F1 News
Date: 17/August/2011
Michael Schumacher has attempted to stamp out rumours that he will quit F1, for a second and final time, at the end of this season.
The seven-time world champion, who spent the majority of his glittering career at Ferrari, was tempted out of a three-year retirement by the chance to drive for the new Mercedes GP team in 2010.
The German legend, driving a Silver Arrow designed by then reigning champion designer Ross Brawn - in whose cars Schumacher achieved most of his F1 success - seemed like a match made in heaven. Unfortunately, the results are yet to follow the script…
Midway through his second season back and Schumacher, a winner of 91 grands prix and podium finisher in 154 events, is yet to even stand on the rostrum.
The 42-year-old finished ninth overall last season and is currently tenth in this year's championship, 16 points and three places behind young team-mate Nico Rosberg - but insist he won’t throw in the towel.
“Despite some funny rumours and stupid, untruthful stories I keep repeating myself, that you will have to see me in 2012. If you like it or not, I will be there!" said Schumacher.
"The good thing is that I have lots of support from all around, in particular from the company and team. They wish me to be there. I wish to be there and I’m looking forward to it.”
The forthcoming Belgian Grand Prix at Spa will mark Schumacher's return to a circuit where he made his F1 debut in 1991, qualifying seventh as a stand-in driver for Jordan after Bertrand Gachot was imprisoned!
Reflecting on his unlikely entry into F1, Schumacher also revealed the behind-the-scene role Mercedes - whom Schumacher was then driving for in Sports Car racing - had played.
“F1 was more the plan for ’92, but then we got the opportunity [with Jordan]. Mercedes supported this, both financially and from the management side, to get me into Formula One," said Schumacher, whose one-off Jordan drive was rumoured to have cost Mercedes a six-figure sum.
Despite accepting a comeback chance with Ferrari in 2009 as a stand-in for the injured Felipe Massa, which Schumacher eventually had to abort due to motorcycle injuries, the German insists he would not have returned with another team.
“The loop is closing again, with me coming back after all these years to Mercedes, in order to succeed in the mission to make Mercedes world champion," he said.
“That is something that I’m happy about and it’s certainly the only combination that triggered my thoughts to seriously think about a comeback.
"When Ross asked me to return, I said give me two days to think it over. I decided ‘why not?’ I’m still fit enough, I’m still mentally ready for it and I like a challenge.”
So why is Schumacher struggling to get even anywhere near his past success?
Since being taken over by Mercedes, the previously titled Honda and then Brawn GP team has lost considerable ground to the 'big three' of Red Bull, McLaren and Ferrari.
But uncompetitive cars aside, being regularly beaten by a team-mate isn’t something the 'old' Michael ever had to tolerate.
Some say Schumacher is simply less intense than before - making him a more relaxed, but slower, driver. The man himself insists the 2011 'Schumi' contains the same characteristics.
“I'm older, but no less competitive from my point of view and certainly no less determined," he stated.
Schumacher now has until the end of 2012 to prove his doubters wrong, starting where it all began, at Spa-Francorchamps on August 28.
Schumacher qualified seventh on his F1 debut in 1991, but retired early from the race with clutch problems.
Benetton had seen enough and quickly prised Schumacher from Jordan for the following race. Schumacher went on to win his first two world titles for the Benetton before joining Ferrari in 1996.
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