Michael Schumacher and his Mercedes team plan to gamble on a heavily-revised ‘new’ car next week in a bid to re-ignite his F1 comeback at the Spanish Grand Prix - and save their season.
The 41-year-old seven-times world champion has been outpaced and outraced by his Mercedes team-mate fellow-German Nico Rosberg in all four of the season-opening flyaway races.
But, according to his long-time friend and team boss Ross Brawn, he remains determined to defy his critics - and the march of time - with a fresh bid to recapture the old magic in Barcelona.
Brawn, the bespectacled boffin who has been the pit-wall maestro behind all seven of Schumacher’s world titles and who master-minded Briton Jenson Button’s title success last year, said: “It’s foolish to say Michael is where he wants to be, but he’s very determined to succeed.
“I think these frustrations are just going to make him try even harder. We’ve not had a fantastic start, but we are still in there because no-one else is really dominating and there is plenty of opportunity yet.” Sydney Morning Herald
Schumacher is confident the revised MGP W01, featuring a longer wheelbase and improved weight distribution, should bring a significant step forward at the Circuit de Catalunya, but believes it is still unlikely to match the likes of McLaren and Red Bull.
“Every team will come to Barcelona with a revised car and so of course do we,” said the seven-time world champion. “We have worked on general improvements to the car, as well as specific developments in downforce and efficiency, and I am confident that we have room to make further progress in the future.”
“Our step forward in Barcelona will be bigger than you can make at each race during the flyaways but it would not be realistic to expect us to suddenly be competing right at the front.”
Schumacher, who has scored just 10 points to team mate Nico Rosberg’s 50 so far this season, openly admits he has struggled to get to grips with his 2010-spec machine after three years away from the sport. Formula 1
Meanwhile Brawn believes it is only a matter of time before the increasingly impressive Rosberg wins his first grand prix.
“I was frustrated at the weekend [in China] because Nico could have won that race,” he said. “He made one mistake in very difficult circumstances. He’s very close to winning a race, just needs things to fall into place… but that will come. I’m sure he will definitely do it and I think Michael will when we get the car sorted.” ITV
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