Michael Schumacher Q&A: It’s time to repay Mercedes

[irguiz]

Even his five-place grid penalty couldn’t stop Michael Schumacher smiling after he clocked the fastest qualifying time in Monaco on Saturday. With fans chanting ‘Schuey, Schuey,’ it seemed like the Michael of old was back. What he can do from P6 on the grid on Sunday remains to be seen, but the seven-time champion is determined to make the best of it and finally pay back Mercedes for their unswerving faith in him…

Q: Michael, one fast lap is one thing, doing a whole race is quite another. Last season the car destroyed the rear tyres after some five or six laps - how will it be tomorrow?
Michael Schumacher: You have seen our car this year. Sure, we have had some ups and downs in the early part of the year, but now we understood how to deal with the circumstances and we know what is required here, so we should be fine.

Q: How soon after you’d secured the fastest time did the annoyance of knowing you will have to start from P6 kick in?
MS: Believe it or not, not at all. I already said before I came here that I will start from P6, so it was clear for me that I would clock the pole time! (smiles) I came here with that basic setting and that has not changed in the course of the weekend. I don’t chew on things that I cannot change - and the five places were an unchangeable reality.

Q: All the time prior to Q3 you’d been in the P4, P5 range, and then suddenly your performance exploded. Was that purely down to you?
MS: Well, it is nothing that you really can influence so much here at this track. But the fact is that with the last set of tyres all the pieces fell into place after we’d made alterations to the car here and there to finally have it perfect. Fact is also that in Q1 and Q2 you basically try to qualify for Q3, so that puts the lap time into context because when you drive you see how your lap time is developing and you try not to overdo it in that phase of qualifying. But that is what I guess all are doing who know that they have a competitive car.

Q: Pole time, but P6 on the grid: do you see any chance to better your position with a shrewd strategy?
MS: Yes, indeed, I very much see the chance in a good strategy. How much further to the front that will bring me will have to be seen. I know that we have a very good package for this race, for this track, so now we have to execute it tomorrow. I want to pay back to Mercedes for all the trust they’ve put in me. Let’s hope it is payback time on Sunday afternoon… (laughs)

@темы: формула 1, michael schumacher, сезон 2012, гран-при Монако

Comments

[red sapphire]

Pay back... Naturally it's Mersedes, who must pay back to Michael for all his miseries during the season! They are to blame mainly....

[irguiz]

Yes, indeed. But this is Michael who always said the correctly and loyal things)))

[red sapphire]

Michael.. I sincerely wish him a victory!!!

[irguiz]

I too... Because he was and is my hero today in modern racing, and I want him to retire as an unbroken champion, like Prost...

[red sapphire]

He will. He should...

[irguiz]

I really and very hope...

[red sapphire]

You hope very much=))

[irguiz]

I hope since he has return...

[red sapphire]

Since he has returned everybody hopes...

[irguiz]

It would be very cruel if he won't win again...

[red sapphire]

I've never been his real fan, but the only thing I know is that such legend shouldn't leave bitten...

[irguiz]

Now if even you love him after all his misadventures in this year you can see I love him since his greatest time....

[red sapphire]

I know. But... I shall never agree with those, who says that he had enough victories and needn't more.

[irguiz]

He is Michael Schumacher, that's all. He returned to be the winner at least once...

[red sapphire]

I want, I wish him to have the chance, no matter, where. He needn't prove his title, but he is the great....

[irguiz]

He reminds me Juan Manuel Fangio who raced several years since his titles and went to retires very softly and even invisibly. But I don't want it for Michael!!!

[red sapphire]

I too, darling, I too...
If only I could do anything...

[irguiz]

This is Mercedes who MUST do anything)))))))))

[red sapphire]

Idiots.

[irguiz]

And I even have nothing to say. I simply don't understand what is happens... This isn't Michael, he always had and takes a chance, and now...

[red sapphire]

What happens? Разгильдяйство!!!

[irguiz]

Да уж, даже английского понятия этому нет...

[red sapphire]

Ну блин, вроде немцы же - и такое... слушай, это глупо звучит, конечно, но мне кажется, что пакостят ему специально.

[irguiz]

Я так не думаю. Мне кажется, это просто неудачи. Ну как у Кими в 2004м...

[red sapphire]

Я не смотрела и не люблю Кими)))))))) Но если Мише начнет везти - у мерсов еще есть шанс остаться целыми))))))

[irguiz]

Ладно Кими, но проблемы были у МакЛарена, практически у нынешнего Мерса))))

[red sapphire]

В общем так. Товарищи, не портите гонку Михаэлю, иначе вы останетесь без некоторых жизненно важных частей тела, как то: руки, ноги, голова... Ферштейн? Делайте ваш свободный выбор, господа!

[irguiz]

Хороший выбор)))

[red sapphire]

Маловариативный, да. Но действенный))))))

[irguiz]

Главное добровольный же))))