Ralf Schumacher begins a new career

Ralf Schumacher stated that he expected many difficulties in the coming months due to his new status as a DTM driver but vowed not to let criticism affect his approach and determination in this new career.

The former F1 driver confirmed that he would join the German series initially for one year alongside Mercedes-Benz. He had tested for the team at Estoril in Portugal at the beginning of the year.

Schumacher will face a tough battle to deliver results as the championship promises to be very competitive this year. He stated that he is ready to learn and to ignore or circumvent any obstacles that may arise in his path.

« I will learn a lot of things in the coming weeks, I will work hard. If people criticize me for problems I might have during the first two races, I won’t pay any attention to it, » explained Schumacher.

« It was very fun to test a Mercedes Class C from DTM and I am very happy with this new season that is on the horizon. Money and popularity like in Formula 1 are no longer my expectations. »

« At the moment, I need sports, entertainment, and excitement, and that’s what the DTM offers me much more than any other racing series. »

He added: « I hope that the people who will work alongside me will have enough patience and understand that I am a novice. If not, it won’t bother me. I already know most of my future competitors, but I do not expect any favor from them. »

Schumacher said he hoped that DTM could rekindle the passion he has for racing. The past few years, in the top category of motorsports, have been rather difficult for the younger brother of the seven-time F1 world champion. Moreover, they have brought him little satisfaction.

« Of course, I know that neither the media nor the spectators consider me the greatest race car driver of all time, and that is not what I am aiming for, » he said.

During my last three years in F1, I haven’t had much success, and it almost sounded strange to me that Norbert Haug was interested in me.

« However, I am still the same Ralf as back then, the same driver who feels pleasure in motorsports and who wants to compete with the best. »

« I love the DTM, its environment, and I love the enthusiastic and positive spectators. I love Mercedes because it was with them that I had the opportunity to test a Formula 1 car for the first time in 1996. And who knows if my F1 career would have been entirely devoted to McLaren-Mercedes if I had accepted the test driver role they offered me in 1997. »