I'm far from convinced it's purely Brawn's influence. To me, Brawn has always seemed very savvy and quite pragmatic.DHB":2i26cfem said:He had a lot to play in the return of Schumacher, trying to relive the glory days of the Benetton, Ferrari era when they were at theyre best (including cheating also).mass199":2i26cfem said:Pretty sure that if Ross Brawn did'nt run the team Mr. Shoemaker would still be retired and the Mercedes German thing.
Two points:-
1. Ferrari REALLY wanted Schumacher to return to them to race, whilst Massa was injured
2. It's long been legend that Mercedes really wanted to have Schumacher race for them in F1
The Ferrari of that era wasn't a total dog - Berger and Alesi had some strong races with Ferrari before Schumacher moved there. I remember a race in particular where they were running 1 and 2, and both lost the race, because the camera fell off the leading car, and broke the suspension of the following car, and the trailing wires from the leading car, wrapped around something and caused it to burn / overheat some component.DHB":2i26cfem said:He was driving to the ability of the Ferrari in 1996 and won a race in a dog of a car, so why cant he do it now?Neil":2i26cfem said:In fairness, I think he's largely driving to the potential of the car.
Ferrari, in those days, weren't totally bereft of performance, but what did seem to happen when Schumacher and his "team" that he put in place, was a very much more consistent, professional and focused team.
Also you have to add into the mix, that Schumacher is the best part of 20 years older than Rosberg, and had been retired from F1 racing for some years.DHB":2i26cfem said:How?? He's been beat in the previous 2 seasons by him and hasnt outshone him at any point! Should be alot faster with the experience and knolweldge of the past years of racing!Neil":2i26cfem said:I think in recent times, he's been at least on par with Rosberg - perhaps slightly better - and he's nearly 20 years older.
And I think it bears note, Schumacher does not appear to be at the same zenith of his F1 driving abilities as he was in his prime.
All the same, I think in recent times, he's been largely on the same page as his young, charging team-mate (yes, yes, I get it, some people think he should have walked on water, straight back into F1 and wiped the floor with Rosberg).
And as soon as the car has shown any promise in terms of performance, what do we see? Schumacher in Rosberg's shadow, performance wise?
I have to say - and this is no slight on Rosberg, but if the Mercedes is up to it, this year, I'd expect it to be Schumacher putting it on the podium, or grabbing a sneaky / cheeky win.
I dispute it means nothing - how many other drivers from his era, at this age, would you expect to be able to still compete at that level - especially given the gap when he retired, and the rapid change in how the cars and tyres have evolved.DHB":2i26cfem said:Means nothing when your racing mid field, people expect him to be at the front winning because of it so when he under performs its always a disappointment for his fans, race team and media!Neil":2i26cfem said:When Rosberg has got 7 world championships under his belt, retired, and returned and still racing at the age of 43, and still being able to compete with a young, charging, fast driver of 26, then Rosberg will have a decent claim to fame, too.
I think in recent times he's been performing around the same level as Rosberg - sometimes quicker, sometimes Rosberg is quicker.DHB":2i26cfem said:So because he's enjoying it its ok to be not as quick as the others?!?!?!!Neil":2i26cfem said:He's enjoying it, I expect many fans are enjoying him being there, and the team wouldn't be doing it unless there was something in it for them.
Few people, if ever, get to rest on their laurels and previous reputation in F1. If he wasn't value for money, he wouldn't still be in a drive - they wouldn't just allow it out of respect and loyalty.
He's started this season strongly on pace.
As to whether it's OK - I'd say, ask his boss(es).
I haven't really seen a whining, complaining Schumacher since his return - he's always seemed more relaxed, more open, and more at home - and in terms of the capabilities of the car, called it as he's seen it.DHB":2i26cfem said:Have mediocre races which dont show him or the the team in a good light and constantly blame the car when its clearly performing better in the hands of a young Rosberg who hasnt won 7 championships ; ) Sounds like great value for money.
As things have stood, the car has been mediocre, and Rosberg has hardly done much more with it. So if Rosberg has finished ahead of him in the WC - who cares? Who's really fighting over the lower rankings in the driver's world championship?
They're not getting them from any other driver, either.DHB":2i26cfem said:Personally i cant see why he came back, he's consistantly being beat in Qualifying and the race by other younger drivers, Hamilton, Vettel, Button, Webber, Rosberg, Alonso, Massa, Di Resta etc, and hasnt been within a sniff of a pole or win! All his experience hasnt developed the car into anything worthy of noting and simply just seems to have lost his edge that he used to possess!! Wether he regains it or not is another matter, but Mercedes cant wait much longer for him to try and gather it back, they need results, wins, pole positions and theyre not getting them from the 7 times champion as his results show!!
Even now - if in his 40s, his edge is somewhat blunted, and he's merely a peer, on roughly the same level as the rest of the drivers - that's no mean feat - he's nearly 20 years older than many.
As to the why he came back - to a certain degree I see your point - when he first came back, I wondered - I didn't get it, it just seemed to be too much to lose, not enough to gain. I thought he'd quit shortly afterwards (witness Mansell's return to F1).