Schumacher comeback over before it started
Mercedes GP’s Michael Schumacher has written off this season before it’s even over. The 42-year-old German doesn’t think his comeback and 8th Formula One title is a possibility this year after suffering the all-time low of 15th place last week in Valencia for the European Grand Prix. Out of 258 races this was Schumacher’s worst position.
“What happened in Valencia was frustrating because you think you've a great idea, a plan, and then you sit and let everybody by," said Schumacher during an interview. "It wasn't very comfortable, but that's part of the game, and the aim now is to move forward. It's what we always want”
Mercedes is far off the pace as well, and though mathematically still have a shot at the title – there are still 250 points up for grab – realistically the team doesn’t have much of a chance.
Schumacher is a seven-time champion but trails 93 points behind leader and McLaren number one Lewis Hamilton. He is also behind team mate Nic Rosberg by 41 points. Schumacher accumulated a meagre 34 points for himself. The German driver believes the car was partially at fault for his poor finish at Valencia.
“After testing it was hinted the car was not a winning one, and after a few races it was clear that winning the championship would be tough."
The shorter wheelbase was problematic for Schumacher, who struggled with the under-steer. Mercedes team principal Ross Brawn wished, “I could redesign a car mid-season to suit the specific requirements of a driver,” alas he laughed, “I’m not that good.”
The team can only learn from this season and do better next time.
Mercedes GP is trailing Constructors’ leaders McLaren by 137 points. Silverstone marks the halfway point of the season.
"Now, I'm not really thinking about the championship any more. That's unrealistic from my point of view considering the points I have,” Schumacher said, but still considers Silverstone a “special race.”
Schumacher has a long history at the British Grand Prix. In 1999 he won the competition while serving a time penalty in the pit lane. He was disqualified from it in 1994 after he ignored a penalty for overtaking Damon Hill during the parade lap. He ignored the black flag direction to the pits and suffered a two-race ban. He did however win his first Drivers Championship that year while driving for Benetton.
In 1995 Schumacher defended his title with Benetton and won the team’s first Constructors’ Championship. He was the youngest two-time world Champion in Formula One history.
Schumacher continued to win championships over the next five years while driving for Ferrari, a team he signed with in 1996. In 2009 was in a motorcycle accident while testing a bike at the Cartagena track in Spain. He was unconscious for several minutes and suffered two broken ribs and pains in his neck and hands.
The crash was a low point in his career, and he has since suffered from neck pains. He announced in December of 2009 that he would be returning to Formula One at the new Mercedes GP, a company he had always wanted to drive for.
His comeback season has not lived up to expectations. But the team has not lost faith in Schumacher, explains Brawn: “It has probably been harder to come back than Michael imagined. He is not 24 any more and he is up against younger, ambitious drivers keen to make their mark on the sport. But his problem has not been them as much as the car. It has not been good enough.”
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