Michael who? :p :wave: :dozey: :pQuote:
Originally Posted by F1boat
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Michael who? :p :wave: :dozey: :pQuote:
Originally Posted by F1boat
Not his best race, I have to admit. Neither the luckiets, though.
An embarresment to watch.
After posting a defense of Michael yesterday, I feel a bit silly today.
He was terrible.
Although it wasn't much his fault the 1st incident, he looked out of rythm all day.
I'd like to see the old boy finish out this season. But unless there's some (design) hope that will make next year's car put him back on form... yeah, probably best that he hang it up and let Sutil (or whomever) have the seat. He's beginning to look like a fighter that comes out of retirement and then gets beaten silly by people he could have dusted off with ease in his prime. I don't like the guy. But I don't want to see a multiple WDC humiliated the way he's going down.
Agreed 100%.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mia 01
His poor form is now also making me question Brawn's ability to think objectively when it comes to Schu. We've had every excuse under the sun but the fact is he is miles off his team mates pace and points haul, added to the fact that he has been involved in more shunts/incidents this year than any other driver. Time to go.
I don't see many signs of improvement since the start of the year. He's had good days and bad days, but I don't think he's on an upward curve.Quote:
Originally Posted by woody2goody
Obviously much of this is down to the car and tyres, neither of which he likes, and both he and Mercedes seem to have written off this year in the hope that 2011 will bring a big improvement.
Bottom line is his results in comparison with his team-mate have been poor and IMHO it makes no sense for Mercedes to be designing the 2011 car with Michael in mind because he's not their long term future.
He'll stay, largely because the 2011 car will be designed around him. Strange decision, because it's clearly Nico Rosberg who is capable of scoring better, and who is surely a longer-term prospect for Mercedes.
It strikes me that Mercedes may well compromise Nico in an attempt to hang on to Schumacher, which if true would mean that value marketing over results.
Rosberg's a strong driver, maybe not the finished article yet, but the team should IMO be throwing their weight behind him rather than pandering to Schuey.
I really wanted Michael's comeback to work - I even predicted race wins - but it's painful to watch a former great trundling round off the pace and making so many mistakes. He should bow out gracefully and let Mercedes-Brawnz focus on the future.
Maybe Ross hopes that he will bounce back like in 2006 after the not so good 2005. However, this season is pretty dreadful, really. But who knows what will happen? F1 is bizzare. I think that one season Rubens failed to score any points with Honda and two years later were fighting for the WDC.
The difference is that in 2005 Schumacher was performing well as a driver, finishing as high as 3rd in WDC rankings in a seriously underperforming car.Quote:
Originally Posted by F1boat
Sorry mate but it's just my opinion and I am not denying his success.Quote:
Originally Posted by F1boat
I think he is an excellent driver but has had equipment and strategy that has been hugely beneficial.
This is the first time he has been measured on an equal basis since he was a pup and he's severely lacking.
I want to see someone in that car that can get results. Someone that has some drive and passion. Rubens is a couple of years younger and in a worse car but is putting in as much now as he ever has. I don't see why we are making excuses for a 7X champion?
At this age, couple of years makes a lot of difference. Besides Barrichello never quitted the sport. And also, some drivers age better than others. At the end of their respective careers Damon Hill and David Coulthard were very, very slow. Yes, Michael was 7 times champion and in my opinion the best driver ever, but now he is old, he can not adapt to this new (for him) Formula One and is not the driver he once was. I think that something similar happened to Nigel Mansell and my personal opinion is that it even puts into perspective why some Indy Car drivers like Zanardi and Andretti never really fitted into the sport. Car racing is very complex sport and small things mean hell of a difference.
But to imply that this is the true form of Michael Schumacher, the winner of 91 Grand Prix victories and 7 World Championship titles is beyond ridiculous. Do you think that Ferrari would have tolerated such slow driver for so long?
I lot of his haters, have found good grounds to bash him, and almost all of his criticism has come because he has a car, he has not been able to adapt to as well as he might have had some years ago, I cant tell how he will be in next years car or in say 2012 (if he stays), but it seems it does take time for a car, to be developed to a championship winning level, this happened for him in 1994/95 and then with Ferrari, too, but when he says he know why he is slow, and he's working on it, I'd like to believe him.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/moto...ne/9037790.stmQuote:
Why Michael Schumacher will never be back to his best
Great article. But Ross Brawn disagrees:Quote:
Originally Posted by ArrowsFA1
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/87063
I am impressed by this:
""He has become more relaxed," said Brawn. "Five years ago he would have found it terribly difficult to handle such a situation.
He's much cooler and much more mature - and that doesn't mean that he is less ambitious or committed. I am really impressed with how calm he stays."
Well, if Brawn is to be believed, Schumacher is as fast now as he has been all his career confirming the fact that he cannot driver around and adapt to problems as Nico has done and that he can only succeed when he has better equipment designed around him.
Not a great endorsement of the champion :s
Brawn says what, basically, says Hughes - that Michael has lost his ability to adapt and that he struggles severely in slow corners. Hughes thinks that Mike is done. Ross thinks that he can strike back. I dunno who is right.Quote:
Originally Posted by skc
Fair points :up:Quote:
Originally Posted by F1boat
We will see.
Funny that Brawn mentions that if it was any other driver, he would consider sacking...
And I have to mention this quote isn't really convincing:
I think it would be more logical to argue the other way around. With a green rookie you can still bet on some untapped potential, while Schumacher is at such age that his skills are more likely to degrade. To expect a 41-year-old driver to have more improvement potential than a 21-y-o sounds quite... erm, unusual to put it mildly.Quote:
"If he were a rookie we surely would have asked ourselves if he has the capacity to advance. With Michael we know that he has."
Anyway, the narrow front tyre excuse keeps popping up all the time, but hasn't the 2011 tyre got the same width? To me it seems like a major gamble to hope something will improve next year. It may be a different tyre company, but Schumacher would still never get the front-end grip he would like.
I think Schumacher's comeback particularly highlights how great Prost's 'comeback' turned out for him - he achieved a world championship in his 'comeback' whilst realising that he was over the hill. So he ended up finally retiring at the top without feeling there was more left in him.Quote:
Originally Posted by jens
I feel that Schumacher's comeback will ultimately disappoint, unfortunately. I think that most who supported his rivals during his reign as best driver would like to see him win at least one more race - alas, I don't think it will happen.
It would be interesting to know how many team bosses would now sign him up for next year.
When he stepped out of the car in pre-season testing everyone was impressed by his pace and fitness.
Some predicted race wins.
When things didn't go well, he was condemned, but some said let's wait six months.
As the months have passed without success, Schumacher is losing defenders steadily, as fewer and fewer people can find a reason to defend his driving.
What I wonder is: what will it take for Ross Brawn to cut his losses? He's a very clever man, so what do you think is his yardstick, his "at least he can still..."?
There's a saying in Spanish that the last thing you lose is hope...
Ross says:Quote:
Originally Posted by fandango
(Link)Quote:
"I am optimistic than next year we will have a better package generally, but a package that Michael will find a bit easier to use."
Mmmmmm...winter testing will be crucial in determining whether MS will be back in 2011 or not I think. If he does not find the package "a bit easier to use" then is there really much point Merecedes indulging him for another season?
If MS was a football Manager, this is the equivalent of the Chairman giving him a vote of confidence i.e. he will be out on his earhole next week :laugh:
Mercedes should scramble to secure a suitable replacement driver before it's too late...
Actually the interesting bit regarding Schumacher is that since Spain he seemed to come to form again. He beat Rosberg for three consecutive races (Spain, Monaco, Turkey), the chassis was also arguably suited for him by that time... But for some reason Michael started fading again after that. What happened? Is the age showing and he has been running out of energy unlike younger competitors? Or did Mercedes have some upgrades for Canada, which once again didn't suit Schumi?
The sad reality is that in Monaco and Turkey he spent the whole race holding up Nico. That is not something one would expect from Schumacher against someone like Rosberg. Sad to say, but retirement might be the better option for him, when he cant even beat someone like Rosberg - something I expected him to do with ease before the season started. All in all, a very dissapointing year.Quote:
Originally Posted by jens
When it's Garry Walker saying this Michael Schumacher maybe should listen :pQuote:
Originally Posted by Garry Walker
I was thinking the same :s hock:Quote:
Originally Posted by ArrowsFA1
Garry Walker admitting the reign of The Shoo is over.
Ioan criticising Ferrari.
What next? StD being reasonable and making a worthwhile contribution???
Logically next would be Saint Devote losing faith in Button. :p :Quote:
Originally Posted by skc
When you cannot beat Rosberg on your favourite track (spa) then it becomes obvious just how much you are struggling - the reasons behind that are irrelevant in the end. But I am sure he will give it another go next season.Quote:
Originally Posted by ArrowsFA1
Please do not compare me with that dude.Quote:
Originally Posted by jens
There is no comparison.Quote:
Originally Posted by Garry Walker
One of you is knowledgeable, enthusiastic and has an approach that equals a finely honed and sharpened blunt instrument. I frequently disagree with you but welcome your views more than most on here :)
The other I have been banned for referring to him in what I considered, under the circumstances, to be not only polite but on the face of evidence to the contrary, a compliment. I need say no more ;)
Oh boy... you have to follow really closely this forum to read anything before it gets deleted... boys and girls... stop upsetting sainty... I´m come here to comment something and half the thread is gone because you can't behave. do you really have to tease all the time our special colleague of this disgraceful forum? Or is it just in my head that this thread was a bit longer a few hours ago...
well, never mind... Schumi go away... with no testing it means nothing Kimi´s lazy so he´s better than you
Funniest thing I heard all year.Quote:
Originally Posted by eu
I thought he was very good today.
He would have had a shot at Hamilton if Rosberg had've been told to let him go, but a good race for Schumi nevertheless :)
You may be right.Quote:
Originally Posted by woody2goody
Had he pulled away from Rosberg, he may have had a great chance of catching Hamilton towards the end.
Yes! I am happy!Quote:
Originally Posted by woody2goody
That's my main problem with it. Let someone else have a go!Quote:
Originally Posted by DazzlaF1
http://en.espnf1.com/f1/motorsport/story/30924.html
Schumacher hints at car discrepancy
Quote:
Mercedes' Norbert Haug did not disagree with Schumacher's claims.
"I cannot disagree with Michael. As far as the car is concerned, he is right," Haug told Bild newspaper.
Mmmm...What MS says is:Is he actually saying he has been deliberately disadvantaged by the team?Quote:
"The car worked great this time. Unfortunately, I cannot say it has been that way at all the races. There have often been problems, especially on my car, in terms of the consistency, that were not always noticed from the outside. You only saw that I was slower. Both cars have not always been the same."
There does appear to be a certain level of unrest at Mercedes GP, and I wonder whether there is some sort of split between the old Brawn team and the new Mercedes owners. Maybe the former were not totally enthusiastic about Mercedes wish to have MS in the car, although that's unlikely given the links between Ross and Michael.
All speculation of course, but it doesn't seem to be a particularly happy camp. Their results make that somewhat inevitable but there seems to be a bit more to it than that.
Yep! Btw I do want to understand why on Friday morning practices he is usually faster than Nico, is it because his raw pace is better, however after setting the car up, this changes..Quote:
Originally Posted by F1boat