Schumacher: I have not regretted my comeback for a second
27 August, 2012
Michael Schumacher will be contesting his 300th grand prix weekend at the 2012 Belgian GP
Aug.27 (GMM) Michael Schumacher has not regretted a single moment of his comeback to the sport, despite not yet winning a race since his return at the beginning of 2010, and has pointed out Fernando Alonso the strongest active Formula One driver.
“So far I have not regretted my comeback for a second. There have been a lot of good moments, even if to the outside it hasn’t appeared so,” Schumacher insisted.
He said it would be “a pity” if he returned to retirement without winning a record 92nd race, but would not comment on whether he will sign a new deal for 2013.
“We don’t need to talk about winning the championship this year,” said Schumacher. “And whether the journey goes on next year is not clear yet.”
Schumacher, whose run of five consecutive titles was broken in 2005 by Alonso’s Renault breakthrough, said that the 2012 championship leader is developing “even beyond himself”.
“There are phases like that when everything seems to work out, but he has worked for it,” the German said, of the Spaniard, in an interview with Bild am Sonntag newspaper.
Schumacher, 43, therefore admitted that Alonso is currently also better than F1′s reigning back-to-back world champion, the 25-year-old German Sebastian Vettel.
“Sebastian is a great guy and a great driver, but he is dealing with a different situation now in a learning process,” said Schumacher. “To be a good winner, one must also be able to lose, it is a part of your development.”
“Only when you have learned to lose can you respect and enjoy winning even more.”
Schumacher said that is all part of “life’s ups and downs”, which perhaps is comparable to his own first and second careers.
Since returning to F1 with Mercedes, he has been on the podium only once.
This weekend at Spa, by far his favourite circuit, and where Schumacher will mark his 300th grand prix, he has won the Belgian GP a record six times (in 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001 and 2002).
Schumacher said, “Spa is like my living room; for me, it’s clearly the number one race track in the world. It’s uncanny how I always seem to have special moments there – my debut, my first win, a world championship victory and many great races.”
“The fact that I will also take part in my 300th Grand Prix at Spa was somehow almost inevitable and we will have to celebrate it in the right way. I’m proud to be just the second driver in the history of the sport to reach this milestone and there’s no question that we are looking to have a particularly nice weekend,” he added.
“We delivered a good performance in Spa last year; I’ll be doing everything possible to drive a strong race,” promised Schumacher.
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Michael Schumacher still deserves his seat on merit.
Yes he hasn’t wiped the floor with Nico but he has no need to he quite often beats him on track.
Lets be honest the projections proved given full race distance on the races were the car either broke or was screwed by forces beyond his control he would have been up with Alonso.
I think Michael Schumacher should stay in F1
I’ll never believe DC in ’98 when Mika had already span out of the race and Michael came up on him ‘rather fast’ and, oops, DC was in the way and Michael did not get the deserved 10 points for a wet weather demonstration that was one of his best. He truly was in a class of his own that afternoon!
I’m glad that people aren’t trolling this page with anti-Schu comments. Of course we know he wasn’t the best of all time. Senna/Clark/Fangio being the obvious names above him.
He still has his place right up there. People sometimes show a lack of F1 knowledge when they say “he always had the best car” but from 96-99 he had a heap of a vehichle but his aim was to go to Ferrari and make them great again, and he did that. The ’02 and ’04 cars were utterly dominant but he could have lost out to a Williams in 03, or Kimi. 2000 and 2001 were neck and neck with some brilliant duels with Mika. I hope Michael carries on – the Schumacher name in F1 is great.
I just wished the Mercedes wasn’t slower than Sauber, Williams, Ferrari, Redbull, Lotus and McLaren!
What a career,what a maestro..even if he has no win to show with his comeback!!
I’m sure he’ll statistically be the greatest driver for a long time to come..!
In F1, the more world champions on the grid, the better IMO. It’s too bad his car stinks as it would be incredible to see how the 43 year old Schu would battle with Alonso and Vettel, it would be something for the ages. Instead we have to watch how the Merc digs into its rears and the his tyres don’t get put on properly during pit stops.
i always remember DC’s jaw got the better of Schumy’s chin in Spa