Michael Schumacher - to blame for poor driving standards in F1
Michael Schumacher’s team mate at Mercedes GP for 2010 – Nico Rosberg – has accused him of being responsible for the poor driving standards in Formula One.
All the news of late has been about Michael Schumacher returning to F1. It’s been hailed as the biggest comeback since Lazarus and everyone from Bernie Ecclestone to Mercedes GP has been telling us how good it is for the sport.
And it undoubtedly is. Michael is the best known and most successful driver of his generation (or any generation, probably) and his presence in the lineup for 2010 will do wonders for viewing figures.
But it seems there may be a dissenting voice. And one very close to Michael for the next year at Mercedes GP.
Nico Rosberg – Schumacher’s team mate at Mercedes GP for the 2010 season – has been having his say about poor driving standards in Formula One. Talking after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix earlier this year – long before there was any clue that Michael would return to F1, much less as his team mate – Rosberg is quoted as saying:
It is Michael Schumacher who started this, like at Spa, when Mika Hakkinen tried to overtake him and he ran him off the track. When the guy behind has made a decision [to pass] and the guy in front then moves over, it is very dangerous. You cannot do that. That was the first time I remember it being a dangerous issue.
Which is pretty unequivocal and surprisingly frank for an F1 driver. But then he could have had no clue that Michael would be returning to F1. But actually, he’s probably right.
Much like Ayrton Senna, Schumacher has a ‘Win at any Cost’ mentality. Many have said his cavalier attitude to rules and regulations diminishes his stature. And I suppose it does. He’s capable of doing anything to win, as he’s shown many times in his career. But that attitude has made him the most successful F1 driver of all time.
But over the years he’s always had the backing of his team. Ferrari were always willing to back him even when he was obviously in the wrong, but will Mercedes? It’ll be interesting to see.
As will the relationship with his accuser – Nico Rosberg.
Source: F1 Fanatic
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