2011 Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix: Schumacher makes presence felt in Montreal with superb show
Seven-time Formula 1 champion Michael Schumacher still has what it takes to challenge the top teams especially when the circuit is wet. This is what the German showed in the Canadian Grand Prix of the 2011 Formula 1 season.
Before the race and looking at the result of last six races of the 2011 Formula 1 season, word was around that the German is too old for the new challenges of the sport and should hang his helmet up and make way for young blood.
However, after the German put on a spectacular show in the Canadian Grand Prix, the critics will certainly take their word back about the champion driver.
Although the German is far away and probably out of the championship battle for the 2011 Formula 1 season, still he has shown that something special can be expected from him in the upcoming races.
After coming out of retirement in the 2010 season with Mercedes team, the Montreal race of the 2011 season was easily Schumi’s best race.
Although the German slipped two places in the last few laps of the race and ended fourth, there is one thing that he will be looking at more than a race win- respect.
Schumi’s reputation has been dented heavily in the last few months when many Formula 1 analysts said that he is too old to compete against the young drivers. Schumacher had to bear those bitter comments and waited for his moment to answer them on the track.
The German driver suffered from a slow and unreliable car in the early part of the 2011 season. In two out of the seven races, he was unable to finish the race.
Schumacher has won the Montreal race for a record seven times and was well on course to make his first podium finish there after coming back from retirement.
In the rain-interrupted Montreal race on Sunday, June 12, 2011, Schumacher was able to go as high as second on the grid in the last moments of the race. He was driving to the limit on the wet track where most of the young drivers were ‘conservative,’ as
Sebastian Vettel mentioned about his drive.
Schumacher qualified eighth on Saturday, two places behind his teammate. As the race started behind the safety car, there was not much Schumacher was able to do and waited for the perfect moment to strike.
The race was stopped after heavy showers flooded the track. After restart, the German started from 12th place but soon caught up with the race leader and remained there for quite a few laps.
The German was able to hold a much faster car of Mark Webber for quite a few laps to create frustration among the Red Bull camp.
As the race approached its apex, firstly McLaren’s Jenson Button and then Webber drove past Schumacher and the veteran was down to fourth place.
Nevertheless, the German driver has put a full stop to those who think that he does not have it in him anymore.
With 12 races remaining in the 2011 Formula 1 season, a race win is certainly on the cards for Schumacher if the Mercedes team improve their car a little bit more. Let’s see if the champion driver manages to win any one of them.
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