Michael Schumacher is proving his detractors wrong. I mentioned in a comment piece a while ago that I thought Michael Schumacher would win a race last year, and although I never took to Schumacher as either a person or a driver when he was last in F1, there is no denying his class. Only he, and he alone, could have taken that dog of a Ferrari and turn it into a championship winning car after so many years of dismal failure. And for that feat alone he should be admired. Also, I have a lot of begrudging respect for someone who has the emotionally detached ability to deliberately punt another driver off the racetrack in order to win. And he got away with it. His comeback has been fraught and many pundits have been writing him off almost since the first race of last season. I, on the other hand, have looked at the bigger picture. Finishing ninth (including three fourths) in 2010 in the world championship might be seen as a failure by some, I don't think so. Put it this way - if I was a team owner paying some perceived hotshot millions to race my car, I'd be having a few words to the other 18 drivers who finished the season behind Schumacher. Especially as the German's almost old enough to be some of the younger ones' father. Imagine that? Being an F1 driver and still being beaten by your dad. For those who are wringing their hands saying Schumacher's return to the racing is a media stunt and he's not fit enough - who cares. Fangio won his last title at 46, Nigel Mansell won his title at 39 and Alain Prost won his last title at 38. Schumacher is only 40 and appears to be as fit as a butcher's dog. If at nearly 50 Fangio could muscle an ill-handling car (by today's standards) around the bastard grandfather of all tracks, the Nurburgring, in 1957, Schumacher isn't going to have any problem caressing a paper dart around some of today's modern circuits. Is Schumacher the greatest driver so far in 60-odd years of F1? Who knows. From my point of view you can't compare Fangio, Hawthorn and Clarke etc with today's drivers - it's pointless. The Schumachers and Sennas of the modern era could no better drive a 1960s car than Fangio etc could drive the video cars of today. However, I digress. This season Schumacher is again proving some of his detractors wrong. After five rounds he sits ninth on the table and, in his last outing in Spain over the weekend, beat his teammate Nico Roseberg home to take sixth place. Let's hope that put an end to the media rumours that were fuelled by selective reporting that Schumacher was unhappy with his comeback, especially after the Turkish Grand Prix. He had a bad race so is rightly justified in being pissed off. In a TV interview he said the "big joy" had gone missing and everyone jumped on the comment. If anyone had taken the time to listen to the whole chat, it was easy to hear that he was talking about the result, not the racing. I personally like it when an athlete is annoyed that things didn't go according to plan and he proved in Spain he still has what it takes. Not only did he finish in the top 10, he has now qualified in the top 10 twice as well. Things are looking up. However, on a media coverage note, you've got to ask yourself why was there so much hot air written and spoken about his glum look after the Turkey race. Who cares if he had a face like a slapped bottom, come on, we all get a bit dark when things don't go according to plan. I wonder if the continued media speculation, and almost weekly suggestions and hints, that Schumacher is about to throw in the towel, is because the rest of the drivers are as boring as bat guano. I would hazard a guess, almost without a doubt, the other drivers' girlfriends' or wives' shoes have more personality than they do as drivers. Hence the need to waste time on endless speculation that one of the most gifted and most successful Formula One drivers, ever, on a bad day, wants to chuck the towel. You don't win seven world titles by having a hissy fit and walking away when things don't go your way. Watch for Schumie to get better this year and put the frighteners up some of the more fancied drivers when he gets his Mercedes working as he wants it. By Eric Thompson 25/05/2011
I would review 2010 a failure for Schumi, absolutely destroyed by his team-mate, coming 9th in the 4th fastest car (realistically min:8th), and generally being poor. This season things may change, but maybe not. I hope not.
Schumacher is a different Driver the second time round. He is much more dirtier... I know he was before but generally he was a good driver and made some good and polite moves but now he is a toughman on the track. Maybe its due to frustration and I wonder how much he can take
Nico has always been weak at Spain, so it's a bit early saying he's coming back when nico is in front of points etc.
I'm sorry Manny, I know that you love Schumi, but at some point you have to realise that he is now ****. He is no more than average, and it looks like nothing is going to change.
I think he was just as dirty first time around. The difference is that then he was generally fighting for the lead (when he was fighting, that is) and it was called "the killer instinct." He also had the skill to pull it off in most situations. Now he's fighting to finish in the points it all looks a bit desperate and his spatial awareness seems to have been battered to death - unless he intends to keep barging into people, that is, and I can't believe he thinks he's on the dodgems. Ask David Coulthard if he thinks Schumacher is any dirtier than he used to be. They're the same thing, aren't they? Meh - Including the four years of dismal failure they had between 1996 and 1999? Okay, that might not really be fair considering he broke his leg in 1999 and, in that season, Ferrari won the WCC, but you catch my drift: it's not like he arrived at Ferrari and suddenly La Dolce Vita. Let's not count our chickens just yet, eh, Eric?
Actually I think he's proving them right, for the first time since his comeback he's beaten Rosberg on track in equal conditions, and I personally don't think Rosberg is al that myself, he'd make a decent enough number 2 at Ferrari, but I can't see him ever being a champion unless though sheer luck.
Ahem… Not in the least. I don't know who Eric Thompson is but he is clearly unable to see clearly with those blinkers. Even you Manny, have yourself commented that it is time for Schum to stop embarrassing himself - as well as his adoring lovers who still leap to his defence as surely as a battered wife defends her 'master'.
Nah, just keep believing and it will happen, it took Michael to bring Ferrari back to the top from the ashes, when it happens again for Mercedes...well I can only sit back and wait.
Well, if it's any consolation, you're not alone. For a start Mr. Thompson must believe he speaks for Manny more like you. But I have already seen that you have the ability to see more deeply than he does - at least according to his quoted words, and your previously well-written words of generous humility. He's a journalist isn't he? This means he needs to sell his words to a readership who will happily quote him; after all, if a buying minority is big enough, it can still pay the bills…
True, words for money and to increase false hope, I just want one good result such as a podium, then nothing else will be needed to be proven.
Less talking more walking I say. Both nico and schumi need to kick Mercedes ass back into gear and get the damn team sorted.
I think you have a realistic chance of your wish coming true Manny. In my opinion the Mercedes is certainly good enough to be a podium contender, as Rosberg has already shown. Surely it is just a matter of time before your guy gets one as well? If he doesn't, it will look like a dismal failure. I wish you luck. But I do not extend these wishes to him. In my opinion he's had more than a lifetime's share of it already and as I've already said, I like to see justice done. Sorry Schumacher; you've had it coming (in my opinion)… My apologies Manny; I hope you can sense that it's nothing personal. I like you but I do not like Schumacher. Thus, it is a conundrum: good luck to you; bad luck to him…
I don't think Schumi will be parking it at the Rascasse corner again this weekend at least, that's one good thing you can say about his comeback. As a big fan of his I'm pretty disappointed at the way things have turned out since he returned, he should just call it a day now, he said himself he's not at his younger level now and it's embarrasing watching him scrapping it out with the likes of Alguesari.
