F1 analysis: Belgian Grand Prix

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton raced to victory during an incident packed Belgium Grand Prix.

F1 stats: Belgian Grand Prix

From driver stats to lap records get all the latest in F1 statistics for the Belgian GP at Spa-Francorchamps.

Mercedes tweaks Schumi's car

2010-04-26 09:24

     

    Mercedes is modifying its 2010 car to better suit Michael Schumacher's driving style.

    While the seven time world champion has struggled with the W01 on his return to the sport, teammate Nico Rosberg is second in the world championship after finishing on the podium at the recent Chinese Grand Prix.

    But team boss Ross Brawn is worried about the car's basic characteristics.

    "New regulations have made the front tyres narrower, which means you need to generate more downforce at the front than before," he is quoted as saying by The Times.

    "Michael needs to be able to lean heavily on the front of the car to make his driving style work," Brawn added.

    The front of the car has therefore been the focus of Mercedes' big upgrade for Barcelona, featuring a longer wheelbase.

    "We've got a modification of the car coming for Barcelona which puts us into a better range for the weight distribution we can achieve," Brawn confirmed.

    But Niki Lauda thinks it should be up to Schumacher to adapt to the car.

    "He must change his driving style as quickly as possible," the former triple world champion is quoted as saying by Blick newspaper.

    "The new formula one with the much narrower front tyres obviously surprised him, while Rosberg has had no problems and is doing a sensational job," added Lauda.

    Schumacher's former title rival Mika Hakkinen is backing the 41-year-old to bounce back and even win a race in 2010, but he also concedes the sport's famously fickle lack of patience.

    "F1 will not give him any time," he told Bild am Sonntag newspaper.  "It knows no mercy and allows you no excuses."

    Share your thoughts on Michael Schumachers F1 return here!



     
    Carl
    4/30/2010 9:39 AM
    For all those experts who have made negative comments about Schumi to date, simply read what an expert in the form of Hakkinen has to say. So, to you guys who are such proclaimed experts and have written Schumi off...blah, blah, blah!
    Pieter Cloete
    4/29/2010 10:52 PM
    MS is the best driver of all time.He will be back with a bang by mid season , outqualifying the whippersnapper doos Nico Rosberg, whos dad was lucky to win the 82 championship,Keke is a doos and his son Nico too.His mom is quite nice.Michael is the king and the king will reign
    Ebi
    4/28/2010 1:25 PM
    @ CC - I don't support any one particular driver. I love the sport, and generally find myself supporting the underdog (who has a chance of winning) in any given race (unless it's MS or LH - both cheaters). This makes it a lot more exciting. As the season progresses I tend to lean more towards a driver who has a chance of winning the championship, but is still the underdog. On your other point, I’ll stop short of saying you're not being sensible, because you are at least trying. However, here's the answer, and seriously, no offence (you honestly don't seem as stupid as some other MS fans), but where his teammates finished has no relevance at all. I'm not sure if you really believe what you're saying or if it's just an attempt at diversion. There were many ways for them to help him in the race, whichever position they were in at various points in the race (considering pit stops and rivals falling back in in different positions), so where they ended up in the championship means nothing at all. Surely you understand that, do you really need it spelt out? The only reason Barichello (a 2nd rate driver) managed to finish second was because the car was much much superior in those seasons. I've never said they let him win, I said they were forced to help him. That is a fact, and the logic is indisputable. At least you were trying to make sense, I’ll give you that, but if you truly are a sensible and unbiased fellow, you'll understand what I’m saying and that your argument unfortunately doesn't stand.
    CC
    4/26/2010 8:41 PM
    @Ebi. It is always easy criticise, especially if you have nothing to loose. You only follow the "sport" and not really a specific driver or team. Or is that just what you would make us believe beacuse you are too afraid to receive the same treatment that you are so quickly to dish out. So answer the following question: If MS's teammates had to let him win or help him as much as you say (no doubt that they sometimes did help) why did they not came 2nd in the championships. This happened only on 2 of the 7 occasions. Surely if they had the best car, they would have finished 1st and second in the championship. Surely if his teammates had to let him win, they should have easilly finished 2nd? Only Barichello could do this on 2 occasions. The other times that Shumi won, his teammates came 3rd or worse. So please, say that this is again "no sensible comment" or answer my question.
    shumiefan
    4/26/2010 4:30 PM
    Schumie had the fastest car? Guess I was watching a different sport all those years!!! Ferrari hadn't won in what, 20 years, before Schumacher joined the team!! That alone shows what a good driver he was/ is! I don't believe he will the championship this year, but he will DEFINITELY become more competitive!
    Leigh
    4/26/2010 3:14 PM
    Dont hate on Schumi. u dont see Schumi fans hating on other drivers. U schumi haters are quick to point out that Schumi must adjust to the car etc etc... but u seem to forget 3 important things... 1)that when he was domineering the sport, he only had the best car when it came to handling. Mclaren was fastest in a straigt line many times. Mclaren was a better and still is today, car in the wet, but Michael was the best DRIVER in the wet. Also for an entire season, renault had the best launch control. (2) if you guys really understand the dynamics of F1 you wont be making silly and ignorant statements like "oh he must adjust to the car, he only won cause he had a fast car" boo fkn woo... The dynamic of F1 is driver = team. the car is made specific to each driver in the team. So of fkn course they will adjust the car to suit whoever is in control of it. this isnt knight rider. Grow up!!! (3) go back and do proper research and enlighten yourselves, and you will discover that other than the virgin team,Michael was one of the last people to start testing his car before the start of the season. Also dont forget that all of you who support well established teams like Ferrari, Mclaren & Renault etc this is Brawns team, not Mercedes, they are more of an investment. Also by the sounds of it, all you haters are probably to young to realise this but in the 90's Michael was in Jordan and Benenton Ford with who he won he's first championship. Was that the best car? ofcos not. but he did it didnt he? He didnt do it as u haters say, with the "best car" or cheating" he did it with a middle order car. So dont jump on the band wagon and say sh!t about the next man when u really know jack sh!t yourselves. Grow the fck up and love the sport for ALL it is. @NICO - i agree he is not wot he used to be, but he's not half bad either. I'll bet u let him and lewis do a single lap in the exact same car, he will most likely beat lewis. All i'm saying is, give the guy a chance. and give him the right car then see. but u guys will then turn and say, he's cheating or its the car... hate the game. Mclaren Fan
    Nico
    4/26/2010 2:37 PM
    @rvdl, face reality, the evidence is in front you, the man is not what he used to be, he's gone, past it. Whatever you want to call it, finished, kaput. Lost his self confidence. All the cheatmaster supporters are living a dream, hoping that he will make a comeback, hoping, hoping, waiting in vain. Wake up, it's not a bad dream, it's reality. Sorry.
    Ebi
    4/26/2010 2:14 PM
    Still no sensible comments from MS fans, only useless, irrelevant excuses. The only reason MS ever won anything was either through luck in having by far the best car, being given an unfair advantage with his teammate being forced to help him, cheating, or a combination of two or all three of those things. That's a fact, and is indisputable.
    rvdl
    4/26/2010 1:50 PM
    dear nico, njagga, and andrew, let me guess, you ladies are mclaren supporters?? the new rules only started to come into play when Schumi was dominating F1. no other driver could keep up and the only way was to change the rules. why could the other drivers not adapt to the cars when schumi was dominating, tey had the same setup!!!!! have you not asked yourself that question? it was because he was superior, he is a lengend and always will be, he believed in him self and now with the new rules, he was not given any time to adapt, but he will win this year, even with these new changes.
    James
    4/26/2010 1:07 PM
    If the car does not suit the fastest driving style; you fix it. Shumacher and Hakkinen had similar driving styles in which they tend to brake late. If the tracksion in the front is not good enough; you fix it. If a simple adjustment to the front wing, upsets the balance; you fix it.
    Sam
    4/26/2010 12:58 PM
    It's a real shame that people out there are still threatened by Schumi's achievements, and resortv to name calling because of their insecurities. Yep, the playing field has changed since he retired. Also, F1 is the pinnacle of motorsport - you cannot just get back into the car and start to do well. It takes mental and physical adjustments, and you have to become 'one with the car'. I wonder what the -'no-hopers' are going to say when Schumi does start to get onto the podium?
    Johan
    4/26/2010 12:02 PM
    Nico, Firstly, Learn to spell... Then, You can't comment on those you haven't driven.
    Andrew
    4/26/2010 11:35 AM
    @ Nico, I couldnt agree more!!
    Njagga
    4/26/2010 11:19 AM
    They should also install the following, traction control, launch control & all the other driver aids they had while shumager was the cheating champ. He can't drive without it. He's like a little boy trying to ride a bike with the sissy wheels taken off, "I can't do it daddy"
    Nico
    4/26/2010 11:00 AM
    Try what you may, it's no use, shumager will never make it, he's useless. If he's such a good diver as people claim, why then can't he make it, why does he need all the adjustments. This only proves that he NEVER was the best driver, he only had the fastest car. 75% of the drivers at that time given shumagers car would have won. Cheatmacher is a has been.
    RR
    4/26/2010 10:41 AM
    Hakkinen hits the nail on the hit. (As the other greatest driver alongside Schumacher).

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