The Return of Michael Schumacher

[Terronium-12]

No faith at all?

But this will be the first time I will have gotten to see Shuey race F1 with out watching an old race. And I'm 20 Ludes not sure about the other guy but he says hes 8 so ill take his word on it. I just happened to not start watching F1 until '07 after he got out of the sport. I was more of a Sports car racing myself. Will be nice to see how much he has lost but im going to guess not much.

Driving is just like riding a bike, sure the first time you get back on after a few years you might crash horribly and be laughed at (true story), but you get back into the swing of things. Sure he hasn't been racing F1 for 3 years but he has done some charity races and track days and other PR events so its not like he has just been sitting around for 3 years.

I'm not actually 8.

Just returning a smart ass remark with the one I was presented.

 

[mafia_boy]

Wow, this is going to turn out bad, I can taste it. He's going to be running around in the midfield while Rosberg collects the points, and he'll be replaced at about half way and his reputation ruined.

Seriously PJ, you have no clue on what you are talking about and until you get a clue I suggest reading what the others say because it's actually a decent discussion without your input. How will his reputation be ruined?? He can drive around in a freaking golf cart and it still wouldn't ruin his reputation because NO ONE ELSE HAS ACHIEVED WHAT HE HAS! Let's run through the list shall we?

1. No other driver has had 5 F1 drivers titles in a row except Schumacher.
2. No other driver has 7 F1 drivers titles to their name except Schumacher.
3. No other driver has as many wins in their career as Schumacher.
4. No other driver has as many pole positions as Schumacher.

You can hate on him all you want but history proves your comments to be as pointless as a blunt stick. And as I said before, you were still swimming in your dad's sack when Schuey won his first TWO world titles so you have no idea about the skill he possesses, absolutely no idea.

 

[LSX]

For PJ

There is no way he forgot how to drive this soon. Like I said before, Mark Martin is 50, competing in one of the most competitive motor sports on Earth, look what he accomplished last season. MS has proven himself, there is no reputation to ruin, if the car is 3/4 of what it was last season, he will be fighting for podiums, not scrapping it out with the midfield.

...And as if there is some MAJOR age gap between Schumacher and Barrichello, whom might I add, did VERY well for an "Old Fart" just this past season... In the same car!

 

[Ardius]

As for predictions, I'll say he will take 2 race wins and will finish in the top 8. Schumacher is good but he can be beaten and next season we have a lot of great drivers. Not to mention the current teams are a lot closer in performance than they were when Schumi was driving.
If he does take the crown again, I won't be surprised though.

He should steamroll Rosberg though, if he doesn't his reputation will suffer. You can ruin your reputation despite records, just take a quick look at Alan Jones, Nigel Mansell or Damon Hill's last years.
Hopefully for Schumacher though, it will be a Lauda comeback.

 

[LSX]

I'd be surprised. Surprised anyone can be that good. I predict he will do very well for himself though. Hopefully at least top 5 in the WDC.

 

[Ardius]

I wonder if people are going to start believing more things from Eddie Jordan now? Probably not. But 👍 to him anyway for calling it first.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

[CONFIRMED]

 

[Bram Turismo]

He should steamroll Rosberg though,

Ardius, don't say that! Man, I'd feel bad if Nico would get owned by Schumi. After all his hard work Nico finally is where he belons; in a topcar. I'd be sad to see all his efforts waisted when he gets beaten by a 41 year old who hasn't been in an F1 car for three years.

On that, great to have Schumi back. But, I agree with Sharky on this, I can't see him challenging for the WDC. He may be familiar with the no-traction control and slick tired F1 race cars, but today's F1 cars are nothing like the old F1 cars he used to drive. He's been away three years, and he isn't amongst the youngest drivers either anymore. It's great to have him back, but Schumi? Get that cardio program running!

 

[Prince.M5]

The legend is baaaaack...

Good luck to him and hope that he will do well next year and... Winning?? An 8th title perhaps Who knows

 

[Ardius]

Ardius, don't say that! Man, I'd feel bad if Nico would get owned by Schumi. After all his hard work Nico finally is where he belons; in a topcar. I'd be sad to see all his efforts waisted when he gets beaten by a 41 year old who hasn't been in an F1 car for three years.

I meant he should if he wants to keep his reputation. Rosberg has never shown himself to be a young Schumacher, so he only has his youth to beat him.
Rosberg must be destroying various hotel pieces right now, he must have thought "great, the world title is mine!" when he signed for Brawn when it was expected Button would stay. Then it changed to "well it might be Heidfeld" and Rosberg's smile must have grown bigger. But now he's screwed

Heidfeld must be gutted too, he was almost in for a great car (presumably) after all these years in medicore machinery. Hopefully he makes the right decison and stays at Sauber to tutor Kobayashi.

BBC live interview with Schumacher right now:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8428043.stm

 

[KSaiyu]

Bruno Senna, MS, Alonso and Hamilton all on the grid? Silverstone is looking hard to miss....

 

[Ian Poole]

Schumi IS back?

GULP!

 

[PeterJB]

I can't wait for this! But if he gets a Grand Chelem at Bahrain that will be annoying because it will suggest that he's going to dominate again.

 

[Turbo-Kai]

I don't care the car "Michele" drives!
I just hope his comeback won't be dissapointing due to a bad car... His own driving performance (I am sure) is still good enough to be the best! (With all respect to all other drivers)

Oh man... I remember the good times... I startet watching F1 just in the moment he appeared on the scene [1991 in the Jordan]...I was 12 years young and I devoured every single race, report etc about him and the F1..
For example the races against Mansell/Patrese where great...while they already had shift pedals at the steering wheel Michael was driving with standard H-shifter...
Oh yes...thoise where great times... I'll never forget the historic and thrilling moment in Adelaide with Damon Hill (Great and fair sports man!!!)... My heart was beating till my throat and I first was dissapointed because I thought Damon could make it to the pit, let the car fix and then finish the race to win the titel...But then I saw the broken "transverse control arm"... and that was it...
Mhhh...I guess I'll look for my old VHS-cassettes...I know that I recorded for example one complete season..not sure wich year it was...

C U

 

[Greycap]

1. No other driver has had 5 F1 drivers titles in a row except Schumacher.
2. No other driver has 7 F1 drivers titles to their name except Schumacher.
3. No other driver has as many wins in their career as Schumacher.
4. No other driver has as many pole positions as Schumacher.

5. No other driver has driven in a team capable of wins, podiums and championships for 14 full years. Let alone a dominating car for seven years which also happens to be the number of his championship titles.

The common opinion is that Räikkönen won the championship because he had the best car. Maybe. Hamilton and Button won the championships because they had the best cars too. Well, might be true. But why is it always overlooked that Schumacher made all those records because he had the best car? Apparently facts don't matter when the world needs heroes.

 

[mafia_boy]

Greycap, Schuey didn't have the best car in 1994 or 1995. Williams was the team to beat, not Benetton. And he went to Ferrari in 1996 where they were an abomination of a team at the time, and he helped them from the ground up to become the dominant team of the 2000's.

Turbo-Kai, I can't believe someone else remembers his days at Jordan. Invisible +rep for F1 knowledge dude. 👍

 

[Brett]

Very exciting news! I am looking forward to seeing Schumacher back in Formula 1. It is will be very interesting to see how quickly he adapts to the changes in the cars and sport since he last raced. I expect the transition to be a quick one.

 

[senamic]

Turbo-Kai, I can't believe someone else remembers his days at Jordan. Invisible +rep for F1 knowledge dude. 👍

Wow, people remember that. It led to Eddy Jordan's sad introduction to the world of the Pirahna club, if I remember correctly. Wasn't it that Schumi raced only 1 (maybe 2) races at Jordan, and was promptly poached by Benneton? I need to dig through my box of F1 records.... If I am not back in 48 hours, send a search party !

 

[Ardius]

Greycap, Schuey didn't have the best car in 1994 or 1995. Williams was the team to beat, not Benetton. And he went to Ferrari in 1996 where they were an abomination of a team at the time, and he helped them from the ground up to become the dominant team of the 2000's.

Turbo-Kai, I can't believe someone else remembers his days at Jordan. Invisible +rep for F1 knowledge dude. 👍

I think you'll find the Williams FW16 was not the best car of 1994, whereas the Benetton was predictable the Williams was quite difficult to handle because of the ban on traction control. The proof is where Senna failed to win the first 2 races, another "god-like" driver.
The Renault engine was the best, yes, but the Ford wasn't too shabby either. Not to mention that Hill benefitted from Schumacher being banned from 3 races.
So I would argue that Schumacher did have the best or at the very least 2nd best car on the grid in 1994.

In 1995 they both had Renault engines and the Benetton and Williams designs were quite close. Again, not exactly a midfielder car was it?

I also think its quite harsh to call the old Ferrari an "abomination". 1995 was the last time I really supported Ferrari, and all I will say to make my point here is: Jean Alesi, Canada. I think really you should say he took Ferrari from being unreliable midfielders to domination.
The only team I would ever call an abomination is Andrea Moda.

There has only ever been 1 season where I would consider the driver didn't win in the most competitive machinery - 1982. Almost all other years were won by drivers in the best overall equipment and team.
Lets be honest here, Schumacher had it rather easy after Hakkinen left. Williams, McLaren, BAR and Renault were all fast but unreliable over the season, until finally in 2005 where Renault and McLaren started sorting out their problems.
But there are so many good examples of how amazing Schumacher is without needing to look at statistics. 1994 Spanish Grand Prix or 2004 French Grand Prix for instance. This is why people overlook the fact he had it easy when rating his skill - the man undeniably has it in bucket loads.

My only reasons for never being a huge fan were mainly Adelaide 1994 and Jerez 1997. He has constantly been connected with cheating and dirty stuff. I will always cheer his rivals but it doesn't stop me admiring his skill and still being excited by his return.

 

[mafia_boy]

The only team I would ever call an abomination is Andrea Moda.

Touche Ardius, touche. 👍

 

[Hun200kmh]

First, to make it clear, I respect MS's skill, but I do NOT admire him as a racer. I won't go into detail about the "why" I guess what ardius wrote about adelaide and Jerez is more than enough, but I will also add Monaco quali.

Second, Michael Schumacher won all his fabulous ... wins ... with a team that was working for him, and for him alone. Team mate included. I don't think he knows how to race in any other way, and I fear Mercedes GP will act exactly the same way Ferrari and Bennetton did.

Third, I really, REALLY hope Nico Rosberg has a good contract, one that specifically says that he will be treated exactly the same way as his team mate.

Fourth, Although I think Michael Schumacher can still be one of the fastest F1 drivers, I also think he got incredibly lucky last season. He can thank that his neck injury prevented him from being totally humiliated by Kimi Raikkonen at Valencia, Spa, Monza, etc ...

The future will tell us what this comeback will show.

 

[Tetradic]

I was never a Schumi fan. I never disliked him, like many seem to have, but given how dominant he was F1 got a little boring. I welcome his return though. In fact I'm even more interested in F1 next season because of it (and next season is shaping up to be one interesting one, topping this past one).

The grid is a very different place than it was 6 years ago. There has been alot of young talent that has popped up to the top since Schumi left. Seeing Schumi battle on track with Lewis and Vettel will be enough alone.

Schumi will win a few races next season and finish in the top 5 (ahead of Button). The Mercedes will not be as dominant as the Brawn was and not the fastest car on the grid. It will be interesting to see what Schumi can do with sub par machinery (again).

As for Rosberg. Yawn. He never will (or could) amount to anything. He is lucky to be playing the Rubens role to Schumi.

As for next year...

Alonso and Lewis will be fighting for the top spot with Vettel, Schumi and Massa fighting for the remaining spots in the top 5.

EDIT: I agree with the poster above. Schumi lucked out last season (or strategically backed away) as Kimi no doubt would have wiped the track with him in those final few races. Nothing against Schumi, but Kimi seemed to have finally cared in those last few races (maybe due to the threat of Michael coming) and was the Kimi of old (until the winds changed again and he went back to thinking about rallys).

 

[Peter]

More and more I can get the feeling you don't like Schumacher for whatever reason.

no, i'm a huge Schumi fan, but he's 41(old) and hasn't been in the cockpit for awhile, and things are very different from 2006 in just about every way. No driving aids, slick tires, less downforce, no refueling. And the competition is going to be diamond tough next year. I want him to succeed, but it doesn't seem very likely at all.

 

[Bram Turismo]

As for Rosberg. Yawn. He never will (or could) amount to anything. He is lucky to be playing the Rubens role to Schumi.

Disagreed. Rosberg has blown away Nakajima for two seasons, and all the points Williams have scored during the entire 2009 season were scored by Rosberg. Rosberg is easily one of the fastest men on the grid, but he never had the car to prove it. If you ask me, it's incredible how far he took the Williams car that was such a fast car in free practices, but a disaster in races. Put him in a top car, and he will be up there with Hamilton and Vettel. That's probably also the main reason Hamilton never liked the idea of having Rosberg as his teammate at Mercedes.

 

[Terronium-12]

no, i'm a huge Schumi fan, but he's 41(old) and hasn't been in the cockpit for awhile, and things are very different from 2006 in just about every way. No driving aids, slick tires, less downforce, no refueling. And the competition is going to be diamond tough next year. I want him to succeed, but it doesn't seem very likely at all.

Ah. It just seemed like everything you were saying was Anti-Schumacher.

 

[Ardius]

Rosberg is somewhat an unproven quantity. But he has done enough to deserve a top seat and show what he's got. That's what he should be doing in 2010, I don't think anyone will begrudge him that - what more can he do with an at-best midfield Williams in some of the most competitive seasons F1 has ever seen? The only thing he hasn't done is prove he can win, but he is way more qualified for a top seat than Sutil is (seeing as people were suggesting him).

I quite like Rosberg really, he's been relatively quiet through his career so far, not getting into many incidents and not starting many fights. He hasn't made any enemies yet and thats quite impressive when you're fighting in the midfield, where squabbles always break out. But at the same time he is fast and consistent. I rate him ahead of Button and Heidfeld purely on the amount of times he has consistently put a fast qualifying lap in and then shown the goods in the race. Its just never seemed to come together for a win for whatever reason.

The only thing going against Rosberg is the occasional mistake, but seeing as very few drivers have never made a mistake, this isn't much of a problem.

I kind of wish Heidfeld was getting the chance though, seems destined to never get a crack at it with a top car. Almost a waste really, and I'm not really a huge fan of him, but I do feel sorry for how his career has been quite unlucky. The early Sauber years almost saw him gone, but he saved his career at Jordan and got a promising seat at Williams, then following BMW to Sauber at what looked like in 2008 a championship team. Now with BMW gone after a rubbish season and his chance at a Mercedes seat gone I wonder how unlucky is Quick Nick?

Also - with 7...7! Germans on the grid next year, are we going to see oodles of Spanish drivers in a few years time?
There's a lot of Brazilians too and no Frenchmen and no French GP!

 

[Tetradic]

Disagreed. Rosberg has blown away Nakajima for two seasons, and all the points Williams have scored during the entire 2009 season were scored by Rosberg. Rosberg is easily one of the fastest men on the grid, but he never had the car to prove it. If you ask me, it's incredible how far he took the Williams car that was such a fast car in free practices, but a disaster in races. Put him in a top car, and he will be up there with Hamilton and Vettel. That's probably also the main reason Hamilton never liked the idea of having Rosberg as his teammate at Mercedes.

Saying someone blew away Nakajima isn't exactly a compliment. A semi-trained ape could do the same.

As for the Williams car. Nico did squeeze alot out of it but I put that more up to Williams as a team putting their all behind Nico (Williams is a solid working team, even when they go down a wrong path engineering-wise).

I'll give you the fact that Rosberg can be quick here and there. He is like Trulli in that way. But unlike (or like but worst?) Trulli (and remember the Trulli train) Nico can't race.

I highly doubt he will be up there with Lewis and Vettel, even with the same equipment. It is a moot point though with Schumi around. Schumi and Ross together again with a manufacturer desperate to win... it is going to be more blantant than it was at Ferrari with Rubens who is the number 1 driver.

To your last point. I agree about Hamilton not wanting anyone even remotely close to his pace as a teammate. The entire McLaren machine is built around Lewis and his Daddy. It says alot that Lewis and his Daddy allowed Jenson to join the team. It says alot about the pace they see in him.

 

[Prince.M5]

It's a shame really though for Quick Nick. Best of luck for him to get his seat with Sauber or maybe some other team which is I think, not going to happen but I'll pray for him. I am a fan of him which I was gutted when he missed the seat with Mercedes.

The best bet for him is to stay with Sauber, maybe Mr. Peter Sauber is thinking of something about this also, he can tutor Kamui to be a better driver.

Good Luck Quick Nick.

 

[Turbo-Kai]

Wow, people remember that. It led to Eddy Jordan's sad introduction to the world of the Pirahna club, if I remember correctly. Wasn't it that Schumi raced only 1 (maybe 2) races at Jordan, and was promptly poached by Benneton? I need to dig through my box of F1 records.... If I am not back in 48 hours, send a search party !

it was this way:
> Bertrand Gachot got arrested before Spa 'cause he sprayed irritant gas on a british taxi driver while arguing with him about price for the drive.
> In fact Eddie Jordan wanted Stefan Johanssen to drive.
But Schmui's Manager Willi Weber promised Eddie Jordan that Michael could drive the course very well although he never drove it before...LOL
Decisive that Michael was chosen was a bundle of money he brought along...
[this was admited by Eddie 2005...]
> Schumi took a test drive on Spa with a "bike" before the race weekend...and he and Willi Weber stayed in the "youth hostel" of Spa...
> Schumi finished Qualifying on Pos.7 but only drove 500m in the race due to clutch damage... :-) but he overtook 2 opponents before first corner!!!

This was kind of impressive and good old Playboy "Flavio" snatched Schumi...
-> Good move...

just found this lovely picture...WOW!

 

[Ardius]

Saying someone blew away Nakajima isn't exactly a compliment. A semi-trained ape could do the same.

As for the Williams car. Nico did squeeze alot out of it but I put that more up to Williams as a team putting their all behind Nico (Williams is a solid working team, even when they go down a wrong path engineering-wise).

I'll give you the fact that Rosberg can be quick here and there. He is like Trulli in that way. But unlike (or like but worst?) Trulli (and remember the Trulli train) Nico can't race.

I highly doubt he will be up there with Lewis and Vettel, even with the same equipment. It is a moot point though with Schumi around. Schumi and Ross together again with a manufacturer desperate to win... it is going to be more blantant than it was at Ferrari with Rubens who is the number 1 driver.

To your last point. I agree about Hamilton not wanting anyone even remotely close to his pace as a teammate. The entire McLaren machine is built around Lewis and his Daddy. It says alot that Lewis and his Daddy allowed Jenson to join the team. It says alot about the pace they see in him.

Give Rosberg his chance in a top team first before you definitively say he isn't up with Vettel and Hamilton (both of whom have had championship-capable cars now).

I think Jenson realises why McLaren picked him - its why he went there, he wants the challenge of trying to take Lewis on in his team.
Its not impossible, Jenson took down Villenueve in his own team Not that I'm saying Jenson stands much chance, but I'm interested to see how he does anyway. Villenueve was a rubbish team leader and by the time Button came Richards was in charge and the team really didn't favour Jacques much anymore. Plus Jacques wasn't hard to beat.