Will Schuey be another Lauda?
Everywhere I go these days the hot topic is Michael Schumacher. Will he or won’t he? Everyone wants to know. And this got me thinking back to 1984.
I can hardly believe that more than a quarter of a century has passed since I stood at Paddock Bend watching Niki Lauda win the British Grand Prix at Brands Hatch. It was late July, a hot day, with a huge crowd and the start of an extraordinary domination by the McLaren MP4/2 TAG Porsche. Between that weekend and late October, every GP was won by either Lauda or Alain Prost.
Lauda was two years into his Formula 1 comeback. In 1982 he’d won his third race, so we all knew he’d lost none of his skill. Now only Prost stood between him and another world title. The other thing about that ’84 season was fuel stops had been banned and tank capacity reduced. This posed no problems for the crafty Austrian. But he was 35 years old, not 41 as Schumacher will be this year. And, by mid-season, he had the best car.
Lauda’s victory at Brands was typically measured, the former champion looking after his fuel and tyres while Prost and Nelson Piquet stormed away from the front row of the grid. Lauda was happy to watch and wait. But on lap 12 Jonathan Palmer crashed at Clearways and the race was stopped. After Palmer’s stricken RAM had been removed to safety the race resumed over 60 laps. Prost went into the lead but retired with a broken gearbox, leaving Lauda to fend off Piquet. But the Brazilian fell away with a broken turbocharger on the Brabham-BMW and Lauda cruised home ahead of Derek Warwick in the Renault RE50. Job done. And no points for Prost.
A young Brazilian named Ayrton Senna was on the podium that day, having finished a determined third in the Toleman-Hart. But that’s another story.
What we learnt at Brands was that a ‘senior citizen’ can come back, win races and claim another championship, even if it was by only half a point. But he had a strong team-mate in Prost, a man six years his junior – and a man on a mission after quitting Renault to join McLaren.
I’m not suggesting that all this has any bearing on the return of Schumacher. But it is fascinating to look at seasons past, especially a year in which it appeared that at least three drivers were in with a strong chance of winning. Schuey will need the best car, and he’ll need some luck. We know about his racecraft and his – and Brawn’s – ability to make the best of the rules…
Tomorrow Schumacher starts testing at Valencia in the new 2010 GP2 car, by special permission of the FIA and rival teams. It is a sign of his intent.
Filed under: Blogs, Formula 1, Historic Racing, Personalities
Tags: Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna, Jonathan Palmer, Michael Schumacher, Nelson Piquet, Niki Lauda, Toleman-Hart
Rob was brought up on racing, being taken to Goodwood as a small child and devouring his father’s copies of Motor Sport. During a career in newspaper, radio and TV journalism he created the ‘Track Torque’ motorsport show on radio and was Indycar commentator for Eurosport before co-founding the Festival of Speed and Revival events. He was marketing director of the Goodwood Road Racing Company. 
Santiago Fernández:
January 11th, 2010 5:32pm
For any tifosi, there is also the similarity in that these 2 men took returned Ferrari from irrelevance and into a championship winning team.
I’d like for one more similarity tough: I’d love to see Schumi have to duel with “the next Prost” from within his team.
Dave Cubbedge:
January 11th, 2010 7:10pm
and that ain’t Nico, at least not yet.
R Tanveer:
January 11th, 2010 8:26pm
Had Villeneuve not been killed, he’d have been in a McLaren.
Ron Dennis offered Gilles a sum greater than what either Lauda/Watson/Prost was getting…and I doubt Lauda would have been in the Canadian’s class in 1984.
As for 2010, as mentioned already by Santiago and Dave above, too bad the ‘other’ Mercedes will not be occupied by a proven Ace in the form of Hamilton, Vettel or Alonso (or Raikkonen, if weren’t off Rallying) under true co-equal circumstances.
Tony Geran:
January 11th, 2010 10:10pm
Rob
Niki was only 33 (I don’t think that qualifies as a “senior citizen” even in this youth oriented world) when he came back to F1 and as Santiago and Dave said he faced one of the best drivers in F1 at the time as teammate. If his car is competitve I think Schumacher will win some races but if it isn’t, it wouldn’t surprise me to see a recurrence of his “neck injury” to cause a mid season break from his return. Even with his fitness I see 41 as being too old for a proper world championship bid, he is nearly 20 years older than Vettel and Hamilton for god’s sake.
JUAN RICO:
January 12th, 2010 6:09am
Errrrrrrrrrr yes
rob widdows:
January 12th, 2010 11:54am
I am not suggesting that Schumacher will win the world championship this year. I think Vettel will do that. Unles, of course, the McLaren is a Lotus 78 and the two Brits dominate the season.
I am simply casting the idea that age is no barrier if you are very fit, very crafty and very fast. And if you have both Mercedes-Benz and Ross Brawn behind you.
Importantly, one of the reasons for blogging, and communicating with you lot out there is to encourage intelligent debate. I was thinking – why aren’t there any women on this blog? I know lots of women who love watching motor racing. My wife, for example, has always been a big fan of Scumacher. No, I don’t really know why.
Anyway, I enjoyed going racing in the 1980s and just wanted to stir a few memories.
Yes, Villeneuve would have been more than interesting in that McLaren. Just as Warwick should have been in the Toleman. But Senna didn’t want him there.
That’s partly what it takes.
RW
Steve Hyde:
January 12th, 2010 12:09pm
Rob,
I can’t help wondering what was going through your head as you wrote, “One of the reasons for blogging, and communicating with you lot out there is to encourage intelligent debate. I was thinking – why aren’t there any women on this blog?”
Speaking for myself, I once had a girlfriend who was very knowledgeable about F1 and a regular MotorSport reader. My German mother-in-law is also an F1 fanatic so I’ll refrain from making any further comment.
Nevertheless, I’m waiting to see who takes up the cudgel with potential references along the lines of, “What car will Alonso be driving? A red one!”
Regards, (with tongue very much in cheek)
Steve
JUAN RICO:
January 12th, 2010 12:59pm
Rob..congratulations on having such a brilliant wife,,she obviously knows her F1.
rob widdows:
January 12th, 2010 1:14pm
Well, no, actually. She just thinks he deserves better treatment by the British who, in some quarters, do not appear to be able to forget the war………………Yes, I know, but it’s true.
The reason she doesn’t know that about Grand Prix racing is that she usually watches the start and, if it’s a dull race, she disappears and does something more constructive…………………..
She thinks Schumacher should stay at home because to come back is not fair on his wife and children. See what I mean?
RW
JUAN RICO:
January 12th, 2010 1:43pm
In respect of his treatment,she is spot on,,we would be so proud of a sportsman of such calibre if he was British.
I had been trying to get that message across without mentioning the W word…reminds me of Fawlty Towers,,whatever you do,,don’t mention the war…
But there are many English Schuey fans out there that like myself don’t follow patriotic protocol and admire sportsmen whichever nationality,otherwise I’d be an Alonso fan.
But as to staying at home,,I wish my wife was eager for me to be under her feet 24/7………….or maybe not.
She’s just letting him out to play and have some fun
rob widdows:
January 12th, 2010 2:52pm
Do not under-estimate Alonso at Ferrari. He will be a very strong contender if the car is right.
Last night, on the TV news in the UK, Lewis Hamilton had his tongue firmly in his cheek ahead of the new GP season.
Asked about his new team-mate, he replied along the lines of – ‘well, he’s the World Champion so I need to watch out. I’m just the number two driver’.
Yeah, yeah, right on Lewis. They will be fighting for supremacy within the team and on the circuit. It will be an interesting garage to observe as the season unfolds.No wonder Mr Dennis plans to go to some of the Grands Prix – just in a casual observer’s role, of course………………….
RW
Gary Dunn:
January 12th, 2010 4:09pm
by Rob…”Just as Warwick should have been in the Toleman. But Senna didn’t want him there.”
I don’t remember if that happened regarding Toleman also, but I know it did at Lotus. Senna vetoed the potential signing of Warwick because he didn’t think Lotus could provide two cars capable of racing at the front.
I believe Warwick suggested Senna just didn’t want the competition.. :)
Gary Dunn:
January 12th, 2010 4:24pm
Schumacher would have many more British fans if both he & Ferrari had conducted themselves better.
I have huge respect for Schuey’s racing ability, but his actions such as Hill/Australia, Villeneuve/Jerez, parking/Monaco etc prevent me from liking him.
If he either races fairly, or has his backside well & truly felt for any misdemeanour, either scenario will make me smile.
Ferrari’s ethos during Todt’s era turned me against them. I’m warming to Domenicali, but it will take time for that dislike to fade away.
Dave Cubbedge:
January 12th, 2010 4:42pm
I agree Gary. and in the Senna days, I was not a fan because of his unethical behavior. It wasn’t until 1993 when he drove that less than desirable McLaren and won 5 times against the Williams juggernaut that I really started to appreciate him…
Truly great drivers only come along once and a while. Nuvolari, Fangio, Moss, Clark, Stewart, Villeneuve, Prost. The list ends there for me at the moment.
rob widdows:
January 12th, 2010 5:01pm
What was going through my head? Well, I just thought it was odd that not a single female had ever joined our ramblings. I took a girlfriend to the BOAC 500 race at Brands Hatch back in 1960-something – that was a 6-hour race- and it rained most of the day – and I can tell you, that took some recovering……………
(It was a GREAT race. Pedro Rodriguez won in a Porsche, and I don’t think anyone told him it was raining.)
I do think that Todt had a depressing influence on Ferrairi’s sporting tactics. So did Barrichello. And Schumacher is by no means blameless. But his consistency, his will to win, was extraordinary and every sport has to be ‘policed’ properly so that unsporting tactics are kept to an absolute minimum.
That means red cards in football, drugs checks in athletics and authoratative stewarding in motor sport. The stewards should have taken far stronger action against both Senna and Schumacher from the start. Just like, if Ronado dives in the penalty area, he should get a red card.
It’s tough to leave out Senna and Schumacher in our lists of The Greats. But I guess we have to if we are to consider sportsmanship.
Hopefully the new stewarding system, using people who have driven Grand Prix cars, will go some way to
improving tactics. But I wonder. Big money, big companies and big sponsors have changed the game over recent years. And not just in motor racing.
RW
rob widdows:
January 12th, 2010 5:02pm
Just to clarify – as I seem to have temporarily lost the use of the English language – I meant that Barrichello thought so too.
That’s headed them off at the pass.
RW
Santiago Fernández:
January 12th, 2010 9:04pm
It is odd that there aren’t more female readers here, but in the end most of us who are commenting on this blog have had a similar experience like Rob’s. In my case I was lucky my friend’s first race was the 09 Brazilian GP. She was lucky to have such an eventful race, tough I had a lot of things to explain beforehand, and during the race!
It is unfortunate that both Senna and Schumacher will always have those points to tarnish their legacy, but we’re all entitled to our flaws and their’s just happened to be a consequence of what made them so good. Poor handling of the situation by the stewards and authorities was the real problem here as pointed out by Rob, not some person’s very human flaw.
The thing about Todt that gives me hope is that the people who work under him speak of him very differently than do those he goes against. He is uncompromising when he knows what needs to be done, hopefully he’ll be uncompromising in doing what’s best for the sport.
Tony Geran:
January 13th, 2010 1:01am
Santiago,is this the same Jean Todt who orchestrated Barrichello’s 2nd place in Austria in 2002 and who saw nothing wrong in Schumacher’s parking escapades at Monaco in 2006?
DDT:
January 13th, 2010 6:25am
If the Mercedes is not dominant, Schumacher will struggle. First, the cars are much closer than they were. But we also have a crop of first class drivers in the top teams: Alonso, Hamilton, Vettel, Button, Massa, Weber. None of these guys is remotely intimidated by Michael. They are all in their prime, and they all have extremely fast machinery.
Michael’s most serious challengers were Montoya, and Hakkinen. Montoya was brilliant, but a total hot head. Hakkinen was solid but not in the same league. I really think every one of these new drivers is better than either of those two. Well maybe Weber is not quite a Montoya.
Perhaps more important, all these guys went to school on Schumacher. He set a new standard, and these guys all took that to a new level. Remember Alonso beat Schumacher twice, and Hamilton beat Alonso in the same car. And this year Button schooled Vettel, who made way too many mistakes.
Its just that so any people think Vettel is the next Schumacher. Perhaps he is, but there are 4 drivers better than he is right now. They’re also better than the old Schumacher.
Schumacher will come in 4th at best. Unless the Mercedes rips everybody a new one, in which case Ross Brawn is the new Schumacher.
Frederico Pinheiro de Melo:
January 13th, 2010 11:33am
“It’s tough to leave out Senna and Schumacher in our lists of The Greats. But I guess we have to if we are to consider sportsmanship.”
Right you are, Rob, which brings me to something I wanted to ask: how do you go about selecting inductees (awful word) for the Hall of Fame? I ask this because I see that both Senna and Schumacher are there already, and as “founder members” no less.
If it were me making the choices, I probably wouldn’t have had the guts to keep them out either, if nothing else because of the sheer force of statistics, but I was hoping your selection panel might have come up with some magnificently argued reasons for excluding them, if not from the Hall itself, at least from the founding list.
Ah, well, I still love you and still think Motor Sport is the best motoring magazine there is, and am looking forward to seeing how the Hall grows over time: will you limit entries to so many per year? Who is your selection panel? Do you need any suggestions of names (just joking)?
rob widdows:
January 13th, 2010 12:19pm
Somebody still loves me! But it’s still not a female.
Ah well, a little peace and love beats a silly argument any day. Just as age and guile beat youth, innocence and a bad haircut.
Inductees? Sounds like something from a central heating boiler. Actually, folks, I do not get to choose who enters the Hall of Fame – that’s the province of the Big Chiefs like editor Damien and Editor-in-Chief Nigel who sit in the big executive seats.
But, if I were asked, I would probably concur that both Senna and Schumacher have their place in a motor racing hall of fame. For one thing, they are extremely ‘famous’ and for another – well, they had a huge influence on their respective eras. We must NEVER forget that both these drivers won a huge amount of races without any skullduggery and their skill is beyond question.
I don’t want to make any further comment on this because I am dreaming up a new blog which will move us away from what may, or may not, happen when we go racing in March.
Returning for a moment to Derek Warwick (one of my favourite motor racing people) I would just remind you that he and Brian Henton did a wonderful job for Toleman (and Hart) in Formula Two. But when the company went into F1 there was no place for them. This happens, especially when a man like Senna comes along, but if you look at Warwick’s career you will see that he was often in the wrong team at the wrong time. In my view, a much under-rated racing driver. And a really good, honest bloke.
RW
Andrew Scoley:
January 13th, 2010 1:58pm
We seem to have drifted off the point, but not to worry. Rob, Brian Henton and Derek Warwick went into F1 with the Toleman team in 1981, with Teo Fabi then replacing Henton in ‘82, and Bruno Giacomelli replacing Fabi in ‘83. So Derek had three seasons with Toleman before making what looked on paper to be a good move to Renault for ‘84. Had a certain Mr Lauda not given the Renault a whack on a front wheel early in the Brazilion race, Warwick would almost certainly have won his first Grand Prix, may well then have gone on to better things , and Lauda wouldn’t have won his third title.
I’m afraid I was bored to death by Schumacher winning race after race and I sincerely hope Vettel, Alonso, Button and Hamilton keep him off the top step. Webber is fairly (or unfairly) compromising so maybe he’ll help Schumi into the weeds! A crucial year for young Rosberg, I hope he comes out well in the comparison.
rob widdows:
January 13th, 2010 2:58pm
Thanks for taking us away from the point. We will have enough of Schumacher later in the year.
Yes, you are spot on, and I should have mentioned all that. But I forgot, in my haste, that they did in fact get a run with the F1 team but sadly not when it was very competitive. Anyway, quite right, and I have just had a large piece of humble pie for my lunch.
I think I remember the race in Brazil and I seem to recall that Warwick wasn’t very happy. Despite being brought up on stock cars, he was always a fair and square racer which might help to explain why he never made it as far as he should have done.
This is what I love about these blogs. You all know more than I do………………..or perhaps your memories are in better shape. Which reminds me – to double check my facts in my next blog…………………
RW
Rich:
January 13th, 2010 3:10pm
I know a number of women that like sport, watch it live or on the box and support a driver or team. But I have never met a woman interested in talking about sport endlessly when it is not actually happening. That is the preserve of men.
My long-suffering girlfriend is now into F1 as a result of watching it with me. She sometimes even watches a Grand Prix when I am not there! We went to the BTCC at Silverstone last season and have out tickets for the 2010 British GP.
She is reasonably knowledgeable of the players and some of the politics etc but the common theme for each grand prix is an expression of amour towards the winner upon the podium.
Last year she was firmly supporting Hamilton but this year dumped him for Button. Upon the occasion of Webber’s first win, he got some attention. And Hamilton returned to favour following his Hungarian victory. I was shocked that she could be so mercenary.
Needless to say that McLaren’s new lineup has got her excited. If they prove to have a front running car the season could be a straight race for her affection. If not I guess she’ll just have to stick with muggins here, and Ill never win a race ;-)
rob widdows:
January 13th, 2010 3:30pm
You’re so right. This is probably the preserve of men behaving oddly. I mean, nothing much has happened since November and nothing much else will happen before March. Unless, like me, you will watch Raikkonen in Sweden and the February testing in Spain.
But, yes, this is familiar territory. My stepdaughter has a thing for J.Button and my sister likes Mr Hamilton. Who says looks and money aren’t everything………..This is the funny thing, they go with the flow, all eyes on the top step.
What I do vividly recall is the affect that Carlos Reutemann had on my girlfriend way back when I was working at the British GP in 1980-something. She was goggle-eyed and he immediately became her absolute favourite racing driver. And now Carlos is Senator f Santa Fe and in the runing for President.
All film stars should look like Dan Gurney and all racing drivers should like Paul Newman. Or along those lines.
Nice, amusing blog Rich.
RW
PeteH:
January 13th, 2010 5:29pm
The only important thing next season is that a McLaren driver wins. I don’t care which one of course.
catherine:
January 13th, 2010 8:41pm
i love watching f1 and yes it is nice to see a good looking man win a race or second or third not too picky. just hope button , hamilton and any others will keep schumacer of any of those steps as lets be honest he looks a bit weird. its fun reading all your messages and they said women could talk.
john miller:
January 13th, 2010 10:29pm
I think the clue is in the article.
It’s only recently that racing cars have become bullet-proof. The vast majority of changes in race order in the “good old days” were due to mechanical failures. Where would Roebuck – oops, sorry – Lauda have finished at Brands had none of his competitors retired? Even so, Niki only won the championship by half a point, courtesy of a bit of a shower in Monaco – and I mean the rain, not young Mansell.
Reliability has always been important – ask Sir Stirling about Mike Hawthorn – but since the FIA fix to make sure Schuey didn’t win the title after 7 races, the points system has increased its influence. Following the introduction of the FIA’s ludicrous punishments carrying over from one race to another it is now paramount.
So, summarising a rather windy comment, Schuey can’t rely on his major competitors blowing up. He has to blow them away, which is a bit trickier.
john miller:
January 13th, 2010 10:37pm
Oh, and Rob, just read your comment on Pedro and the BOAC 500.
Being bred about 10 miles away from the circuit I knew all about rain and pushing the old man’s Ford Anglia out of the muddy car park just reinforced that.
But I always thought Rodriguez, being born in the parched, dried out country of Mexico never really cottoned on to rain and John Wyatt couldn’t bring himself to explain that it’s rubber’s natural lubricant.
JUAN RICO:
January 13th, 2010 10:56pm
It’s nice to get the input of a woman for a change..
And she is quite correct that no ugly drivers should be allowed to win yet alone be let loose behind the wheel of a racing car.
And this is why I am writing a petition for the banning of the womens Shotput/javelin/hammer throw and any other Olympic sport where Ugly women are entered.
And for extra TV coverage of womens beach volleyball,that only fit shapely babe’s can be entered
It is refreshing that a woman bring important facts and idea’s to this forum as opposed to the usual anorak facts and stats.
I say more women please,,but only if they are fit..no weird looking ones please
CasinoSquare:
January 14th, 2010 12:45am
JR, up to your old tricks again. FYI did you know that the highest rating tv audience in the UK for a non track and field event at the last olympics was the womens beach volleyball match between Argentina and Brazil. I wonder why….
Santiago Fernández:
January 14th, 2010 12:52am
Yep Tony, the same Todt. Austria was and inexcusable disgrace, shouldn’t have happened, full stop. In Monaco 06, Schumi was punished, but I understand Todt’s choice in regards to not publicly chew out one of his employees. In any case, I just hope he does a good job at the helm of the FIA, the sport we’re all passionate about is counting on it :)
In less controversial topics, I’m really really happy Pedro Rodriguez’s drive is mentioned; but even though México has a lot of different climates (and where I live it really is very very dry) in Mexico City, there are light showers every other day; I’m sure he had his fair share of practice on greasy wet roads, not to mention the jungle of the Yucatán Peninsula; Also, inherent advantage of living in a country with sometimes dodgy roadwork is that you’re always expecting the unexpected :D
rob widdows:
January 14th, 2010 1:13pm
Hey! Welcome Catherine! I was begiining to think this really was the preserve of men who are bored with the winter break.Congratulations on being the first lady to join our little debating society. There should be a prize. Anyway, thanks for your comments and I am sure Mr Schumacher will appreciate your views of his demeanour.
Muddy Brands Hatch? Oh, yes. It seemed to rain an awful lot in the 60s and 70s. Perhaps this was before global warming and the changes in our climate.
The thing about P.Rodriguez was that he was not only very skilful but he was also very brave. And of course, in those days, it helped to be brave. Especially in a Porsche 917 or perhaps a Cooper Maserati. My dear friend Jo Ramirez reckons that one, or even both, of the Rodrguez brothers should have been world champion. He knew them as kids in Mexico City and came with them to Europe, telling anyone who would listen how much talent they had. Certainly, watching Pedro race made your heart beat just that bit faster.
If you haven’t yet read Jo’s book ‘Memoirs of a Racing Man’, then you must.
RW
Santiago Fernández:
January 14th, 2010 8:12pm
Indeed Pedro was very brave. I recall him being a bit annoyed by Sir Jackie’s push for more safety; this coming from a man who lost his brother (and eventually his own life) racing!
I also share the opinion that so far they’ve been the best chance Mexico has had to have a WDC; had things happened another way one (or both) would have been champions for sure, Ricardo having more chances on paper, considering he was very very young when he started (even tough he got 2nd place in qualy in Monza, his first race at the tender age of 19!!!) But he was, as Don Enzo said, a bit too brave for his own good; the accident he had was partly because he was trying to pip a certain Mr. Clark from the top spot.
Memoir’s of a racing man is a must read book! There’s a book issued by the Scuderia Rodriguez about the life of the two brothers. A commendable effort, but it could have used some of the writing talent present in the Motorsport magazine! I’m baffled as to why Mr Roebucks description of the BOAC 1000km wasn’t included.
Tony Geran:
January 15th, 2010 12:44am
Hey Rob, I wonder in which pit Norbert Haug will sit this year when McLaren start hosing off the works Mercedes team?
rob widdows:
January 15th, 2010 1:50pm
I’d like to see that Scuderia Rodriguez book. In fact, I’m just hatching a plan to write something about them myself. But right now I’m grabbing a sandwich while I garpple with my commissions for next month which have to be done eraly because I’m taking a week’s holiday at the end of this month. Didn’t get much of a break at Christmas.
Norbert Haug is a politician so he will probaby have a leg in each pit. He used to be a journalist, which is interesting, because most journalists would not make diplomats or politicians. Knowing Herr Haug, he will manage to be in the right place at the right time. And he will be busy because both teams, on paper at least, should be regular visitors to the podium this year.
To answer the question, I expect him to be allied closely with Mercedes-Benz GPbecause that is the works team. McLaren is now, to all intents and purposes, a customer team, albeit a with a very special relationship. In Stuttgart, they will be extremely keen, for many reasons, to see the Silver Arrows beat the McLarens. In Woking, they will be equally keen etc etc etc………………….
A fine season in prospect.
Our next podcast will be recorded on January 19th. Sadly, Damon Hill has just tole me he cannot make the date, but he will join us later in the year. And it’s worth waiting for, Damon being one of the more articulate, amusing and thoughtful racing drivers of recent times.
RW
Dave Cubbedge:
January 15th, 2010 2:25pm
can’t wait for that podcast with Damon. his father was never a man short of the right words at the right time, for sure.
fortunately for Herr Haug the two pits will be somewhat close together!
rob widdows:
January 15th, 2010 2:53pm
Yes, but it will be a bit more exercise when he goes to visit Force India who also contribute to the M-B
coffers………….!
It is proving surprisingly difficult to ‘dovetail’ our guests into our recording schedule, partly because they are racing drivers…………..and partly because they have to come to London to join in the chat. In future we may try to record them remotely but that means getting a few more gizmos involved.
Anyway, we hope to get Damon in March.
Looks like Camopos Meta (the car is a Dallara) is struggling to find enough sponsorship to make the grid. I hope they succeed because it will give Bruno Senna a run in Formula One. Wonder how many new teams will make it and/or survive. I hear that USF1 is about to go testing at the Barber Motorsport Park, Virgin/Manor/Wirth are allegedly having Russian-branded Cosworths and Lotus launches it car mid-February. Hard work, this F1 business.
RW
Ade:
January 22nd, 2010 2:57am
I honestly think Schumey can do it…. but not straight away, i expect it’ll be a good third of the way into the season before anything happens
rob widdows:
January 22nd, 2010 5:13pm
This is all very odd.
The FIA has approved Mercedes-Benz GP’s request that Michael Schumacher be given the number 3 car this season when he would normally hav driven car number 4.
Why?
Interestingly, and surprisingly, Schumacher is superstitious. You would not have thought this man would be superstitious. But many racing drivers have had this affliction over the years and many of today’s drivers have their little rituals which they keep to race in, race out. Nuvolari always carried his lucky golden tortoise, Fittipaldi always wore his Indy winner’s ring, Alex Wurz always wore odd shoes (different colours) and Coulthard always dressed in a certain order when preparing to get in the car. And so it goes on.
Schumacher has a supestition about racing with odd numbers. He has won all his titles with odd numbers, obviously with number 1, but also with numbers 3 and 5. So now he will race with number 3 on his Mercedes in 2010.
If you look back over history, you will discover that a great many top racing drivers had all sorts of superstitions.
I am sure you can name some of them…………..
RW
JUAN RICO:
January 24th, 2010 6:35am
Yes….Martin Brundle would only ever step into a racing car as long as he was absolutely sure he had no chance of winning whatsoever…….
JR
chris brooke:
January 30th, 2010 12:34pm
interesting discussions- Robin seems you didn’t mention what i recollect as the most superstitious of drivers Alberto Ascari and how that may have contributed to the dreadful crash- Also about the Rodriguez brothers esp Riccardo – was i wrong in recalling what Stirling said of RP’s driving in 1961 especially at Monza and the impact on Von Trips? Like so many above i am so looking forward to this year, as Jens says it has the potential of a corker- fingers x’d FIA don’t screw it for us – sad Donnington isn’t happening – still feel its the best UK circuit [apart from maybe Oulton Park] – but a Lotus back on the grid, ahh that bring a tear to my reasonably old eyes being a diehard fan that is-
Marty Harris:
February 3rd, 2010 1:08pm
Rob – do you think the Valencia testing means you need to kickstart this discussion from scratch: From Valencia can we say whether Schumacher’s still got what it takes?
It would be a brave person who said no!
rob widdows:
February 5th, 2010 5:29pm
Very Sorry everyone but I have been unable to access the magazine website for the last week. Today my computer mechanic Glynn came in, rooted around a bit, unplugged the modem, plugged it back in again, and yes, suddenly the machine will get me to the website…………………I had been nervous about this because a) I was unable to join in the blog and b) I was afraid the problem might involve the famous British Telecom which is itself virtually inaccessible to its customers. It appears that the “faults” service is based in India………….though surely this cannot be true.
Valencia? Well, an interesting three days, although how much we can read into the times is open to question. Were ferrari running “light” – if so, the field is closely matched. If not, then the new car from Maranello is impressive. As for Schumacher, it was as I expected. He was methodical, measured, analytical and quick. As ever.
After Jerex we will have a better idea of the state of play. And after Bahrain an even better idea. Jerez will tell us more than Valencia because it’s a more meaningful test circuit for the modern era.
Ascari? yes, of course, I should have mentioned him in my ramblings on superstitions. But, look, if I mentioned them all, it would be no fun for any of you, would it?
RW