Niki Lauda: It is unlikely Schumacher will bounce back on the grid in 2011 season – Formula 1 news
Former Formula 1 driver Niki Lauda has said that he does not think Mercedes GP driver Michael Schumacher will bounce back on the grid in the remainder of the 2011 season.
He also mentioned that if Schumacher understands his current situation in the ongoing season, he should be honest with himself and retire from the sport.
Lauda compared his 1985 season’s performance with Schumacher’s current situation in the season.
He said, “Last year we understood he needed time to get used to these different cars, plus the handicap of not being able to test and all the rest of it. I felt that this year was the last chance for the comeback to happen properly if it was going to - and
this year is the same as last…”
Talking to reporters, Lauda added, “I honestly don't think it will work out for Michael now: when you want to go quicker, you try everything - and when you've tried everything and you still don't make it, that's it. I'm sure he's still trying, but one day
he will realise that he can't make it, and then he will take a decision.”
The German has failed to manage a single podium ever since he came back to the sport after a three-year retirement.
Despite Lauda’s statement about the 42-year-old driver, the Petronas-sponsored team believes the seven-time world champion still has the potential to perform strongly on the grid.
On the other hand, the team boss Ross Brawn added that both of their drivers Nico Rosberg and Schumacher can fight in the rest of the season in order to challenge for the 2011 title if they provide them a perfect car.
Both the drivers blamed the lack of their MGP-W02 car’s pace for their disappointing results in the ongoing season so far.
In the Hungarian Grand Prix, Schumacher retired from the race due to a gearbox issue in his car, while his teammate Rosberg came at the ninth place in the final race classifications.
Let’s see how both Germans manage their races in the rest of the 2011 Formula 1 season after coming back from the August break.
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