Schumacher vs Rosberg 2011

[raymondu999]

Hey all. With a year back in the sport under his belt, and being able to influence the car's development and design since the start, how do you all think this will happen? Will Herr Schumacher get the upper hand on Keke Jr? Or will Britney continue to show Cher the way?

We saw most of last year that there were only random moments where Michael was outperforming Nico, but towards the end, he was constantly performing very well. He was very close to Nico and was very good in the wet and slippery Korea, he was miles faster of Nico, and if he had pitted 1 or 2 laps later in Suzuka, would've probably been ahead, and maybe caught and passed Hamilton's ailing MacMerc. He was very good in Brazil too. Abu Dhabi... well let's not talk about that

Please don't just vote in the poll. Please do comment as well to fuel the discussion.

[nipo]

It kinda depends on what grounds you have to cast your vote. I have a feeling this thread will turn into another fanboy warzone... Not that I think it is too bad, as long as it doesn't go personal.

I gave my vote to Rosberg, not because I am confident that he will still outclass Schumi like he did last year. It's because I'm managing my expectations, so that in the event it really happens that way, I won't be so dissappointed. Am I a Schumi fan? I wouldn't call myself that, but I started watching F1 around 2000 and I did admire his way of just winning every race out there (don't bash me, I am aware he's got the best car and the best #2 driver-slave at his disposal). However, even that is not the reason of my dissappointment - it's just a painful sight for me to see a 7-time world champion overtaken again and again by supposingly lesser peers almost every race.

To be objective, I think Schumi might just have a chance this year to at least make it a level playing field. From interviews scripts I gather that he suffered most in the low speed corners last year and a lot of that is down to the front-end grip, which was cut down significantly when the front tyre dimensions changed. Massa actually reported the same problem. This year with the Pirelli, some drivers have already voiced out that the front-end grip has improved. This might help drivers of a particular breed, which hopefully includes Schumi.

Rosberg, on the other hand, has earned his reputation as being fast and one of the most consistent. With one season of domination over Schumacher under his belt, he is no small force and I would love to see Schumi stepping up and giving him a real challenge!

[Jakkals]

If the W02 is better suited to Schumacher this year, I think we are in for a good season in the Mercedes paddock. Although the end results of the previous season seems to indicate that Rosberg was street-blocks ahead him, the timing sheets tend to indicate that the difference was not that much. (see: http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/statistics/n ... mate-2010/ ).

I for one think we might see a much tighter Schumacher this year. Rosberg will have to keep an eye on the old fox, he still have plans....

[ali.unal]

There is a story about Norbert Haug talking about the 2011 prospects of the team. He says loud and clear: "Tyres are not an excuse anymore."

For some reason, I tend to read it as a subliminal message to Schumacher, too. No doubt Schumacher will have some pressure on his shoulder. If W02 is not up to the standards of the likes of Red Bull and co., then he should at least beat Rosberg. Given his performans over the last races in 2010 campaign, I have every reason to believe that would be the case.

[Giblet]

I have a feeling this thread will turn into another fanboy warzone...

I don't expect this to last very long until it gets locked to be quite frank.

Last year quite simply Nico overshadowed Michael for a variety of different reasons.

Considering even a rusty Michael is still a very quick driver, it shows that if his issues with the car are overcome, that Mercedes GP will have two very quick drivers and possibly the best duo in the field.

If the issues with the car get taken care of, and he still gets beaten handily by Nico, then there will be little in the way of excuses that can be made.

For now it's far too early to be bothering with a thread that will get locked before the season gets underway.

[gridwalker]

I don't see a Stannah stairlift attached to the side of the car, so there's an advantage for Britney right there

Right, I've got my cheap shot in (apologies to anyone who thought that I seriously meant anything by that) so I'll be serious now : Britney may not be the bigger name, but he has now shown his mettle in a way that he never could in a Williams.

Schumi might have more motivation now to show his comeback isn't a mistake, but Britney will have the added motivation to show that last year wasn't a flash in the pan. It'll be a bit of a pressure cooker and the psychological edge will be with the driver who wants it more ... I just don't think Schumacher is hungry enough any more.

[CMSMJ1]

I also went for Britney. He has the desire and our friend MS, IMO, doesn't.

It is tight though but there will be an overall swing to Rosberg in the year.

Saying that, if you asked me which Merc is going to win the first race..hmmmm. I can imagine MS somehow nailing one easier that Nico.

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

If the W02 is up to scratch I see Schumacher/Rosberg being the most evenly contested driver pairing out there. Its a credit to them both.

Talk of Schumacher being too old is rubbish, as towards the end of the season he was either a few thousandths off Nico or ahead of him. Rusty at the start and a couple of low points and then he bounced back. That shows grit.

Nico will do well to repeat last season IMO Because I think you will see a more combative Schumi this year. But he has the speed to beat anyone on his day, and he showed real consistency last year.

If the W02 is a winning car, I expect fireworks between the 2 of them this year.

[gibells]

Schumi is the man. I expect him to win one, maybe two races this year. And to beat Britney while doing it. Big up to the older guys. My (now) empathy lies with them!

[PlatinumZealot]

Rosberg is going to wipe he floor with the old man this year. It's going to be embarrassing.

[WhiteBlue]

Rosberg is going to wipe he floor with the old man this year. It's going to be embarrassing.

Betfair has them today on the following odds:

Schumacher 16.5
Rosberg 19.5

with a market total of 126,000 €.

So the betting money is supporting Schumacher at this time. I think a lot will depend of how the drivers personally will cope with the massive understeer when the tyres degrade rapidly, particularly the rears. I could imagine that Rosberg will find it easier to adapt being younger, but you never know.

[marcush.]

To me the 2010 season was a mystery.Was Rosberg really that impressive? I can not remember any of that.But I do remember Scumachers first lap performances,he was really on a charge and dropped the ball only once in the first lap.Clearly Schumacher was unable to extract or better said to string three maximum sectors into a lap time ...indication of him having trouble to read the tyres.Reminds me of Heidfeld in 2007 when he was trounced by Kubica in Qualy and was at a loss to explain.My opinion is Schumacher should have been able to adapt to the tyres ,but seemingly it took him the whole yearto get there.With everyone on pirellis now there is no advantage to anyone in terms of mileage with the tyres.So I expect them to matched evenly in speed on any day.
I expect them to clash on track at least once,and Rosberg refusing accept defeat,and I expect Schumacher to win at least one race more than Rosberg.

[ringo]

Rosberg is more adaptable at the moment, he will beat shumacher in anything.
Shumacher will put up a bigger fight this year no doubt, but this will simply emphasize Nico's control over him.
Things are going to get ugly at mercedes. Rosberg may win races while Micheal will always miss out on the win because he can't hold it together the whole race. It wont go unnoticed between them.
So the same as last year. Rosberg open a second can of whoopass on the Schnürsenkel.

[lolzi]

It's very strange to read messages in these kinds of topics just after reading a "technical" topic. People who seem to be intelligent people behaving like small children or hooligans.

[Ferraripilot]

Michael will edge out Rosberg very closely this year. It's going to be close. Michael wants it even more in 2011 due to how rough 2010 was. That said, I am sure Rosberg feels the same way, but Michael has the upper hand as far as pressure and focus is concerned.