Former Ferrari driver and 7 times champion, Michael Schumacher, faults technical problems as the primary reason for his mediocre comeback season to the multimillion dollar sport, Formula One.
Making his return, Schumi opted to join hands with his former race engineer Ross Brawn over Ferrari. The German started the 2010 season racing for the Mercedes GP team and was rather surprised that his younger team mate, Nico Rosberg,
did not experience similar issues – The veteran managed a poor 9th in the Driver’s standings in a disappointing season while his team mate, adding insult to injury, out raced him throughout the 19 race season and finished 7th.
Schumacher, at age 41, claimed that his car wasn’t as reliable as Rosberg’s machine and related his lack of success to technical and tyre related issues – The best that the German could manage this season was 4th; meaning
that he couldn’t even earn a podium step on his comeback trail.
Talking about benchmarking strategies that involves using the performance of the fastest driver in order to assess one’s own performance, Schumacher believed that while the stats provided a detailed picture of what was lacking
and how to go about things in the future, it was different from car to car.
"The exhaust got so hot that sometimes the underside of the car burnt or the F-Duct (a system to help the airflow) was triggered in parts of the track where it shouldn't have been." were the words of the German with emphasis on
his car’s F-Duct woes in the Belgian and Japanese Grand Prix.
The experienced driver however went on to justify his stance as he claimed that he didn’t like being vocal about dilemma and felt that it was an internal concern, not for the press’ ears.
However, confidentiality has always been a trait that has often eluded Michael Schumacher and the former Ferrari driver couldn’t help himself when he admitted that there was indeed chaos and general disagreements in the Mercedes
household. The rumors that he had vented his frustrations out on the team Principal and motorsport Chief were indeed true.
"I had no problems and Nico, but I told Norbert (Haug) and Ross (Brawn) that it was time to find explanations," was how Schumacher phrased their end of season team party.
However, Scumacher, being the sportsman that he is, added that he was a 100 percent ready to put the disappointments of last season behind him and planned to do better next term, being ambitious enough to claim that he had set
his sights on winning his eight Driver’s Championships.
Concluding the interview on a brighter note, the 41 year old commended the Mercedes team for their commitment towards improving and believed that they were collectively making a giant leap for a compatible car and finally get
back to their winning ways.
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