Niki Lauda is sure Michael Schumacher will return to the top step of the podium this year.

As Mercedes took a step forwards with its new W03 car in 2012, it was the famous seven time world champion’s teammate Nico Rosberg who tasted success first, securing pole and victory in China last month.

But triple world champion Lauda told Germany’s Bild newspaper: “Michael Schumacher will win this year.

“Finally Mercedes are good enough to be able to attack the best.”

Schumacher, 43, has not been on the podium since he returned to F1 in 2010.

The German has also played down the team’s chances on the demanding Circuit de Catalunya this weekend, even though Mercedes is debuting a new ultra-light carbon gearbox in Barcelona.

Lauda, meanwhile, played down Schumacher’s widely-reported criticisms of this year’s Pirelli tyres, which have seen him labelled either a sore loser or a spoil-sport amid the exciting 2012 season.

“Schumi can’t spoil formula one,” laughed the Austrian legend. “He has been in the business so many years — he knows how it works.

“I see Rosberg’s success as spurring him on rather than frustrating him. He will fight through it,” predicted Lauda.

The overtaking of Rubens Barrichello to Michael Schumacher Fans deals, media, and currently also the race stewards. The Williams driver was the Germans at the start-finish straight to overtake, but Schumacher pushed him towards the pit wall, left him little room.

“I wanted to make the life course as difficult as possible, that’s understandable. It has often happened, DSAs if you are sitting in the car, one with the little mirror has a vision, and one out with the various TV cameras, perhaps might have a different view. I’ll be watching it later. ”
“Everyone has his own perspective. If you want to see the facts, then it was obvious enough space, so he has durchgepasst. Of course I had clear intention not to allow him the line to shut down. A change of direction is indeed welcome. I I suggested to him trying to choose the other side, as would have been much more space. ”

“The fact is that we have not touched and Rubens is driven past. So must have been enough room to be. Unfortunately, God, for I really would like to have made the line so that he must use the other side. This would have been open. I have in the proposed, but that he did not respond. ”

The fact that Barrichello claimed more during the race, the disqualification, can be cold Schumacher: “I know Rubens long enough. We all know what views he represents in part. There go our somewhat apart. I have no problem it must, since you ask him. ”

Even the charge that he had closed the line too late, he can not be sitting on: “I see the course different. It is the view depends. We sit in the cars have there only the small mirror. We try to estimate certain things and behave accordingly. Of course, fair but tough, we are indeed in Formula 1 and not on a walk in the park. When you see things on TV and has since different perspective, one can perhaps to a different opinion come. The course I had not. ”

The fact that going ore hard, wants Schumacher also not dismissed out of hand: “From my point of view was correct, what I did, otherwise I would not have done it. I am aware that I no gifts distributed, but also races go, do it against my colleagues. I think that everyone knows by now. I try to behave accordingly. ”

The race, which he eventually finished eleventh out of the points was not a simple one: “This was certainly a race for which I worked harder than for many other in the past. If the behavior of a car is difficult, and the vote here carries with it certain problems, one is employed at the wheel, of course, more to keep the car on the track. ”

“It must be very clear that our performance today was present in moderation. Points would have been possible, as has our pit stop, certainly not entirely helped. So far, my boys the best in the pitlane, as it would be absolutely unfair to them . criticize ”

“Of course I was driving on the limit, but the car responds now and then to surprise something that does not make it easier. This also increases tire wear and bring with it a chain reaction, which we of the performance a bit limited.”

Now the family man is happy only once on the holiday: “I’m definitely looking forward to the holidays, a bit of time could use the guys. Then we can with the old strength and fresh tailwind maybe way back in Spa to its former strength.”

Michael Schumacher’s return to F1 is on track, according to Sebastian Vettel.

Germany’s newer sensation, once nicknamed ‘Baby Schumi’ by the domestic press, said he is not among those who believe 41-year-old Schumacher’s comeback this year has been a failure.

“It is far from easy to return after a three year break, even though he was never entirely away from formula one,” Vettel told the German magazine Der Spiegel.

“The cars have changed, the tyres as well.  Many things are not the way that he had become accustomed to.”

The 23-year-old backed F1′s only seven time world champion to complete his return to full competitiveness.

“If someone can do it, it is him.  When I look at his face and read his body language, I do not see any confusion or panic,” added Vettel.

After rather modest achievements of Mercedes-superstar Michael Schumacher rattled on the 41-year-old world champion last down a lot of criticism. The expectations of many fans and observers could meet the Schumacher after his return to the Formula 1 scene so far barely. Especially after the race in Canada was fulminated against the Germans.

“Schumacher is a shadow of bygone days”, with David Coulthard said this had brought his view of things in the ‘BBC’ comment clearly. The Scot is now presenting in a video interview on the website of Red Bull still for once. The services of Schumacher are not in the foreground, but rather a principled position.
“It’s great to see that Michael is back on the track. It robs the new generation, however, that a place,” said Coulthard. He set himself apart not in accordance with a comeback. “Imagine I can to me, but I’m not going. I am with my Grands Prix satisfied with the opportunities I had. I am part of the Red Bull family and very happy that now the next generation of their gets a chance. “

Jun.15 (GMM)  British F1 pundits have rounded on Michael Schumacher after the eighth race of the seven time world champion’s comeback.

The 41-year-old German had already had difficult moments in 2010, but in Montreal – an event he has won a record seven times – he qualified 13th and on Sunday had a calamitous and pointless race.

“I think Schumacher has driven appallingly today,” said Martin Brundle, one of Schumacher’s former Benetton teammates, who now commentates for the BBC.

The Briton was referring to Schumacher being overtaken by Sebastien Buemi, both Force Indias on the last lap, and separate clashes with Robert Kubica and Felipe Massa that Brundle referred to as “naughty”.

“You have to treat the back of Schumacher’s car like the back of a donkey,” added Brundle.  “This is Schumacher’s worst weekend since he came back.”

The usually highly partisan German daily Bild newspaper agreed, describing Canada 2010 as ‘Schumi’s blackest lap’.

“Schumacher was humiliated in his comeback season like never before,” the report added.

Eddie Jordan, who gave Schumacher his initial F1 debut in 1991, commented: “The big story (of Canada) was that Michael Schumacher did not even make the top 10.

“That’s a big, big concern about the Michael Schumacher comeback.”

Former rival David Coulthard pointed out that, in his prime, Schumacher’s talents always shined on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

“In all honesty he looked a shadow of his former self on Sunday,” the Scot wrote in his latest column for the Telegraph.

“I’m not beating up on Michael.  But what is wrong with him?  If I had to guess I would say it is F1 that has changed.”

Coulthard refers not only to today’s harder and thinner tyres, but also the V8 engines and 18,000rpm rev limit, offering “no torque”.

Michael Schumacher admits he does not believe Fernando Alonso when the Spaniard says he knew overtaking was not allowed at the last corner of the recent Monaco grand prix.

Due to the safety car rules confusion in the wake of the recent controversy, the FIA has vowed to clear up the regulations.

But when asked in Turkey if he still thinks Schumacher should have been demoted out of the points for the pass in Monaco, Alonso said: “Yes.

“Because it’s in the rules.  For me it’s clear.  When the safety car is on the last lap it’s not possible to overtake.”

But former Ferrari driver Schumacher, who now drives for Mercedes, suggested in Istanbul that Alonso might not be telling the truth.

“He almost hit the wall in attempting to defend his position!” the German is quoted as saying by Auto Hebdo.

The relationship between Michael Schumacher and his long time manager Willi Weber appears to have cooled.

Schumacher’s spokeswoman Sabine Kehm has this year taken over the day-to-day management of the seven time world champion, although Weber is still involved in merchandising and sponsorship.

Weber, who guided the German throughout his ultra-successful initial career, said this week that he senses a “Schumi-tiredness” within the public that could explain low merchandise sales in 2010.

The 68-year-old also said “Vettel is the new Schumi” commercially, while it is “easier to find a 50-year-old virgin” than sponsors.

Schumacher said in Barcelona: “Some of the things he said I cannot understand.

“Sabine has actually been very successful in finding sponsors, and nearly at every race the team has a new sponsor.  It is his view,” the 41-year-old told Bild-Zeitung.

(GMM)

May 6 (GMM)  Michael Schumacher’s long time manager has admitted the hype of the German’s return to formula one this year has not matched his expectations.

Sabine Kehm has taken over as the Mercedes driver’s general manager, but Willi Weber is still in charge of Schumacher’s personal sponsorship and merchandising.

But the 68-year-old admitted that, just as Schumacher has not performed to the level of his initial career, the sale of official merchandise has also been slow.

“Sales are not how I expected them to be,” Weber told Germany’s Bild-Zeitung daily.  “There is a certain Schumi-tiredness.  The people are saying: my god, where is he driving?  You only know him as a winner.

“In the past the tribunes were full of Ferrari caps.  Now I can count the silver caps with one hand,” he added.

Weber admits that Sebastian Vettel – originally dubbed ‘Baby-Schumi’ by the German media – is now carrying the baton as the country’s favourite.

“Wherever I look, Vettel is the new Schumi, he is the number one in the TV ads and on the billboards.  Michael has left a void and Sebastian has grown into it, because he has the success and Michael doesn’t have it yet,” said Weber.

As for sponsorship, Weber admits it is a similarly slow story, but acknowledged that the entire F1 world is also struggling.

“It is easier to find a 50-year-old virgin than a sponsor for formula one,” he said.

May 4 (GMM)  Gerhard Berger has backed Michael Schumacher amid a climate of continuing criticism of the seven time world champion’s performance so far in 2010.

Four races into 41-year-old Schumacher’s F1 comeback at the wheel of a Mercedes, the critique of pundits has ranged from a verdict of disappointment to a harsh denigration of his skills after three years of retirement.

“I find all the talk about Michael a bit tedious, because it is always with a negative slant,” 10-time GP winner Berger, who raced in Schumacher’s era until retiring in 1997, said on Austrian TV ‘Sport und Talk aus dem Hangar 7′.

“Michael has come back and is doing what he wants.  I think you cannot change the status of someone who is a seven time world champion,” added the 50-year-old former Ferrari and McLaren driver.

Austrian Berger backs Schumacher to improve his pace in the forthcoming races.

“We know his ambition.  We know that if he does something, he does it right.  I think we must take him seriously again in the future,” he said.

After the initial three races of 2010, Berger admits that Schumacher’s performance in China was a setback.

“It was weak, but that can happen,” said the former teammate of the late F1 great Ayrton Senna.

“I think he has done an excellent job so far — except for the last race.  In the first three grands prix he was in the top six of the championship.  That is a great achievement,” added Berger.

Also defending Schumacher is his countryman and friend Sebastian Vettel, who until the great German’s struggle in 2010 was nicknamed by the German press ‘Baby-Schumi’.

“He is yet to exhaust the potential of his car and will therefore get better from a driving point of view from race to race,” the Red Bull driver told Switzerland’s Motorsport Aktuell.

“I wouldn’t write him off for a long time,” added 22-year-old Vettel.

Force India’s Adrian Sutil also sees nothing odd about Schumacher’s comeback to date.

“I had counted on it being difficult for him.  Formula one has changed to the extremes in the past few years so that you can lose half a second and not know exactly why,” he told spox.com.

“Plus it would have been funny if Schumacher had beaten us all after three years of being retired — then he really would have been the god of F1.

“That doesn’t mean he’s doing badly; on the contrary, he’s always in the top ten.  He only needs time,” added Sutil.

Apr.20 (GMM) The reaction prior to Sunday’s Chinese grand prix was already not positive, so Michael Schumacher is advised to avoid the media in the wake of the Shanghai race.

After finishing a minute behind Nico Rosberg at the chequered flag, and seven tenths off his teammate’s pace in qualifying, the specialist Auto Motor und Sport said China was probably “the worst weekend in the record winner’s whole career”.

The German magazine gave 41-year-old Schumacher just 3 out of 10 for his performance at the wheel of the grey Mercedes.

One of his former Ferrari teammates, who did not want to be named, told the Independent: “After the beating he got on Sunday, in conditions in which the old Michael Schumacher excelled, I don’t think he’ll ever come back to his old level.”

The Cologne publication Express published a photo-shopped image of a snail with the seven time world champion’s head and cap, while France’s Auto Hebdo observed that in China “the former rain king seemed lost”.

Bild newspaper’s headline read: “Rain God? Schumi got flooded!”, while Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport asked of Schumacher’s return: “Why did he do it?”

The sports newspaper Tuttosport said Schumacher “is only a shadow of himself”, while another sports daily Corriere dello Sport called him “an old lion attacked by a group of young and hungry animals”.

The broadsheet La Stampa said: “F1 without overtaking? Just ask Schumacher, who was passed constantly”, while the major La Repubblica said the German “is no longer in the league of the best formula one drivers”.

Hamburg’s Abendblatt called Schumacher a “learner driver”, while the Frankfurter Rundschau blasted his “horrible performance” and Austria’s Kleine Zeitung said he had been “humiliated” in China.

Britain’s The Guardian recalled the moment in the post-race press conference when Lewis Hamilton was asked how it had felt to race wheel-to-wheel with his childhood hero.

Jenson Button leaned over and demanded Hamilton “tell the truth” before the pair both laughed, and the Guardian said the exchange “may have been the unkindest cut of all” for Schumacher.

“The way things look, it would be no surprise to see him bowing out with as much dignity as he can salvage before the formula one season is very much older,” added the newspaper.

While marginally outpaced by teammate Nico Rosberg also in the first three races of his 2010 comeback, the seven time world champion was seven tenths slower in Chinese qualifying and then a minute behind at the chequered flag.

So slow was Schumacher that Mercedes’ Norbert Haug suspects a chassis flaw, telling the German press on Sunday evening that a new W01 will be supplied to the 41-year-old in Barcelona.

“Give us a chance to look at that (theory) and we can come up with a good explanation,” he said.

Team boss Brawn, who in the past worked with Schumacher also at Benetton and Ferrari with astonishing success, admitted after China that the German’s “pace is a problem”.

The Briton told Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport: “Michael’s problems are difficult to understand.

“It’s not the difficult corners, but the technically simple ones (where he is struggling).

“Until now he has been getting closer and closer to Nico, so what happened in China is totally against the trend,” added Brawn.
(GMM)

Michael Schumacher’s spokeswoman and day-to-day manager confirmed on Tuesday that the seven time world champion has rejoined the F1 drivers’ union, Grand Prix Drivers Association (GPDA).

We reported on Sunday that the 41-year-old signed up during the course of the Sepang race weekend.

Spokeswoman Sabine Kehm said last month that, with the German having played a leading role in the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association in his initial career, Schumacher now wanted F1’s new generation to carry the baton.

“Now he really wants the others, who have taken over in the meantime, to continue,” she said.

It was rumoured that the Mercedes driver did not get along with the GPDA’s chairman Pedro de la Rosa, who quit the association in protest after Schumacher’s Monaco ‘Rascasse’ parking incident four years ago.

In Melbourne, Spaniard de la Rosa stepped down and was replaced as chairman by Mercedes reserve driver Nick Heidfeld.

Schumacher’s countryman and friend Sebastian Vettel, and his former Ferrari teammate Felipe Massa, have also now replaced Mark Webber and Fernando Alonso as directors.

Kehm confirmed on Tuesday that Schumacher is once again a member of the GPDA. It is believed the only non-member on the grid now is Schumacher’s countryman Adrian Sutil.

Michael Schumacher, confirms his “total convincement” that Mercedes GP has a car “capable of fighting for the championship” and that he hopes “to have an opportunity.”

“I cannot know what the future might bring, but I believe in this team and this is enough challenge for me. I love competition and hope to have a chance to show it,” he declared in an interview in ‘www.formula1.com‘.

The German pilot will be the oldest of the 2010 Formula One season’s grid, and recognizes that “after so much time in the single-seater world, he is aware that there are always fans who follow you and others that do not so much.” “To be able to be in for such a long time, sometimes I had to close up a little and it might just be the same this time,” commented Michael.

The seven-times champion of the world shares ‘box’ with another German pilot, Nico Rosberg, situation that Schumacher considers an advantage because they can communicate in the same language. “I wish the best for him. He is a constructive pilot and it is interesting to have him as a neighbor, since our ‘motorhomes’ are side by side in the paddock,” he explained.

Schumacher clarified that he felt well and that his doctor, Johannes Peil, who attended the test that Mercedes GP performed in the Valencia Circuit, is supervising his evolution.

“He was in Valencia to do me some check ups, as the last one. He wants to make sure that I am totally prepared for the race and obviously, I want to know, too. I am alright and that is the reason why it was not necessary for him to be in Jerez,” he added.

The third day began with the “variable” of watching Fernando Alonso drive the F10 for the first time.  This morning, the Valencian Community Ricardo Tormo Circuit was at a complete standstill.  A crowd of fans who gathered to see Alonso made long lines of cars in the A-3 freeway, a long distance the exit that leads to the Circuit.

While regularly it takes around 3-4 minutes to access the Circuit, today it almost took 20 minutes.  The expectation aroused by the pilot from Asturias was unbelievable.  If yesterday we spoke of 7000 people who attended the Circuit, today the amount was estimated in more than 20.000 people present.

Today has been a complete day.  It was possible to watch the three Formula One Spanish pilots in the racetrack: Fernando Alonso , Pedro Martinez de la Rosa and Jaime Alguersuari.  In addition, to the current champion, Jeson Button and Michael Schumacher who also rolled out.

The debuting racing cars start at 10 AM on the dot.  The single-seaters start to roll out and we see Fernando Alonso passing by with his new blue helmet (Asturias flag); he is ahead.  Nonetheless, the “first fright“ came with De la Rosa when unexplainably he stopped on his tracks, just when he was marking the best time.  The marshals showed a red flag.  Up to that moment, Fernando had just made one reconnaissance lap.

The march starts again and the pilots start to roll their cars.  Fernando Alonso makes the best time, stopping the chronometer at 1:12.160.  After that, he reduced his time on five consecutive laps.  Just as well it’s the first time he rolls with this car.  How many hours would he have made in the simulator?

Behind the pilot from Asturias, Schumacher marks his best score; he’s fourth in the time table and goes to boxes.  The difference between Alonso and Schumacher is of 1.007.  There was a morbid fascination in the racetrack.

Subsequent to his stop, Schumacher starts to lower his times.  De la Rosa still has the second best time; the BMW C29 is performing well.  It looks solid in the track.

In this moment, the current champion, Jeson Button appears.  He makes his official debut with McLaren.  During his first laps his times were far away from the best (1:18.420), six seconds behind the Spaniard.  The British is still in adaptation period with his new single-seater.

A great surprise comes when the pilot from Asturias improves the time achieved by Felipe Massa, yesterday.  The Brazilian made 1:11.722 and Alonso pulled off 1:11.709, in that same lap.  Schumacher also lowers his time, remaining at 7 tenths of the Spaniard, and Pedro marks a best lap, too  Aren’t this petty quarrels?

At any rate, the show was in the racetrack.  The F10 seems to please the pilot from Asturias, who in his first contact had the satisfaction of making a debut record, but subsequent to his return to the boxes he lowered again his best time.  When a little more of two hours of testing had elapsed, he stopped the chronometer at 1:11.599.

The third Spaniard in the racetrack, Jaime Alguersuari, rolled with consistent times all morning long.  He was ahead of Button, specifically, fourth place in the time table.  However, the most significant aspect is that his times are better than those of his team-mate, Sebastian Buemi.

The last stage of the morning session starts to stabilize.  Alonso starts to advance in 1:12 lows, a great rhythm.  While “Schumi” and De la Rosa follow him at half a second.  Everything seemed to indicate that the session would end in that monotony, but the pilot from Asturias returns with all his might; he wants to see the F10 potential and stopped the chronometer at 1:11.600.  We were all surprised, but a bit later, 3 minutes later, he makes 1:11.470; he lowers his time again.  Wasn’t it supposed to be his contact with the F10?

At 2 o’clock the time came to stop and have lunch.

Morning times:
1º. Fernando Alonso 1:11.470
2º. Pedro de la Rosa 1:12.094
3º. Michael Schumacher 1:12.438
4º. Jaime Alguersuari 1:12.576
5º. Jenson Button 1:13.783
6º. Nico Hulkenberg 1:14.410
7º. Vitaly Petrov 1:14.707

The Brazilian pilot, Felipe Massa (Ferrari) declared he believes he’s going to have a “very good relationship ” with his new mate, the Spanish Fernando Alonso, because, in these first days he has already talked with him more than with Kimi Raikkonen in three years.”
“Things have begun very well; we have spoken a lot about the car and on what to do to make it competitive.  I have talked more with Fernando these days than with Kimi in three years.  Of course, that’s not difficult because Kimi doesn’t like to talk a lot, but I also worked very well with him, even without the need to talk,” clarified Massa in a press conference that took place in Madonna di Campiglio, where the Ferrari team 2010 ‘Wroom’ is being held.
Hence, the Brazilian considers that they can both “work very well together,” because the opposite would be “negative,” both for themselves and for the team.  ”We’re in a very important team.  We know what we have to do.  And we know that if we work well together we can have a better car in the racing track,” he added.
In this way, Massa wanted to clarify the questions that arose on how his relationship with the ‘Scuderia,’ would be, after the clashes between both pilots.  ”We have discussed the problems.  It’s similar to when you go and speak to your mother and once you tell her your feelings and ask her to forgive you, everything gets back to normal.  Personally, I don’t have any strange feelings or opinions towards Fernando,” he stated.

“I FEEL BETTER THAN PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.”

On the other hand, the pilot from Rio de Janeiro made reference to his recovery following the accident he suffered last year in Hungary’s Grand Prix and which forced him to loose the last eight races.  Massa pointed out that he’s “very well,” that he’s had “a very good” recovery and that he’s even better than prior to the accident.”
“I’m motivated and looking forward to begin the year.  I’m also going through a very important moment in my life with the birth of my first son, ‘Felipinho’”, Massa said.  “My goal is to become world champion,” he made clear.
“Everybody knows I was frustrated because of 2008’s events, due to many things that revolved around the championship, and which I hope will never happen again in Formula One.  I want to fight and become world champion,” he declared sententiously.
Even though the Brazilian experienced tough moments after his accident, according to what he confessed, he never once thought of retiring.  ” I never thought I would have to stop competing; I was convinced that I could be back in Valencia, already.  The accident has not changed my approach on work and my way of thinking, because I’ve had to face many difficulties in my life and I have always learned a lot from them,” he explained.

“SCHUMACHER COMEBACK IS GOOD FOR FÓRMULA 1″.

Another topic that the Ferrari pilot touched was the comeback of his ex-mate, the German Michael Schumacher, who will reappear in the competition but now with Mercedes.  ”When he ran he was happier than when he didn’t.  His comeback is interesting and good for the racing sport,” he pronounced.
In addition, Massa described the German pilot as “a friend” and considers that it was “very important” for him to have him as a mate, because he helped him “to improve.”  “In the track we will fight one against the other, but outside the races our frienship continues;” he indicated.
Massa’s point of view is that ‘Schumi’ did a “perfect career, retiring in the right moment.”  ”Now, he has wanted to come back and it’s very difficult to tell if his decision is correct.  It will surely be strange to see him race for another team after running so many years in Ferrari, but just now, there were no more options for his comeback because the decision of who the two pilots will be has already been taken,” he specified.

“EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT HAPPENED IN 2008 AND NOTHING IS GAINED BY LOOKING BACK.”

Finally, the Brazilian talked about the 2008 Singapore’s Gran Prix events, with the intentional accident brought about by ‘Nelsinho’ Piquet -who was then in Renault-, and which allowed Fernando Alonso to win, taking away some points from Massa which were later decisive for the championship’s result.  Lewis Hamilton would take the title with only one margin point with respect to Ferrari’s.
In the wake of the scandal, Renault’s former director, Flavio Briatore, was declared guilty by the FIA and banned for life for ordering Piquet’s accident.  The ban was recently overturned by the Paris Court.
“Honestly, if you see something that’s not alright in the racing sport, and that, one way or the other, goes against the rules, I don’t think it’s difficult to change the result, even if that would not be good for the sport,” Massa concluded.  “Everybody knows what happened and that nothing is gained by looking back:”