Comments on: Michael Schumacher: the Mercedes years

By: CJD

CJD — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:39:41 +0000

I still have the video that I took in the pits during practice for the 1991 WSC race at Silverstone. Michael was trying too hard to catch the Jaguar’s, spun and then behaved very badly by carving up Derek Warwick and hid in his caravan when Derek went to talk about it. Never was a nicer guy than Derek too.
At lunch time the two young German drivers were to be found in the bookshop. Martin Brundle spent the day proving how very fast he was in A WSC car, the star of the show.

By: Negative Camber

Negative Camber — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 01:30:24 +0000

At this point Doug, I think your concept is as viable as any other.

By: Doug

Doug — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:37:10 +0000

Hmm going to throw a longshot into the mix and suggest the possibility of Mika Hakkinen considering his close ties to the team, and he is of the same age as schummie.

Yes you will probably shoot me down but worth a punt.

By: Michael

Michael — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 04:24:53 +0000

Totally agree. I lusted after a Jaguar XJR14 as a kid…but had to settle for the Matchbox version!

By: Michael

Michael — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 04:22:46 +0000

Yes…I’d like to hear more on this as well.

By: Negative Camber

Negative Camber — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 03:06:49 +0000

Great re-visit of Schumi history Keith. Super job mate…as usual. Keep up the terrific work.

By: Harvs

Harvs — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 04:27:11 +0000

so true.

By: Ace

Ace — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:26:09 +0000

Oh… I thought Corrina was Coulthard’s ex? Maybe I’m getting that confused with somoene else?

By: wasiF1

wasiF1 — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:24:41 +0000

If he does return then he will again needs to fight his fitness,wont be a bad idea,but I hope he returns for more than 1 season.

By: F1Yankee

F1Yankee — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 23:11:24 +0000

which is the bigger of these failures?

1. FIA killing series by ineptitude in the early 90’s

2. ACO/FIA and their “homologated” prototypes of the late 90’s

By: beneboy

beneboy — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:52:34 +0000

There has been a fair bit of development of the fuel tanks over the last 19 years mate.

From F1technical.net:
“F1 cars use deformable fuel tanks made from puncture-proof Kevlar. This dramatically reduces the risk of any fire during an accident. The tank reshapes itself in the area where any pressure is being put. All the fuel lines are auto cut-off lines. This is incase there is any breakage. There is also a extinguisher placed in the sensitive zone of the car which will automatically turn on in the case of a crash.”

Source: http://www.f1technical.net/articles/19

And the rules are pretty good too:
http://www.formula1.com/inside_f1/rules_and_regulations/technical_regulations/5267/fia.html

I really can’t see the increased capacity causing any problems in the safety department.

By: Chalky

Chalky — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:13:32 +0000

Funny how the C11 designer says that the 100ltr fuel tank in the C11 is safer to have than the 200ltr tank in an F1 car. (1st vid around 1′20)

Now we go back to large tanks again in F1 as refuelling was too costly. Let’s hope this “safety” issue is no longer an issue.

By: YeaMon

YeaMon — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:33:08 +0000

Bring back group C! God I loved these cars. The races was fast, good, and the cars varied greatly from common sense simple speed, to complex designs never seen before.

By: DGR-F1

DGR-F1 — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:23:54 +0000

Its interesting to see that Mercedes have been thinking about F1 for a long time, though I suppose historically GP racing is as much in their blood as at Ferrari.
If Old Schuey does return with them, I don’t expect he will do any more than he has done at Ferrari in recent years, and sit on the Pit Wall all weekend……

By: DMW

DMW — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:11:01 +0000

The 3.5 shift in Group C was classic FIA fail. Preventing teams from using (loosely) production-based blocks in favor of clean sheet high-revving V-10s and V-12s somehow didn’t work out to save any money. The cars were unreliable and too expensive to support. That ruined what was then the best racing series on the planet. Those 89-91 designs are still some of the fastest (and most gorgeous) race cars ever to turn a wheel.

Recalling the Warwick incident is useful reminder than Schumacher was always a jerk on the track. If/when he comes back next year it will be interesting to see how he handles a generation who came up in the new era of chopping and blocking established by the master.

By: David Bénard

David Bénard — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:54:42 +0000

Those were such great years ! Michael also drove for Mercedes in DTM, without success.

By: Lustigson

Lustigson — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:47:14 +0000

Those Group C cars looked fabulous, didn’t they? Sad that M.R. Mosley and B.C. Ecclestone effectively killed off the series.

By: Damon

Damon — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:36:09 +0000

I’ve read an interview with Norbert Haug on a Polish website just two days ago, where he said this:

F1: Mercedes’ new drivers dou should be a ’surprise’
The President in charge of all Mercedes-Benz motorsport activity, Norbert Haug, has revealed that their new drivers line-up for the next season might be a pleasant surprise.
- It will certainly surprise people. I am convinced that everybody will understard and be satisfied with our choice. – Said Haug, who didn’t exclude the possibility of running two German drivers, being Nico Rosberg and Adrian Sutil. At the same time, Haug dismissed the media rumour of Michael Schumacher making his comeback with the team.
- There’s always a lot of speculation in the sport, especially as long as there are vacant driver seats and teams are looking for new drivers. There are also dreams that people would like to see fulfilled. But the dreams and reality are two different stories. – Stated Haug.

He might be sandbagging, but I suspect he just doesn’t want people to be disappointed with Schumacher not making a come back with them.

By: artboss

artboss — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:27:53 +0000

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By: sumedh

sumedh — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:19:39 +0000

I had read a bit about Frentzen-Schumacher rivalry somewhere. It seemed intriguing.

The two had quite a duel on race tracks as well as in their personal lives. Would love to have a blow-by-blow account of that story. Keith, do write this one