Schumacher: Joy of racing not there now - GPUpdate.net


Michael Schumacher admits that he is not enjoying Formula 1 at present, having endured another difficult race in Turkey on Sunday. The seven-time World Champion, who tangled with the Renault of Vitaly Petrov, eventually finished one and a quarter minutes behind compatriot and winner Sebastian Vettel.

After four rounds of the 2011 season, Schumacher has managed to score only six points and lies 11th overall in the Drivers’ Championship – 14 points and two positions behind Mercedes GP team-mate Nico Rosberg.

“The big joy is not there right now,” Schumacher told BBC Sport. “I told you before the race there was going to be some action and indeed I had lots of action. I guess I was responsible myself to have the result that I had. With Petrov, I guess it was mostly my mistake what happened there.

“I need to analyse it. It was a bit strange that suddenly we got together and I lost my front wing. The race was a given from there - lots of fighting, lots of action, but for nothing. From where we were (on the grid), going forward is better than still having to defend backwards and mostly I was able to go forward.”

 

Having to fight for position is a bitch eh? Who knew that being the front runner was the only fun in racing.

 

Sounds like we won't be seeing Michael on the grid next season. Maybe he came to his senses.

 

What makes it worse is that he actually had a fairly competitive car this year too.

 

If Rosberg can qualify 3rd in a similar or the same car - why can't a 7 time world champion? I was excited to see MS back on the grid but it seems the writing is on the wall about his retirement.

Besides - what's left for him to prove? His records will be safe for a few years until Vettel breaks them.

 

This is why you go out while you're on top...

 

WTF? The Michael of old would *never* have admitted fault like that. Not that he was never at fault, but he was at times laughable in his insistence that he did nothing wrong. Remember him parking it in Monaco to screw Alonso out of his last lap of qualifying? Not a whisper of remorse there. I think this says a lot about his attitude to his return. He's more humble, which is great for him as a person, and for the people around him, but is emphatically not the attitude of an unassailable alpha champion.

He just needs to go. He's keeping someone younger, faster, and more hungry out of F1.

 

Schumi should start racing sports cars. He's without a doubt one of the best drivers to have ever lived, but even I think it's time to move on.

PMac, you hit it right in the head. That win at all costs and never admitting mistakes attitude is gone.

Personally, I'd like to see him at Le Mans. Maybe an SLS GT2 car with Schumi, Hakkinen, and a third...or just a pipe dream.

 

He still has the talent, as you can see when they have the Race of Champions tournaments (equal cars, so it's up to the driver to make a difference). Racing sports cars wouldn't be a bad idea, but I don't think he can swallow his pride again any more than he already has.

I agree that he was so used to racing from the front that he's not as good of a driver moving up the field (without the superior car) as we may have assumed he was.

 

All of our worst fears about Schumacher's return have come to fruition.

Don't ask me what the problem is. I don't have the answers.

But it is very painful to watch.