Rosberg expects a level playing field at Mercedes

[mr moda]

There is certainly an element of emotional anti Schumacher view in the Rosberg family. I think it runs deeper in Keke as he was in business with Hakkinen when he was Michael's main opponent. Keke seems to be much more negative on Schumacher than Mika ever was.

Really? Where can I find this? I would be very very interested to read it.

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/08012010/ ... n-t-1.html

Rosberg meanwhile added that while Schumacher may be the most successful driver in the history of F1, he’s always been more of a supporter of Mika Hakkinen, a man Schumacher often said he feared - and respected - most.
"To be honest, I was a fan of Mika Hakkinen. I was always happy when he beat Michael, because he was a good friend of the family," continued Nico, son of Finnish 1982 F1 World champion, Keke Rosberg.

http://paddocktalk.com/news/html/module ... sid=126010

Some weeks earlier, at the 2009 finale in Abu Dhabi, the young German had been quoted as claiming Schumacher turned overtaking into a "dangerous issue" when he moved over on Mika Hakkinen at Spa nine years ago.

Then, on the same day as Schumacher's official confirmation by Mercedes GP, Rosberg told the Stuttgarter Zeitung newspaper that the 41-year-old faced a tough challenge in getting back up to speed.

"It will not be easy for him," he said. "When you stay away from F1 for a long time, it takes time to get used to all the test sessions again. It's not simple."

Keke about Rascasse 2006:

It was the worst thing I have seen in Formula One. I thought he had grown up. He is a scum bag. He should leave F 1 to honest people.

Keke later apologised for "scum bag" and some emotional content, but was clearly the most condemning of all commentators.

I was refering to the comment you made about Keke. The quotes from Nico we all know about. In ref to Kekes comment re Monaco. He has only said what 99% of the f1 world was thinking. To that I agree with him. Little sook who could not handle it when things did not go his way.

[tc9604]

They're as English as the Queen is German!

They also had a very popular (and some say good looking) blonde, partnered with a balding older man. They then got rid of the good looking blonde at the peak of his popularity .... sound familiar?

I haven't seen her around lately. Wonder what happened to her...

Apparently she's starting up a F1 team 'cos she feels like it... Windsor F1

[DaveKillens]

In such a scenario, -like Massa did before- Rosberg must stay close to him by accepting him as a mentor.He should carefully analyze his approaches and working methods.During that process, Rosberg must try to establish a good relation with team staff, try to gain their trust and faith by both on and off track performances by benefiting from a Schumi's possible consistency struggle.

Schumi isn't young and after 3 years, Rosberg has to be in a position to lead the team.By being patient and playing the right role it doesn't sound very hard.

I also agree that partnering Rosberg with Schumacher, it will force Rosberg to become a more successful Formula One driver. It won't happen overnight, but by the end of the 2010 season, he should have much more focus and drive, and know what it takes to become WDC.

I look back on the 2009 season when Williams were one of the quickest out of the gate, yet never converted that pace to points. I'm sure that many agree that if Schumacher had been in Rosberg's shoes for the 2009 season, he would have captured a lot more points, especially before the non-DDD crowd made their major modifactions.

This isn't really about who is the quickest, or has the better reflexes, but about getting the most out of the car, how to be more effective in capturing points when the car is up to it, how to get the most out of the team, and the thousand-and-one little things that add up to becoming a very successful driver.

When Massa went over to Ferrari he was a surprise to many, because his reputation up to that time wasn't impressive. But he was partnered with Schumacher, and it made him a much better driver. The folks at Mercedes are hoping the same kind of pixie-dust will rub off Michael and land on Rosberg.

Now, equal treatment? I have heard that litany before, and it looks good for awhile, eventually one driver has to be treated as number one. Especially when more than half the season is gone, and suddenly the driver with most points and the better odds to win the WDC has to be supported by the team, and second driver. I expect that at that time, Schumacher will have a substantial lead over Rosberg, and be more consistent. That will have earned him the full support of the team.

[ISLAMATRON]

The interesting question is what happens if MS has some early retirements (accidents/crashes/mechanicals/parkings) and Rosberg some wins out the box... then it will be very interesting.

[DaveKillens]

The interesting question is what happens if MS has some early retirements (accidents/crashes/mechanicals/parkings) and Rosberg some wins out the box... then it will be very interesting.

It could happen, then things get .. "sticky"? It sure would not help Michael's image if at mid-season Rosberg had as many points. But I really don't expect that to happen. Michael will be his usual ruthless, focused points-gathering machine and will steadily out-point Rosberg.

For me, that's Rosberg's obvious shortcoming, to fail to gather as many points as the car has potential for. Obviously, Michael Schumacher does not have that shortcoming.

[WhiteBlue]

I was refering to the comment you made about Keke. The quotes from Nico we all know about. In ref to Kekes comment re Monaco. He has only said what 99% of the f1 world was thinking. To that I agree with him. Little sook who could not handle it when things did not go his way.

Well I should not have put any effort into documenting things you knew well before. Keke felt the need to apologise later. He must have had a very negative emotional view of Schumacher. You do not make this kind of comments and apologise unless you feel you have done something wrong. I doubt that 99% of the f1 world was in such an extreme emotional state. It is surprising how much some people hate Michael Schumacher.

[Ciro Pabón]

Well, I don't think people hates MS. What I see, wrong or right, is many people hating MS performances. No amount of denial by Mr. Rosberg can make us forget the reaction of the grid back at Monaco. The same "press statement mode" explains the hopes he has for a "level playing field".

The way of racing of Mr. Schumacher and some events in his career are not going to be forgotten easily, he has to live with them for the rest of his life.

You also have to wonder if he's not risking health and limb coming back with a neck injury at 40+. The attitude of some fans doesn't help him, either rooting for "Superman" or defiling him as "Lex Luthor". As I said elsewhere, we have met the enemy and it's us, the fans.

Barry Bonds bulging muscles and cartoonish appearance were, in a similar way, put aside by the fans, in denial. I wonder if these sport superstars are taking advantage of the media machine or being hurt by the exposure and by the income of many people depending on their career.

Let's wait and judge what happens, although it's very easy to predict that, given the opportunity to choose between Rosberg and Schumacher, the need for good press will always force Mercedes to take the easy decision. Rosberg state of denial seems pathetic, not only about the scum bag comment, but about his hopes of receiving the same treatment as a multiple WDC. He's not saying this because he believes it, in my opinion (duh!) but because he thinks that's what we want to hear.

I respectfully see, in my ingenuity, Schumacher taking the same path toward hell that moves producers to extract the last drop of rock superstars: we all know how many careers end in that business and we all know why. Simple: money.

[xpensive]

It is surprising how much some people hate Michael Schumacher.

See, I'm so glad you finally see things my way WB, it's so very unfair.

[Pup]

[WhiteBlue]

You also have to wonder if he's not risking health and limb coming back with a neck injury at 40+. The attitude of some fans doesn't help him, either rooting for "Superman" or defiling him as "Lex Luthor". As I said elsewhere, we have met the enemy and it's us, the fans.

I think it was a much bigger risk to go bike racing at his age. He did it obviously for the love of racing and competing although I'm sure his detractors will find a bunch of negatives for that as well.

I respectfully see, in my ingenuity, Schumacher taking the same path toward hell that moves producers to extract the last drop of rock superstars: we all know how many careers end in that business and we all know why. Simple: money.

I respectfully tell you that your view is nonsense. The man could make the same or similar amount of money by sitting out his life at Ferrari. He simply has the racing bug. Domenicali said that Ferrari needs to beat MSC now. That is indeed the problem for the Alonso fans. They finally got their hero into a red machine but that is not going to guarantee a cake walk for him. Alonso has serious competition and Button with his silly move to McLaren has pushed the Schumacher move that had probably not happened without his folly.

I see Mercedes GP stronger with Schumacher than without him. They will probably handle the #1 question just like Ferrari. If the faster man can loose important championship points the slower driver has to drive shotgun for him. Kimi had to do it in 2008 and it will probably hit Massa, Webber, Button and Rosberg this year if the betting men have their odds right.

[gibells]

They also had a very popular (and some say good looking) blonde, partnered with a balding older man. They then got rid of the good looking blonde at the peak of his popularity .... sound familiar?

I haven't seen her around lately. Wonder what happened to her...

Apparently she's starting up a F1 team 'cos she feels like it... Windsor F1

What, her and Jacko? US headquarters: Neverland?

[Raptor22]

I'm afraid that Irvine had pretty much the opposite to say. He said that Michael earned the #1 on merits of being the faster driver.

Eddie Irvine said, while at Ferrari, it was a level playing field. I heard him say so - as did Brawn, Todt and others when asked about it.

Years later, after Irvine retired and got more opinionated, his tune changed.

The reasoning, justification or considering Irvine's views etc, is not really not the issue. There is just no chance Michael would return to a team without the basic conditions being at least as good, if not better, than his time at Ferrari. That means he is the preferred driver of the team. He may not beat Nico every time - nor did he Irvine, Massa or Rubens, but he's the man. Nico is the boy. A huge chunk of the team's sponsorship will be there solely because of Michael, and almost none because of Nico - another huge piece of clout Michael brings to the team which would put them in his corner when push comes to shove.

Irvine says Michael was quicker and that's why he was #1 - he says that now he doesn't have anything to prove and can be frank about his driving compared to Michael. At the time however he sung a very different tune.

I think you will find that after a less successfuldriver leaves or is forced to leave a team, that thei rcommentary is seldom complimentary toward their team and rival driver in that team.
This is a basic human trait, and is strongest in very competitive people who have not quite been able to get the best out of themselves within an organisation.

You will find that Schumacher has attracted this type of critism everywhere he has gone. Is it because the teams contract the 2nd driver to be number 2?

LEts say Ferrari did hire Irvine as a number 2 ((which they didn't) why then, if Irvine had any desire to win or be WDC, sign the contract? No other options available? Why then would Ferrari hire this no hoper without options?
See the arguement that a driver uses for being bested "I was the number 2" just does not stack up to logic nor to the way an F1 team is run. Team managers want the best opportunity to win because winning earns them revenue. To have the better the chances of winning you need both cars to be competitive which means the two best drivers available to you.

Now as far as Schumacher and Ferrari is concerned, I do know that a few drivers turned down the opportunity to drive a Ferrari because theyfelt that they had a better chance in a different car with a different team. Why? because Ferrari was Schumachers Team contractually or because they are all competitive and their ego's wil not allow them to want to work with Schumacher so its easier to drive a different car and eke out an advantage there?

What Irvine has siad recently rings true throughout Schumachers Ferrari career and his Benetton career. He was the quicker driver and therefore the team gravitated toward their best chance of winning. Nothing to do with contracts, just a natural gravitation towards the best chance of success.

And that does not mean that the teams sabotaged the other car (this would be stupid) but it means that If Schumacher asked for a change to his car, it got done immediatelywhereas Rubens Would have to wait.

It takes strength of character to life yourself above the more established driver in this situation. Its somthing Senna had but Rubens clearly lacks.
It something Irvine had but he stil lacked the raw pace in a bad setup car to challenge Schumacher.
You will find anecdotes from people who have been involved with Schumacher dierectly in his career who testify to his speed as he rose through the formulae and drove faster ad faster vehicles. He seemed to get better the faster the car was.

So at Mercedes, Nico may not be number 2 but in order for him to gain the focus of the team, he will have to be consistently faster than Michael.

I'm not convinced he will be quicker than Michael. He has not really performed consistently nor has he really developed the Williams over the seasonshe has been there. His performances don't really stand out for me and I think he will buckle and fold under the pressure the Schumacher names brings with it.

He and his father will no doubt start to claim favouritism toward Schumacher, un equal equipment all the usual blah blah of failure.

Michael is 41, perhaps he won't be as fast as he used to be, but if he is as quick as a demotivated Michael was in 2006 then he is going to be a very large pain in the ass to the Rosberg family.

[donskar]

One more reason MS was the #1 in actual practice -- he worked hard to be a member of the team, working overtime with the engineers and mechanics. His extra effort helped him mold the team to be "his." As far as I've read, few -- if any -- drivers worked as hard as MS -- on and off the track -- to make the car and team successful.

[WhiteBlue]

Michael never leaves out the smallest chance to push his competitiveness. The first two weeks of 2010 he has already spend two complete days in Brackley with the engineers and will be testing in Jerez 3 days to get his skills up after time away from formula car driving.

Back on topic: Rosberg may feel compelled to make a lot of statements because very few people see him as WDC 2010. In the F1technical poll 31 users cast their vote and none for Britney.

[DaveKillens]

Of all the drivers in Formula One, no one knows what it takes to be successful, or how to get there, than Michael Schumacher. Not only in car performance, but in directing and motivating the entire team towards his ultimate goal of winning. And that is something I fear many newer fans are not aware of, or take into consideration when discussing Schumacher.

There's one quality that Michael brings to the table that Rosberg cannot. If Michael wants a change in procedures or equipment, he can speak up without fear of criticism or rebuke. Who can argue with a 7 times champion, especially when the team principle (Brawn) has complete confidence in Michael's experience and abilities? Additionally, Michael's presence on the Mercedes team will assure a steady flow of money and support from Mercedes. They are comitted, and have to see this through. And if Mercedes has to dip into their pockets for a few additional millions to pay for a hectic development pace because they are in a battle for the championship, they have to, and cannot be perceived as getting cheap when it really mattered.. especially in the case of Schumacher. His fans would be more than unhappy if they discovered that Michael's chances for number 8 were cut short because Mercedes did not support him in a manner they believe Mercedes should.