Norbert Haug: Schumacher has a three-year contract with Mercedes team – Formula 1 news
Mercedes-Benz motorsport vice-president Norbert Haug has said that their team driver Michael Schumacher has a three-year deal with Mercedes that will come to end following the conclusion of the 2012 season.
He also said that before that time, he cannot ask Schumacher about his future.
Haug said, “Michael says himself that he has a three year contract. Until then we are not thinking even a bit about what is going to happen. The fact is that in this business there are three top teams, and we have established ourselves as the fourth.”
The Petronas-sponsored team driver still has not won a race in the 2011 Formula 1 season so far. The seven-time world champion informed the media that the reason of his below-par performance in the ongoing season is the lack of his MGP-W02 car’s pace.
Recently, Schumacher hinted that he might retire from the sport again at the end of the ongoing season in order to work as brand ambassador for the Mercedes team.
The 42-year-old driver seemed to be struggling for a strong finish on the grid from the start of the season. He bounced back on the grid at the Canadian Grand Prix, where he completed his race in the fourth spot for the team.
After that, he was again unable to finish his race on a decent note at the recently held European Grand Prix.
Apart from that, Haug added about Schumacher’s performance and Mercedes budget.
He said, “I don't think you jump so easily from fourth to first. From sixth to fourth is already difficult, but from fourth to third, second and first, those are the hardest steps. We can't hide behind it, because I don't think it is the limiting factor.”
He further added that they definitely do not have the ‘highest’ budget for the team this year but it was good enough for the expenses of the team and the squad was satisfied with that.
Despite a disappointing performance of Schumacher in Valencia, Mercedes are still expecting a positive race from him in the upcoming race weekends.
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