg is and always was better than Schumacher, I'll wait to see Nico make a comeback at 41 years of age after 3 years in retirement and see how he gets on.