Mercedes GP chief backs Schumacher despite flop comeback
April 1st, 2010 - 5:41 pm ICT by ANILondon, Apr 1(ANI): Seven-time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher has been given a vote of confidence by his Mercedes Grand Prix team chief Norbert Haug despite a nightmare start to his comeback.
Schumacher finished sixth and 10th in his first two races in Bahrain and Australia after three years out of the sport, and has also been outraced by team-mate Nico Rosberg.
However, Haug insisted: “Michael is as good as ever. He has got it still.”
“He could sit on his sofa saying, ‘Nobody won more than I did’ - but this is his passion. But he is a more relaxed guy than ever, he has fun, he is a very good team member, team player,” The Sun quoted Haug, as saying.
Haug further said that Schumacher is back in the F1 to be competitive, and reiterated his claims that Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso was blocking the German in qualifying last Saturday.
“If you look at the times, if you look at qualifying, Michael was handicapped behind Alonso. It is fair to say it was a very comparable lap to Nico, who I think is one of the highest-rated guys of the current generation, with four years’ experience,” Haug said.
“We have one of the strongest driver pairings in the field. It is up to us to improve the package further. It is fair to say we improved it on this track compared to Bahrain,” he added. (ANI)
- Chinese GP: Rosberg takes maiden F1 pole, Force India out of top-10 - Apr 14, 2012
- Vettel takes pole, di Resta 10th in Bahrain - Apr 21, 2012
- Schumacher remains upbeat despite 10th place finish - Mar 29, 2010
- Rosberg sets pace in second practice at Bahrain GP - Apr 20, 2012
- Schumacher's comeback a massive mistake: Moss - Apr 28, 2010
- Alonso wins dramatic Malaysian GP, Force India in top-10 - Mar 25, 2012
- Schumacher top overtaker in 2011 F1 season - Dec 25, 2011
- Vettel takes pole for Chinese Grand Prix - Apr 17, 2010
- F1 supremo Ecclestone backs Schumacher to win again - Apr 22, 2010
- Hamilton breaks Red Bull 'qualifying domination' to grab Canadian GP pole - Jun 13, 2010
- Webber pips Vettel as Red Bull stay unbeaten in qualifying - May 08, 2010
- Schumacher's ex-boss writes off his chances of a glorious comeback - May 05, 2010
- Rosberg signs multi-year contract with Mercedes - Nov 10, 2011
- Rosberg joins Mercedes, Brawn rules out Schumacher - Nov 23, 2009
- Vettel takes pole for Chinese Grand Prix in Red Bull one-two - Apr 17, 2010
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