I feel rather sorry for Manny, who is a genuine Schumacher fan and is so passionate about it that I can sense his sadness. But this is not the time for sentimentality. I feel Schumacher is letting his team down over and over again. If Norbert Haug was as ruthless as his slow driver and not the nice bloke he really is, he'd have kicked him out of the car at the end of last season. His driving today was inexcusably poor and in my opinion, not consistent with any contortion of the word 'great' - not even as a 'has-been'. In my opinion, a great driver knows the score and would never look like an amateur for virtually the whole race as well as qualifying, especially in such a good car. Rather, a great driver would have the grace to admit defeat. Previously he has had the sense to bring the car in when this was happening; today he should have done the same. The Mercedes car is better than one of its drivers and Mercedes' reputation is now at stake, except for generously trying to preserve a false-idol.
The problem Haug has with Schumacher is that his presence in the team has more to do with trying to steal the glory of his Ferrari years and apply it to the Mercedes brand than it does with trying to build the team up into a serious front runner. When Schumacher finally retires and becomes an ambassador for Mercedes they expected him to do so with a Mercedes WDC under his belt. Failing that, a handful of Mercedes/Schumacher victories would lend some of Ferrari's polish to their brand. As it is, it's humiliating: "Look at what Schumacher achieved in a Ferrari and what he's managed in our cars."
Idd I also feel sorry for Manny, he put his F1 opinion to the test, hoping for a revival of the once great man feared by many. It's nothing against Schumacher, or Manny but it's like: "It looks like Schumacher, It talks like Schumacher, but THAT! isn't the Schumacher we know." I feel both parties are being selfish in a sense, even if Schumacher is getting paid for it. Mercedes are just looking to increase their reputation by getting the most decorated driver of them all and really just ruining his past achivements with cars that are borderline 4-5th best overral. Also Schumacher not understanding everybody has a limit, theirs no shame in admitting your past your best and should really retire. Go out Schumacher while the public still admire you, rather than sticking it out for another 3 years and have your name and respect dragged through the mud. Also regarding your kids in the future etc... "My dad's Michael Schumacher." "What? the guy who flopped against the likes of Nico." "He won 7 WDC!" "Only until the likes of Alonso, Vettel, Lewis etc... came along and humbled him, he had it easy back then" I think the most repectful thing he could say if he doesn't improve, is to announce his final retirement after this season or just before or even just make the German Grand prix your last, I dont know... Hell if schumi wins a race I won't knock it and I hope Manny rubs it in to alot of faces including mine.
Unbelievable! http://www.theracedriver.com/2011/05/vettel-used-drs-before-third-apex-of-turn-8/ The car is too fast. At this rate, Vettel is easily going to beat Senna's record of most consecutive poles.
Red Bull do seem to have a big advantage with DRS in quali because they have so much downforce, according to Horner Webber was opening it even earlier than Vettel which is impressive.
