Michael Schumacher confirmed with Mercedes for the 2011 season
It seemed that Mercedes GP had the perfect ingredients for a dominant 2010 season, as the team signed the seven-time world champion alongside the adept technical engineer Ross Brawn. It was expected that the team would excel once more in 2010 when Mercedes
GP launched in Stuttgart back in January after winning the titles in 2009, but things went in another direction.
It was a completely different story nine months later, as Mercedes and Michael failed to work out a notable comeback for the German. Schumacher is currently in 10th place with just 46 points and has not been able to score even a single podium
until now. There were many rumours that Michael might be replaced, but team Principal Ross Brawn is confident that the German will race with Mercedes in 2011.
“Michael is disappointed, of course. Still he is enjoying the challenge very much. He definitely doesn’t come to a race wishing to be somewhere else. He wants to work with the engineers, wants to find solutions and is extremely motivated. He is enjoying
racing”, Brawn told a motor-racing magazine.
One of the major drawbacks for Michael this year has been Bridgestone’s 2010-spec rubber tyres. The seven-time world champion was at his best during the test sessions before the season began and team principal Ross Brawn admits that this is a valid reason
for his failure. Michael is used to a strong front tyre that can withstand hard braking. However, the team hopes that the new tyre suppliers Pirelli help Mercedes deal with this matter in the 2011 season, as this year’s tyres were very uncommon.
“Of course he’s also a bit frustrated that his performance isn’t better. But I tell you, Michael is a very ambitious person and he didn’t win seven titles because he’s quick to capitulate. What sense would it make at that stage of his comeback to pack in his
job? He’s not going to do it - be sure of that”, he added.
Schumacher’s failure was highlighted even more because his young teammate Nico Rosberg has constantly been outperforming the seven-time world champion, scoring three podiums to score 76 points. Team principal believes that Nico got used to the tyres more
comfortably that made the difference. In addition, the team is confident that the “old Schumacher” will return to the grid once again next season, as the team is hoping to provide the German a championship-winning car.
Michael has been struggling in the slow corners only, while in the fast corners his reaction time still reflects the Schumi once drove to win five consecutive titles. Nico has been able to utilize the tyres better than Michael, and Nico has set a difficult
land mark for the German. Rosberg has been extremely impressive this year and Ross Brawn praised his driving abilities.
Mercedes is already focussed on 2011’s Mercedes rather than trying to improve the disappointing 2010 MGP-W01, and Schumacher is immersed in the development of next year’s car.
Ross Brawn emphasized that Formula 1 is not an easy sport, and it is a very competitive business. A few tenths can make the difference, and the team had decided mid-season that they should move on and focus 100 percent on the 2011 Mercedes rather than waste
their money and time on this year’s car.
“He (Schumacher) is working very intensively with the engineers and pushes the people back home in the factory. We speak a lot but he is also speaking a lot to the engineers and the aerodynamicists. On one hand to support us, on the other to see how we are
progressing”, said the team principal.
However, Michael has four races ahead of him in the 2010 season before he can take control of his new charge. The German will be back in action at the Japanese Grand Prix starting from October 8.
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