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MONTE CARLO, Monaco - Mercedes team chief Ross Brawn has accepted the blame for seven-times champion Michael Schumacher's struggle to turn speed and potential into strong finishes so far in 2012.
The bespectacled English pits-wall boffin who's been involved in all of the German's title-winning seasons, was confident Schumacher would make it on to the 2012 Monaco podium to match compatriot Nico Rosberg's performances in the same car.
Rosberg scored his first F1 victory when he won the 2012 Chinese GP.
WHO'S THE IDIOT?
In a season of five different winners in five races, Schumacher is one of the champions yet to claim a triumph to add to his career total. Brawn said on Wednesday the team was to blame for some of his poor displays. Questions about his performances have been circulating since his third DNF in five races in Spain two weeks earlier.
Schumacher, 43, ran into the back of Bruno Senna and then called the Brazilian an "idiot" over the team radio, but the stewards found Schumacher himself was the guilty driver.
He was given a five-place grid penalty for this weekend's Monaco GP - given stats for the race, no chance to win.
It's been the story of his season for the former 'Red Baron'... only two points from the first five races is a stark contrast to team mate Rosberg who has 41, including his win in China
'PODIUM STILL TO COME'
Schumacher, though, still has the backing of team boss as Brawn who said: "Much has been said and written after his accident in Spain, but we should not forget that WE - the team - have let him down in three of the five races by not delivering the best job possible.
"We must do better. I saw Michael's real driving quality in the first race. I believe we will still see Michael on the podium this year."
Schumacher's three-year contract with the squad will end with the 2012 season.
Brawn told Bild: "When the time comes, we will sit down together and talk about Michael's future."
Until then, the team will push hard to bring him up to Rosberg's speed.
The bespectacled English pits-wall boffin who's been involved in all of the German's title-winning seasons, was confident Schumacher would make it on to the 2012 Monaco podium to match compatriot Nico Rosberg's performances in the same car.
Rosberg scored his first F1 victory when he won the 2012 Chinese GP.
WHO'S THE IDIOT?
In a season of five different winners in five races, Schumacher is one of the champions yet to claim a triumph to add to his career total. Brawn said on Wednesday the team was to blame for some of his poor displays. Questions about his performances have been circulating since his third DNF in five races in Spain two weeks earlier.
Schumacher, 43, ran into the back of Bruno Senna and then called the Brazilian an "idiot" over the team radio, but the stewards found Schumacher himself was the guilty driver.
He was given a five-place grid penalty for this weekend's Monaco GP - given stats for the race, no chance to win.
It's been the story of his season for the former 'Red Baron'... only two points from the first five races is a stark contrast to team mate Rosberg who has 41, including his win in China
'PODIUM STILL TO COME'
Schumacher, though, still has the backing of team boss as Brawn who said: "Much has been said and written after his accident in Spain, but we should not forget that WE - the team - have let him down in three of the five races by not delivering the best job possible.
"We must do better. I saw Michael's real driving quality in the first race. I believe we will still see Michael on the podium this year."
Schumacher's three-year contract with the squad will end with the 2012 season.
Brawn told Bild: "When the time comes, we will sit down together and talk about Michael's future."
Until then, the team will push hard to bring him up to Rosberg's speed.