Shumacher Poll

[Ardius]

He was terrible in Canada and nowhere in Valenica (though Rosberg struggled too).
How long before that 3-year contract is terminated early?

 

[Radracing]

I think the reason he was terrible in Canada was because he had a terrible car and everybody was just walking all over him. All he could show us was his desperation to try to hold his race position and it showed terribly. A lot of dangerous moves and blocking. As far as Valencia he was up there until he got caught in the pits and it was over for him. Although he still put up a good fight. Like I said he is just working with what he's got and so far he is not working with much. Now if he had a car that dominated last year with Braun then I think it would be a different story. Just starting to feel sorry for the guy I guess. I still have respect for him since he has an outstanding record. Just hope he can at least exit with a win to give him some reward for his efforts. He is by the way putting a lot on the line by coming back lets just hope he can leave in style instead of the way he was kinda forced to retire.

 

[Ardius]

I say what I said before - the Schumacher of old wouldn't be held back by his car and being beaten by his teammate.
This is the man who jumped in a car he had barely tested (Jordan 191) at a circuit he had never driven at (Spa) and qualified in 7th, beating his teammate who had done both those things. This is the man who finished 2nd in a GP with only 5th gear. The man who dragged the Ferrari in 1996 to the front rows.

He's doing fine for an old returning driver but not for Schumacher. Waste of a top seat really and he's not going to be winning grand prix without quite a bit of luck.

Saying he needs a BrawnGP-dominant car to win says it all really. And also says what I feel about his success generally and why he is a bit over-rated in some respects. But he is certainly not the same man and not worth a top seat in my opinion, he's not really pushing Rosberg at all and he can only really contribute in setup and feedback, and thats something Barrichello or even Heidfeld could do while still being up there on raceday.

 

[Radracing]

I say what I said before - the Schumacher of old wouldn't be held back by his car and being beaten by his teammate.
This is the man who jumped in a car he had barely tested (Jordan 191) at a circuit he had never driven at (Spa) and qualified in 7th, beating his teammate who had done both those things. This is the man who finished 2nd in a GP with only 5th gear. The man who dragged the Ferrari in 1996 to the front rows.

He's doing fine for an old returning driver but not for Schumacher. Waste of a top seat really and he's not going to be winning grand prix without quite a bit of luck.

Saying he needs a BrawnGP-dominant car to win says it all really. And also says what I feel about his success generally and why he is a bit over-rated in some respects. But he is certainly not the same man and not worth a top seat in my opinion, he's not really pushing Rosberg at all and he can only really contribute in setup and feedback, and thats something Barrichello or even Heidfeld could do while still being up there on raceday.

With that being said, yes he is not the Schumacher of then (young) but the Schumacher of old (today) for an old man he is holding his own is what I'm trying to say. He will never be the same old Schumacher of yesterday we all start losing our edge at a certain point in our age.

 

[Ardius]

Indeed, so we have answered the poll then? He's an old duffer and he's lost it.

Although many old duffers have come back before with the same old form, Mansell isn't too shabby even today. Barrichello is still on top of his game, if not getting better with time.
With previous old drivers, we have seen a flash of the old driver at least (like the Mansell example, he came back was a bit mediocre but eventually won a race. Same when he went to BTCC, nothing then wham!). But with Schumacher its so far only his controversial side we are still seeing, and not his legendary adaptability and performance in the car.

Why waste a top seat on a driver who isn't there anymore? Like I said, he doesn't even bring the advantages Barrichello, Heidfeld or Trulli do. Even Fisichella and Sato bring more to the table. Its like if Williams crazily re-hired Damon Hill after 1999.

 

[Radracing]

I think Paul Newman did the best retirement exit. He competed in a series he knew he could win and won his last race then retired.

 

[Ardius]

Heh, usually they don't know when to quit until its too late. Schumacher looked like being one of the few who didn't but he's ruined that now it seems.