Has Michael Schumacher still got what it takes to win an F1 race? That’s the question buzzing around the Top Gear office at the moment, and a few of the big names in motorsport have weighed in on the subject.
Ross Brawn – the team principle who masterminded Schumacher’s dominance at Ferrari – believes Big Schu will be right at the front of the pack.
“I’m sure that if he doesn’t win one of the remaining races of the season it will not be his fault but because Ferrari is not in a winning position,” Brawn told Gazzetta dello Sport. “I’m convinced he will be strong.”
F1 legend Nikki Lauda – who himself made a triumphant return to racing in the 1980s – agrees, despite concerns that Schumacher is struggling to overcome a neck injury sustained while motorbike testing.
“Forget about the age,” said Lauda this week. “He is fit, he’s undergoing rigorous training and mentally he is taking up the challenge. He will do everything possible to be fit as a fiddle in Valencia.”
Lauda believes that Schumacher regretted his decision to retire from F1 at the age of 37, and will be looking forward to taking on the current crop of drivers.
“In my opinion he retired at the end of the 2006 season because he couldn’t see a real challenge – and probably he regretted his decision,” said Lauda. “Now he’s got the unique chance… to find out for himself how competitive he still is. This hunger for competition – for the adrenalin rush – never dies. It’s in our DNA.”
“The situation as it is now at Ferrari gives him the chance to explore how far he is off the top. That is a question that always puzzles a top driver.”
Maybe it’s a question of whether you see it as a win-win situation for Schumacher – if he wins a race, it’s the triumphant return of the great master, and if he loses he can blame it on a dud car – or whether he’s running the risk of sullying his own legend.
There’s no question he’s giving himself the best shot at victory – reports suggest Big Schu has already lost over three kilos in weight as part of a punishing fitness schedule to prepare himself for Valencia. Maybe we’ll have to rename him Medium Schu?
Provided Ferrari give Schumi a good car – and let’s not forget that Raikkonen’s car looked plenty quick in Hungary – do you think he’s got what it takes to win a race before the end of the season?
I would love to see him win a race but I would rather see a proper battle at the front than just schumi taking pole and then winning.
The real test will be to see how he does compared to Kimi.. Frankly I suspect Kimi will be so much more experienced in the current car that he’s almost guaranteed to come out on top. It might actually push Kimi to do better, so for Ferrari, it’s all good.
Size 12 US Schu perhaps? =P
Schumi can do it if the car & his neck is up to it.
(tho he might be regretting ever entering in that bike race a few months back!)
*are up to it.
I agree with Han (2). His first task to be at Kimi’s pace and see if he can take him. Then he will think about he other 18 cars.
I really hope he can. If he fails, no problem, he’s still the greatest. He doesn’t need to blame on anything.
im just looking forward to seeing the battle of schu vs hamilton like the rest of us.
He will win
If schu is really “The Stig” (Some say he eats germans for breakfast and supper, and that he only removes his visor to charge his hydrogen powered body lol) then I think he could win F1, I mean when the Stig(James May lol) raced against the Germans he faced another professional race driver and still won the race, how cool is that.
D
I can’t exactly take a side on if he’ll do well or not. Since Ferrari isn’t releasing any of his real test results. However I do think he still has it in him. As Andy said, I would like to see him battle it out with say Hamilton, or even better, Barrichello. I don’t see him winning, but I see him on the podium.
Too bad there is no room for humor in the contracted world of motor sports – the idea of Schumacher sporting a white outfit in Valencia is too funny.
Schumacher may not win the first race, but if he is contracted to take Massa’s seat for the rest of the season, I’d be surprised if the does not finish on the podium 4 times out of 7 (winning or not winning).
Apart from Lewis Hamilton’s championship win (by a point, while Massa thought he had it for a minute), Schumacher’s return is the biggest news in F1 since he retired. Max’s Nazi whore sex close second.
I completely agree with nHerGO, hahahaha. I had forgotten about that
Not sure about a win but expect him to go as fast as the car and the laws of physics allow him
I expect 5th or 6th place at first and results might lead to a podium but seriously even for the schu winning will be bloody difficult. Not only is the car bad but he can’t expect any upgrades
He’ll still have the drive and determination to win, it depends if the car’s good enough for him to win. If the car’s anywhere near quick he will win a race, end of.
Does anyone here remember Hamilton being refered to as “across between Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost”, because I don’t, but it apparently happened…
http://www.formula1latest .com/category/silverstone /
Sorry that’s totaly irrelevant. I reckon, as said by Han and me (earlier blog), he’ll push Kimi to perform better. Remember, Kimi lost the championship to Schumy by only two points in 2003, so he can definitely perform as well as Schumy, if not better now…
I hope he does win at least one race. It would be one of those all-time great sports stories you tell your grandkids about.
Really looking forward to some Schumacher Hamilton battles.
20 bucks says he wins at least one of the next three races…
in the 1 st 3 for sure!
Oops! He’s out!
He will not come back due to neck injury !
just announced that Luca Badoer will race instead. its a shame we aint gonna see schumacher again, but its just the way it is i guess. Badoer hasnt raced for a decade, i cant see him being up to speed at all, will be very lucky to get points in the first few races he does. if i remember rightly, Luca Badoer has been on top gear, when jeremy was testing the Ferrari 360CS (i think, dont quote me!) jeremy and Luca had a race around the top gear track
just to clarify, it was series 4, episode 5, jeremy was in a Porsche 911 GT3RS, Badoer in a 360 CS, it was a review of track day cars.
Strange choice. In my opinion this Nico Hulkenberg (also managed by Weber) would have been better.
And if they are so keen on the past they cld even ask Nigel Mansell for a comeback haha
he is the best good look schuey
of course u have still got it make 8 times champion when u come back plse