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Posts Tagged ‘Michael Schumacher’

Germany’s Sebastian Vettel, reigning world champion in Formula 1, still considers his compatriot Michael Schumacher as his model, he said Thursday in a German magazine.

“I still see it as a model and I believe he can achieve something big (this season). I hope it will not be too large: it is 2nd in Championship 2011, it’s OK for me “said Red Bull driver magazine ADAC Motorwelt.

For its part, the seven-time world champion returned to competition in 2010 with Mercedes, said in the same magazine he was 42 years old “yet good enough ” to drive in F1, or even seek to end the championship the world.

Nine of the 2010 Championship, “Schumi” described the car last season as “a sick child could no longer care. ”

“This season I think we can target the podium and why not Grand Prix victories (…) Speaking of world title is still unrealistic, ” he said.

An apology from Michael Schumacher, whose return for Mercedes in Formula 1 is a “disaster” is “the piper,” said former teammate Eddie Irvine in an interview published Saturday in the magazine La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“On paper, his return was not a bad idea. Since 2006 Felipe Massa (who assisted him at Ferrari) was often before him, he had already lost some. Three years later he lost even more. Result? It’s a disaster, “he told the British revenge.

“His excuses are the piper:” This is a new team, new people, “etc.. The first year at Ferrari, the car was rotten but he won three races,” noted Irvine, who is Schumacher also not a “good tester” of cars.

“Ferrari has taken for his talent but he had no idea how the car behaved. Michael is a great driver, you can give him a suitcase with four wheels and it will go very quickly. Schumi’s strength, c ‘is the address to drive, that’s all, “he said.

Income in F1 this season after three years of retirement from sport, the seven-time world champion has stepped unworthy races this season. Changes in the discipline and the slowness of his car are excuses to explain his poor performance.

Conversely, the Mercedes boss Ross Brawn, who previously directed at Ferrari, frequently praised the capabilities of the German Development and develop a car. Schumacher, humiliated by his teammate Nico Rosberg has signed a three-year contract with the German mark.

Schumacher has almost brought Williams Rubens Barrichello in the wall. And the wheels are affected at almost 295 km / h, which could have disastrous consequences. Just remember the accident by Mark Webber at the European Grand Prix in Valencia.

The penalty, a drop of 10 places on the starting grid for the next Grand Prix, seems grossly inadequate. The German would have deserved a suspension for a Grand Prix.

You tell me: fault confessed is half forgiven, since he apologized after the race. In many excuses: “I was not trying to put in danger. If he thinks otherwise, I’m sorry, because this was not my intention.”

I bet you also that this sudden repentance is strongly inspired by a recommendation from his employer, Mercedes. A company that puts forward the security aspect of its cars, and a responsible driving behavior, certainly do not be associated with such a gesture.

It was after the race, hot, Schumacher spoke the truth, without showing the slightest remorse

“As a driver I can change course once. There was obviously enough room to pass (as) we did not hit.” I left just enough room to pass. I ‘m not known for giving gifts on the runway. If you want to pass me, he’ll have to beat you. It’s what happened.

Change course to defend his position, it means going to put it inside for the next turn, to prevent a rival dive inside under braking in a passing attempt.

But Schumacher did not move before his opponent is taking action. He waits, watching his mirrors and then starts its maneuver designed to intimidate the other driver by pressing toward the wall, or the grass beside the runway.

In any case, if he had returned to F1 in part to rebuild his reputation: it failed.

Barrichello: “He brings with him something of the past which is no longer necessary today.”

A long history

Schumacher was not his first controversial gesture, quite the contrary.

He has a fighting spirit, exacerbated, exaggerated. For him, the end justifies the means.

Here are some examples:

Australia 1994

Last race of the season, Schumacher (92 points) and Damon Hill (91 points) battle for the world title. The German led the race but out of runway and touches a wall of cement. Back on track, he sees the Williams Hill approaching. The German causing a collision at the next corner, diving to the apex where the British, knowing that a double retirement would give him the title. This is what happens. Nice way to win his first championship!

Europe 1997

Last race of the season, a duel between Schumacher (78 points) and Jacques Villeneuve (77 points) for the world crown. Schumacher rolls in the head but Quebecers surprises dove to the inside of a bend to overtake under braking. The German responded by giving swerved to hit the Williams and cause a collision. Again a double retirement would give him the title. But Williams continues his journey with only a damaged pontoon, while the Ferrari ended his maneuver in a gravel trap. Villeneuve will complete the race in third place to be crowned champion.
Schumacher penalty: exclusion from the final championship standings.

Argentina 1998

The German did not hesitate to persecute him in a turn, the McLaren of David Coultard. It inherits the head in round 4.

Canada 1998

Coming out of the pit after a pit stop, Schumacher was not concerned with Heinz-Harald Frentzen who arrives in the Corner No. 1. Schumacher extends its trajectory and HHF cup and off the track. The Williams goes from face-to-tail in the grass, before sinking into a gravel trap.
Penalty to Schumacher pit stop of 10 seconds.

Belgium 2000

Schumacher Mika Hakkinen who sees benefits of aspiration in the long straight to Les Combes. The Finn dislocated his right to try and overtake with his McLaren. The German squeezes progressively to the right to bring up the white line separating the asphalt turf, and the 315 km / h. Hakkinen showed him the point, then takes his revenge by surpassing one lap later. In the park after the race, he will also tell how they think.

Europe 2001

By Schumacher in pole position, with his brother Ralf by his side. His brother knows a great start and even thought to go ahead with his Williams! Michael reaction: it fits to his right and take his brother and very close to the wall of the wells. After the race, Ralf will be a heated discussion with his brother. Already, the Spanish Grand Prix last year, the father Rolf had to play diplomat to calm things down between the two brothers, after Michael had blocked Ralf trying to overtake …

Britain 2003

First round, Fernando Alonso is in the aspiration of the Ferrari in the Hangar straight. Renault Takeout for overtaking. Schumacher maneuver until the Spaniard has two wheels in the grass. And at 300 km / h.

Monaco 2006

End of qualifying, final lap for the contenders for the top position. Schumacher provisional pole, but his time in the first two sectors of his final lap will not allow it to improve. Now he arrives in The Scorpion, the penultimate corner: it slows down more than usual, seems to have difficulty negotiating the curve, then stopped on the track. The telemetry showed that he stopped deliberately to injure his opponents. Alonso was on a super fast lap (the pole after the first two sectors) should slow down on reaching Rascasse on his Renault.

Schumacher penalty: removal of all times recorded, which relegates it to the last place on the starting grid.

Canada 2010

Schumacher leaves the pits while Kubica arrives. Both are side by side in the short climb to the No. 3 corner. The Mercedes began to tighten around Renault off the track, right side. Kubica was found two wheels in the grass but refuses to be intimidated and do not lift the foot. The two cars, off course, are dramatically short-circuited turn No. 3 in passing in the grass. Schumacher appears to Kubica.

Conclusion? This season, not only can no longer see the best of Schumacher (speed, dexterity), but the worst reviews.

Michael Schumacher’s return to the ‘big tent’ does not seem convinced by the time most of the fans of Formula 1. The German champions discreet boot is failing motor enthusiasts, especially those compatriots ‘Kaiser’.

And more than 60 percent of compatriots Michael considered and at this point in the season, after four races, the return of seven-times world champion has not been a good decision.

That is the main conclusion that emerges from a survey ised by ‘Promit’, which specializes in market research surveys and based in Dortmund, and published Thursday by the German news agency ‘SID’.

63.3 percent of respondents have not hesitated to describe the return of Schumacher to the circuits as “a mistake” and only 33.5 percent of respondents shed a positive opinion on the return of the ‘Kaiser’ to Formula 1 at 41.

Many feel let down
The truth is that the expectations generated by the return of German champions were highest at start of the championship and now, after four Grands Prix contested, many people feel disappointed with Michael, especially considering that so far his work MercedesGP is being overshadowed by the excellent start to the season of his teammate and compatriot Nico Rosberg second in the standings.

To throw even more fuel to the fire on this whole subject, Jos Verstappen, Schumacher’s teammate at the time as a driver for the Benetton team, wanted to jump on the bandwagon of the criticism of the German champions. “What we’re seeing now is that Michael is an ordinary man of flesh and bone, which is no longer able to do magic,” published in his newspaper column last Netherlands ‘De Telegraaf’. “Maybe you have lost your ability to drive during the three years he has been retired,” he adds.

Ecclestone, in defense of the ‘Kaiser’
For its part, the boss of Formula 1, Bernie Ecclestone has warned that a few days ago should not be underestimated for a champion like Schumacher, despite its first results after three years of retirement were not expected.

“Right now would not underestimate Michael. Must be given time to adapt to his new car and new tires. I would never have come back from not convinced you can do well. Not a tourist in the paddock and is here to win, “said the ruler of the ‘big tent’ told ‘Formula1.com.”

British businessman believes that those who criticize the seven times world champion are “wrong” and that is being overtaken by Rosberg is because the latter has “very talented” and Michael “was on vacation the last three years.”

Fernando Alonso did not disappoint in its coming-out with Ferrari. The Spanish rider was fastest in the Cheste circuit to make the best record in the three days of practice to stop the chronometer in 1:11.470. Second was Pedro Martínez de la Rosa and third Michael Schumacher, with Alguersuari in fourth place.

Maximum forward to see Alonso in Chester

It was Alonso’s day and the reigning world champion responded to expectations in a circuit in which there were 36,400 people and where there were traffic jams of up to 11 km in its vicinity to arrive. It was ten o’clock in the morning when it came to most desired. Fernando took the F10 and gave a lap of appreciation and then return to the pits. It was the first touchdown. Then he gave his first stint, where was downhill all the time, surprisingly for someone who opens with a new car.

In sets of 10 laps with breaks of no more than 20 minutes, Alonso times 1:12 rondeau always low. Even exceeded by up to six times the best time of Felipe Massa won the previous day. It was around 12 am when he beat first Brazilian record with a time of 1:11.709. Then, at 13:45 pm, returned to surpass himself with which, ultimately, was the best record 1:11:470.

Good day for De la Rosa and Alguersuari
They are also good to see two other Spanish. De la Rosa, who led for a few minutes practice, setting the second fastest time despite the car came to stop in the middle of the track. Alguersuari, meanwhile, became third. It was a historic moment for our country because for the first time three Spanish riders led a rating of times, if only it were some workouts.

Schumacher, soft started, ended this magical moment. He started off his day to register third and oust Alguersuari, thus establishing the first four in perpetuity. World champion, Jenson Button, who made his debut for McLaren, showed he still has a long way to go to the wheel of the MP4-25.

Loaded with fuel
It was a day with a large audience in the stands. Nobody wanted to miss the debut of Alonso. Even many celebrities who came to greet the Spanish drivers like Carlos Sainz, President of the Generalitat Valenciana Francisco Camps, or Valencia goalkeeper Cesar.

In the afternoon session focused more on testing the fuel-laden cars to suit a different type of driving and in which to stem also changes. Do not forget that this year you can not refuel during the race and so the driver wants to adjust to this new rule. Hence, the records were worse, and except in the final straight in to try to empty shells fall times, as did the Russian Vitaly Petrov-R30 with the thing did not dare.

What is clear is that Fernando Alonso will fight for the championship this year, which so far is better than teammate and, today, Ferrari is ahead of other teams.

The times in the third and final practice session:
1. Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) 1:11.470 (127 laps)
2. Peter M.de la Rosa (Sauber) 1:12.094 (80)
3. Michael Schumacher (Mercedes) 1:12.438 (82)
4. Alguersuari (Toro Rosso) 1:12.576 (97)
5. Jenson Button (McLaren) 1:12.951 (82)
6. Vitaly Petrov (Renault) 1:13.097 (75)
7. Nico Hulkenberg (Williams) 1:13.669 (126)

The German turns 41 years old and celebrating by continuing to prepare for the return to the track in testing in February

Michael Schumacher

we wonder if when he thought the day of his birthday 41/mo Michael Schumacher imagined one step from returning to Formula 1. If the answer is yes, it is fairly certain that was one of the few to do so, because the time of Schumacher driving a car seemed to belong only to the past.

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Ross Brawn

The British Ross Brawn, director of the Mercedes Grand Prix team, believes that Michael Schumacher, with whom he won seven world titles, can still win races.

“I made this question and told me he could. He has always been the most critical with himself and I fully trust his word,” added Ross Brawn.

Brawn denied that Jenson Button was kicked off the team to make way for Schumacher. “I think that was the case. We made a great effort to try to find a solution and Jenson did not work. Jenson made the decision not to stay. From that moment I began to talk to Michel.

Finally she pointed out that Ross Brawn: “Michael and I have continued to maintain a close relationship through the years and saw his disappointment last summer, when he could not drive a Ferrari, how much he still has the passion for sport and now we are very pleased with the prospect that Michael is part of the team”.

Ferrari president ironic about the return of the German, but in Mercedes: “I was to pay him back the urge to run.” Then on Alonso: “It’s a real man team, more than Raikkonen was great. Who am afraid more of Hamilton-Button or Brawn-Schumacher? None”

President of Ferrari, Luca Montezemolo

FIORANO, 18 December 2009 – The Siamese twins torment Luca di Montezemolo. Last year, the same brother Raikkonen, the one in 2009 had “taken over” the most talented Finn who first year at Ferrari was able to take the world title, had disappointed a lot ‘. Now twinned with Michael Schumacher (who “swore at Monza: Ferrari is my family, I’ll stay for life”), “as the Prancing Horse has to offer him a car wants to run with the Mercedes.” “It’s extraordinary story of the twins,” said Ferrari president, with the pleasure of taking off a sassolone the shoe in the traditional Christmas dinner for the exchange of greetings with reporters. As with Kimi wrong, even with Michael (which he tries in vain to call during dinner) chooses the road of irony.

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The Ferrari team announced Monday, December 14 it would not prevent the departure of Mercedes in the German Michael Schumacher, World Champion Formula 1 seven times and consultant to the Scuderia since the end of his racing career, in 2006.

According to reports, he would be on the verge of signing a contract with Mercedes, who recently assumed control of the team Brawn. According to the electronic edition of the daily Bild, Schumacher has given his verbal agreement with Norbert Haug and Ross Brawn, the owners of the Mercedes team. The Ferrari boss has reacted to this hypothesis. “It is clear that if he decides to take another route, the agreement between us will no longer be valid, it makes sense,” said Luca di Montezemolo. “It can not work for one of our competitors and us together,” he added. Schumacher said in September that it would work for Ferrari for three more years, but the president of the Italian team said that the sentence was “no commitment”. “I did not yet spoken.’s A friend but not a member of our team, but he is a consultant for our road cars,” he added.

Schumacher had planned to return to F1 in August driving a Ferrari to replace Felipe Massa seriously injured in a racing accident. He was waived because of the aftermath of a neck injury suffered earlier in the year in a motorcycle accident. Ferrari had also considered the possibility to assign a drive when the leave to bring three cars in Grand Prix but he was given the charge of Formula 1 were opposed to this project.

The German press has ensured that Michael Schumacher will return next season to Formula 1 World commanding a Mercedes team inherits BrawnGP and infrastructure with which the ‘Kaiser’ would have reached a verbal agreement to compete for one year exchange for a relatively low salary, seven million euros.

Michael Schumacher

The newspaper ‘Bild’ says the formal agreement will be announced next week. “The signing is a formality. Schumacher feels fit and healthy. The latest evidence was totally positive and can not wait to get back together with Ross Brawn,” said a source close to the German newspaper. The German magazine Focus reported on Saturday also the return of the German Formula 1.

Seven-times world and worked with Brawn during his stay at Benetton and Ferrari, two distinct stages, but with the common element of global success. Schumacher retired in 2006 and his return would be the climax to a 2010 season which is expected to hotly contested, with Fernando Alonso at Ferrari and the British duo-Button Hamilton at McLaren.

Michael Schumacher now has a contract with Ferrari as a special adviser but would be willing to relinquish it. Mercedes has already hired German Nick Heidfeld, but has not yet revealed who will be the second driver of the team.