Comments on: What’s in a number?

By: Goks

Goks — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:47:40 +0000

James, the term the commentator used (I think it was yourself and Martin Brundle) was that Ferrari “switched” the cars during refuelling. if you recall at the last Brazillian GP of the season after Lewis had won the WDC, the commentator said if Ferrari had concentrated more on Massa at the beginning/middle of the season, maybe he would have earned the extra points needed.

I can’t prove that Ferrari switched the cars (unlike the MS & Barachello last lap incident) then.

Anyway, I’m a MS fan and will not miss a single race this season (hopefully).

By: mvi

mvi — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 01:43:04 +0000

SteveB, haha, that’s a spoof! From planetf1′s “Michael Schumacher’s Sekret Tagebuch-Blog”.

On his real website, Schumacher does say, rather memorably, among other things:
“… I really notice how the prickle is coming, how motivated I am because I so much look forward to this competition. It is about time to start this whole thing.”

By: James Allen

James Allen — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 23:26:07 +0000

Don’t see the former happening, and as for the latter – what examples would you give of Massa pulling over for Kimi?

By: James Allen

James Allen — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 23:21:36 +0000

Well I’ve not looked into it, but it doesn’t sound like the kind of thing he’d write or even say. I’ll speak to Sabine Kehm, his assistant, about it

By: SteveB

SteveB — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 20:56:20 +0000

James, found this on PlanetF1, allegedly an extract from Michael’s personal blog…

“My prickle is already coming after the false alarm with Felipe and so I was more than fully motivated for a return. My batteries were loaded and I was ready to fire them. Quite honestly and obviously my biggest problem was not my neck or the worry to be the old gunslinger in town waiting on the street corner to be gunned down by the young guns, no. It was the people I would disappoint in moving to a different team. How would my beloved tifosis react? What would Luca and Stefano say? And would Jenson mind being my No.2 at Mercedes?”

That last line’s a bit telling…so even before Jenson went to McLaren, and was assumed to still be a Merc driver for 2010, Michael was worried about how he’d feel being his No. 2

Presumably Michael has exactly same assumption now, and it’s just Nico in the other car as his ‘No. 2′. What’s your take on this James?

By: Goks

Goks — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 20:08:47 +0000

Everyone is saying that Nico will have to pull over for MS. recall that Massa might have won the Chamspionship in O8 if he had not “pulled over” for kimi several times when Ferrari thought Kimi was sure bet for the WDC. James any comment?

By: Nicollers

Nicollers — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 15:07:34 +0000

I think people are reading too much into this. Big Norbert Haug has played down the issue too. Granted he would, but he would know if there was any discontent in the Mercedes camp. I’m not Schumacher’s biggest fan, but here he’s asked Rosberg if he can have the number and Nico said yes! Plus Mercedes have given Rosberg the nod to drive the the first laps in Valencia.

Simples

People are backing the wrong horse here as well. I think Rosberg will out-qualify and out-race Schumacher this year.

No launch or traction control for Michael this season! )

By: The Limit

The Limit — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 14:36:52 +0000

Although Nico Rosberg does appear to be getting the short end of the stick, it is important that he does not let this distract him. The way I see it, this kind of mind games will either destroy Rosberg or embolden him.
Take Felipe Massa for instance! He used his short time as Schumacher’s team mate as a positive, and grew in standing because of it. Rosberg has a great yardstick with which to guage his career, going up against the most decorated driver in series history. He has to knuckle down, keep his thoughts to himself, and drum out the results. If he gets beat, so be it, as long as he is competitive and scores points, people will take notice.

By: mvi

mvi — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 14:17:37 +0000

In past years didn’t Schumacher’s helmet have some Chinese characters on it for the names of his family members? If he still uses those, it would be rather insensitive and even disrespectful to his Chinese fans to be associated with the number ’4′ which is so inauspicious.

I think it is a tremendous opportunity for Rosberg to learn a lot quickly from Schumacher and from his relationship with Brawn. Since testing is so restricted everybody’s work will count and Rosberg will be pushed to a higher level very quickly.

By: mvi

mvi — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 11:56:19 +0000

Jon, it’s not the 2010 car.