Michael Schumacher happy with upgraded Mercedes as he sets fastest time in Barcelona
Mercedes GP driver Michael Schumacher is finally confident of his team’s chances in the 2011 Formula 1 season, which kicks off at Melbourne on 27th March. Earlier, the legendary driver had raised concerns over the pace of his car, before the final
pre-season test at Barcelona.
Schumacher set the fastest time on day-four of testing at Barcelona; his team-mate Nico Rosberg was also strong with the third fastest time overall.
“We have been developing the car step by step. The main issue we had here at the test was trying to find the right balance, and optimising the car performance,” Schumacher said.
He further added, “It has worked pretty well, so we are looking forward to going to Australia to be in a reasonably strong position. I am not sure everyone has opened their cards completely yet but that is something to be seen in Australia.”
Mercedes didn’t put up a good show in the 2010 season, as the team didn’t have the pace to match the likes of Red Bull, Ferrari and Mclaren. There were a lot of expectations from the German team, especially with the comeback of seven-time Formula 1 champion,
Michael Schumacher. However, the team only managed to stay in the mid-field, and scored only three podium finishes throughout the season. The main reason attributed to Mercedes’ low-key performance was the Bridgestone rubber.
However, Pirelli overtook Bridgestone, which was considered to be a positive sign for the Mercedes team and especially for Schumacher. The former champion is the only driver to have raced on Pirelli rubber in Formula 1 amongst the current lot of drivers.
Although Schumacher and Mercedes vowed to bounce back in the 2011 season, many drivers and experts ruled out the chances of the team and the veteran driver.
Amongst Schumacher’s critics were Mclaren drivers Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, who claimed that the former champion would not improve from what he was in the last season, in which he ended-up ninth in the driver’s standings.
Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, however, rated the German as his main rival for the upcoming season.
There was immense pressure on Schumacher, as his car didn’t have the pace to match the top teams. However, Mercedes claimed that the team was running a very basic car, which would be entirely upgraded ahead of the season opener in Australia.
The plan has seemed to work for the German giants, as they appear to be as quick as some other top teams, but they will have to wait for the season opener to find out their true potential.
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