Schumacher feels that victory is close
Despite a glaring lack of success, Michael Schumacher is probably in his best form since his return to F1 at the beginning of 2010. So much so that he believes that all signs are green for a victory, and that could happen as soon as this Sunday.
If there is a recurring topic that has animated F1 fans’ discussions over the past three years, it is indeed the return of Michael Schumacher to competition. The seven-time World Champion, after an aborted stint with Ferrari as a replacement for the convalescent Felipe Massa, then joined Mercedes, freshly built on the success of Brawn GP, with the goal of becoming World Champion once again.
It must be acknowledged that the first two seasons, driving cars that were difficult to understand and competing with Nico Rosberg, did not necessarily live up to the expectations of the F1 world. Although, on a few occasions, the former “Kaiser” seemed to reappear. Notably in Canada in 2011, where only the comeback of an in-form Jenson Button could deny him a podium widely considered deserved, which had started a certain resurgence for the German.
Paradoxically, the start of 2012 is probably when he showed himself to be in the best form, fiercely competing with his teammate in qualifying. And yet, misfortune kept on striking his races: a gearbox problem in Australia, a collision with Romain Grosjean in Malaysia, a poorly secured wheel nut in China, and fuel pressure issues in Monaco. Not to mention a DRS malfunction in qualifying in Bahrain, and his Saturday on the Rock, where a 5-place grid penalty, following a collision with Bruno Senna at the Spanish Grand Prix, deprived him of a pole position that he had fairly won on the track.
As it’s time to return to Montreal, Schumacher ranks in 18th and last place among the drivers of the nine “established” teams, with only two small points to his name. While this is his worst start to a season, the Red Baron is in a positive mindset: “I am very confident for this race. If you look since my return, we are probably closer than ever to having a good result this weekend.”
A season start that the German considers encouraging: « We have been doing a good job since Malaysia. We have understood the car well and have since produced consistent races. It’s all about understanding the car and using it to its maximum. The weather is an important factor, especially the expected temperature for the big day: you adjust the car on Saturday and you can’t change anything for Sunday. So you have to anticipate what’s ahead ».
And Schumacher specifies: « If you look at China, 5°C less suddenly turned events in our favor, whereas before, we were in a bad position. Will we have as much success this weekend? Will [the weather] align with our forecasts? That is the question ».
When clearly asked about his chances of being the seventh different winner in as many races this season, his response, though evasive, is not hidden: « So to speak, I like the number 7. We are on the right track. I mean, we saw in Monaco that we could be strong, and here is a similar situation that can be good for us ».
But to prevail, Michael Schumacher will have to beat – among others – Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Räikkönen, two other World Champions lacking victories this season.
