Schumi is the most overrated driver ever. Had the best car ad weakest team mates. If he was driving a shitty car he would have won nothing. I wont rate him in the top 7 of all time

James Allen writes on his blog that "the people at Maranello are expecting to work with Schumacher for another three years and would be astonished if he were to commit himself to a return to full time racing."

I'm sure he misses racing and the adrenaline rush, but doing a few races in a season when Ferrari isn't fighting for championship is very different to doing a full season in a team which is expected to fighting at the front next season.

Its so obvious Merc are trying to get Schumi.

Otherwise they would sign Heidfeld up today.

Give me another reason why they are not doing so.

they like the publicity?

but the silence from Schumacher's side is indeed interesting.

Maybe they are trying to get Kubica if Renault exits or Kimi as an outside shot? MS could be in the mix too but he is not the only name that has been mentioned.
It's obvious that Mercedes are negotiating with other drivers but it is not obvious they are after MS.

Heheehhe, they couldn't keep up with Button's demands (salary or so) so now they try a more expensive fish? hahahahaha....

You forgot to add lucky as well. Imagine being overrated = not as good in reality, yet he was lucky to be gifted by others 7 WDC. That raises also question not only about MS, but others, who let him to get away with his, as you put it, mediocrity for good part of a decade. Makes sense?

It's not Schumachers fault if everybody he raced against were crap.

I'm not sure whether you're just very young, or have been spending too much time with HSJ, but your rather sycophantic delusion that LH is soooooooo much better than the likes of MH or JV at their peak sounds just as daft and ill-considered as the argument that he used to peddle about KR being a 'superior breed' compared to his predecessors. We now, of course know that it was utter twaddle, with KR being comfortably matched by FM, who in turn was beaten by an aging MS. Anyone who's not confined to an asylum can see that LH is a wonderfully fast and talented driver, among the very best of his generation, but please don't talk silly rubbish about 'dealling with something completely different'.
You claimed earlier in the thread not to be a LH fan, but I'm afraid your blinkered reasoning, double standards and wild claims rip the carpet from under your own feet with outstanding alacrity.
With regard, by the way, to MS having an 'absurd amount of preferential treatment'; have you ever stopped to ask yourself why a team would offer a driver such preferential treatment/#1 status? Logic tends to suggest that the driver must be offering something pretty special in return.
As for him returning, I agree with you that he's unlikely to be able to cut it at the sharp end of the current crop and hence would be best to stay away, but there's a big difference a 25yo MS and a 41yo MS.

Ok, if that's what you think, but I have been at the tracks when he raced against Senna, Prost, Mika, and he was GOOD.

I thought in later years he simply dwarfed his competition.

I meant after Prost and Senna. After them the only people do be anywhere near Schumacher were Hakkinen and Alonso.

Michael will be 41 when the season starts. He's not going to be able to compete against young guns Hamilton and Vettel.

Well, people here say Lewis has a lot more natural talent than Schumacher ever had, so it shouldn't be a problem.

Plus, age was on Michael's side but weight (which is very important in karts) was on Hamilton's.

I wonder what does that say about Kimi who was beaten by Michael's "lapdog".

41 year old across the road you live at has bascially the same passport age as Michael Schumacher, but does a guy who rarely works out and is businessman you might know, can really be compared to Schumi, age is about physical age, but when your born, and if you've taken care of yourself, and remain fit, like Michael did, he was the fittest, he's preserved the aging process well, when you have money, comittment, will, and up to date nutritionalists and health knowlege, and know what muscles to work out and stuff, Michael will be alot fitter then Mansell or Prost in their 40s, and alot fitter then any 40 year old you, me or anyone we know, the guy works out like a bible, some guys don't let themselfs go completely just because they retire, they stay healthy, he's orobabley had more time to devote into getting into shape then some of his seasons where he didn't have the time, so if he comes back it'll be the same Michael, the cars will be different, people thought he was past it in 2003 just because he had a hard season, then 2004 he had his best season ever, people just don't appreciate the comittment and work ethic, he's talented but worked harder then the rest behind the scenes and in the scenes!


41 is not old, it is a number, every person needs their blood pressure checked, then decide their age against that, people are living longer, alot of knowlege out there.

Michael not just the best driver in the world, but perhaps one of the best atheltes we've seen, even tiger woods commented on his consistency over his career the amount of times he would step out of his car at Monaco with no sweat on him, and you'll look at Rubens, Montoya, or Kimi, they are looked tired at times, but Michael worked out harder to have reserves where he could do amazing drives like Hungary 1998, Brazil 2006 and many more, because the calmer you are in the cockpit, the stronger the heart, the more likely you'll be able to concentrate on fastest laps after fastest laps flankers he did to rivals. He not only had the talent to be super fast, he made sure he wasn't tired so he could ease back near the end of a race, because at the end of the race, sometimes is where you need that extra, alot of his pitstop maximisation of inlaps, outlaps and doing those times depended on it, and they weren't just any laps, at times AMAZING LAPS. Reference Imola 2006, and I was proud to be there live, even Renault's Pat Symonds described the inlaps Michael did to outflank Alonso while on shot tyres were amazing, that was Symonds words, I think alot of people thought Michael's tyres would of prevented him from winning the race, but he was on fire that weekend, one of those weekends where he was tested, and fans like us were lucky to watch a racing genius at work.

Alot of people I know may not always have liked Schumacher, but they were never slow to say he was a racing genius and still is, Hakkinen, Alonso have all talked about him as the best, and Mark Webber used to records Schumi's wins on tapes and tape over the races Schumi lost, they all know it, but it must difficult to appreciate the genius while being in the sport and making a name for yourself as well, Lewis Hamilton's dream is just to be on the same piece of tarmac as Schumacher in the race, it'll be a honour.

Michael had his blood pressure checked after coming back from sessions, to see what foods/drinks where spiking his blood pressure, constantly trying to find the right nutrients, he was never satisfied completely, always learning, that's how you stay sharp, that's why he karts now and again as well, keep the skills intact while having fun.

When you have someone who is just on the edge of genius all too often, it's like believing in Aliens, how can Michael be that good, how could Jim Clark be that good, sometimes even seeing is not believing, Michael has that gift and he didn't waste it, and if he comes back he won't waste it.

Wow, Michael doesn't age.

I think MS was great in his time, but last I checked, even HE is human, at some point age will catch up with him no matter how many fruit bars he has.

I don't understand how people think MS would be less fit than Mansell, either at WDC age (39), or when he returned and won (41).

Then of course, he signed for the new McLaren Mercedes team. F1 Racing ran the headline: Dial M for Mayhem: Marlboro, McLaren, Mercedes & Mansell

Seems new Mercedes teams have a thing for the older WDC gentleman.

The silence from Schumacher and Willi's vague comments add fuel to our speculation. Seconded by Maranello not hearing a word from him in recent weeks.

And yes, where is Heidfeld's contract? Length of other German drivers' contract could have bearing too. Who is the stage II, long term driver signing? Vettel?

MS would probbaly be better than half the grid if he returned.. I doubt he would be able to perform as good as Lewis/Alonso/Kubica/Vettel/Massa though.

Agreed, I think most of my verve for seeing CGB and JVi back is just to see guys my age race.

michael clearly beat massa in 2006, i dont think he forgot how to drive, and his condition is still top notch

I think you have to remember that different sportsmen peak at different ages and decline at different rates; I don't believe MS 2006 was as good as MS 1994-2000, and logic dictates that MS 2010 will be even further from his peak.

That or Alonso peaked during those years...

he did but that car he drove in 2006 is nothing compared to the 2009 spec car where Massa shines.

michael drove slicks and w/o TC aswell early in his career
but unless he returns it's mere specualtion

Haha, "young, delusion, daft, ill considered, silly ,rubbish, blinkered reasoning" Save your insults.

I happen to believe Hamilton has more talent than Schumacher had at his peak and Hamilton is more of a known quantity because he beat in his ROOKIE season a superb driver at his peak who happened to be a current double world champion in the same car. He didnt just beat him in the odd race, but over the course of a SEASON. Schumacher really had some quite woeful teammates during his time in F1. Hamilton by taking on the challenges he has done, has already removed some of the question marks about his talent that Schumacher still has. I.e. what can he do against a world class number 1 rated driver in the same car. I've noticed Hamilton's career since for quite a few years now and regardless of McLaren finances or not that has made him into such a special driver today, I think he is one of the greatest talents to ever enter the sport. Accept it, thats what I think, it may hurt you, but its what I think!

I also mentioned Lauda before. When he made his comeback, maybe he wasnt quite as fast as he was before he retired, but he always had the advantage of being a cool operator, the master of handling stress and pressure. Look at how he won the '84 championship for example. Its what gave him the edge over the young guns like Prost who were willing to take more risks. But even though Schumacher has aged, I dont think he will be able to handle pressure any better than the current crop. So age will not bring any advantages to him as it did for lauda.

If you disagree, fine, but try to keep mature about it by filtering out your rudeness!

o... I am sure that Hamilton is much more natural than Schumacher was in all aspects of racing including humanity, sportiveness. Yes I Am Very Sure About It.

just look at michael's last race, that guy's a monster

The car was a monster, michael is not god though some of his fanboys believe he is.

just

How can you possibly commend Hamilton for 'taking on the challenges he has done'? Did he have a choice in what team he drove for or who his team mate was? He had what was probably the cushiest most pampered, guided, spoilt, route to F1 in the history of the sport so please don't talk about 'challenges' as if he opted to storm a machine gun nest armed with a twig. He didn't 'choose' to face Alonso, and though he fared well against him there are plenty of people out there who will claim that Alonso didn't get the best or most equal of treatment. That said, on pure talent I largely agree; as I said before (had you bothered to acknowledge it) he's obviously one of the finest drivers of his generation; fast and exciting, the sport is better for his presence. I don't, however, regard him as the second coming of Christ.
You can rest assured that what you 'think' doesn't hurt me in the slightest; everybody here has different favourites and opinions on who's the best; what irks me is when I come across someone who feels the need to slate other drivers as part of praising their hero. You state that you 'think he is one of the greatest talents to ever enter the sport', and you may be right, but what you forget is that many people followed the career of a young MS and were equally passionately convinced of exactly the same thing. An awful lot of people, including many experts who know far more about it than you, still believe that MS is among the finest drivers of all time, so forgive me if I don't concede to your apparent conviction that you 'know' better.
Oh, and I'm not a 'boy'; and calling yourself 'man' doesn't make you one

Good one All he has to do now is develop a bit of humility and he'll be the perfect man

Except for Jacques Villeneuve.

OK, so maybe a joint award

Haha, Hamilton HAS faced the toughest internal challenge already, he did so in his first season. a double world champion and a damn fine one at that, and the history books state he came out on top! I'm sorry, but you are going to have to live it it! It doesnt matter if it were due to circumstances beyond his control or not, he took the test from day ONE. Schumacher's teammates on the other hand feature in the list of Who's who mediocre drivers of F1 during the 1990's!

And yes, as I said before, i'm anything but a fan of Hamilton. But catergorize me as one if it makes you feel better. I call it how I see it, you cant handle it, and hence I must be a "fan." Interesting logic.

This thread is about a Michael Schumacher comeback. I've stated that I don't think he should because he wouldn't have been good enough to beat the best of today - and making up the numbers is not Schumacher's style. That's not slating, its my opinion. You can't handle it, therefore you call it slating! Accept the fact that not everybody holds Schumacher in the same esteem as you do! And again, if it makes you feel better, yes, I confess to having limited knowledge of F1. I've been watching since the early 1980's and have tapes and dvd's of racing going back to the 50's. I'm not an expert, but my opinion is just as valid as yours. I think Hamilton is simply more talented than Schumacher...i'm sorry you don't like it, call me illinformed, daft, dilluded if it makes you feel better. I suggest you DEAL with it!

great. I thought is about how Hamilton will never be a Schumacher.... let's get back to topic then shall we? I don't beleive it is going to happen, but really hope that it will.

Alonso was a stranger in a land that Hamilton was effectively born and raised into. I think it's a hard case to argue that he was beaten fair and square. Time will tell whether Hamilton will be a champion worthy of Schumacher, and no one doubts that he is immensely talented, but it's far too early to make that call.

I think through 05 and 06 Schuey was seeing a new breed of younger driver emerging, and probably thought to himself then that he would have to close his legacy and make way for something new. This year excited him for sure for a temporary comeback - to have go with the boys again. But for a full championship year? He knows too well he doesn't want to do a Mansell, and discover very quickly it was a bad idea...

There's nothing to 'deal with'; you clearly haven't even read my posts properly else you'd realise that I agree with you on matters you're still arguing about, such as Schumacher's return. Your opinion is indeed as valid as mine, and I genuinely couldn't care less who you think is more talented; my issue lies with the facts that a) the tone of your posts put the lie to your claim of being impartial; and b) you repeatedly rewrite history and move the goal posts in order to make make LH look as good as possible and MS as bad as possible. Anyway, never mind, we'll reopen this discussion when Lewis racks up WDC #7

Hamilton was not new to McLaren but he was new to F1 and very young too. If I had the option of taking either 5 years racing experience with 2 WDC wins having battled against the likes of Schumacher for the title..... or..... team experience with me to my debut season which is all that Hamilton had....it would be racing experience every time!!

You say time will tell whether Hamilton is worthy to be considered in the Shumacher bracket....I disagree. Time has already told that he is already better than Schumacher was by facing genuine tests in the form of internal competition. I just dont rate Brundle, Verstappen, Lehto, Irvine et al at the same level of Alonso.

Jos
Verstappen

http://www.crash.net/f1/news/154945/1/vers...tm_campaign=rss

The tone? Elaborate please? You mean the fact that I think Hamilton is more talented?

Yes, we can re-open this discussion when Schumacher tackles a teammate who has the quality of Alonso.

No, I suggest you look up the definition of the word 'tone'. The wording and, yes, 'tone' of your posts reveals to anyone who's brain isn't ossified that you have, at the very least, a soft spot for LH. It's not just me that's picked you up on some of your claims and reasoning after all, is it? I'm not aware that ClubmanGT, for example, is a blind, rabid Schumacher worshiper. Perhaps you should calmly re-read and you might perhaps see what the rest of us can.

Honestly now, no one can say for sure who is the most naturally talented. By your argument, Lewis is the most talented because he beat the quality Alonso. But how do you quantify Alonso? Yes, Hamilton beat him, but who did Alonso beat before that. Fisi? PK Junior? Many would argue that he and Trulli were nearly equal. And who did those 3 beat?

Do you see it is impossible to make an argument for your driver by judging them by how they compared to their previous teammates? There really is no way to know exactly who is better and by how much.

"Get the ball, not the man"

Again, be more specific. Chelsea are the best team in the premier league, I don't partuclarly like them, but its true. Does it mean I support them? No. Anything but.

Again, as far as I can see, the fact that I rate Hamilton higher than Schumacher subsequently leads you to tar me as a Hamilton fan. I'm not, and no I really couldn't care less about any of the current drivers. The last driver I was a fan of was Gerhard Berger!

Yet somehow, you seem to know me better than I know myself!

Surely one can only really quantify a driver by their acheivements so far, whoever they're up against or have been up against at their time. That's the point of the championship. Lewis is a champion, more to come? Probably, but let's see... Alonso is a 2x champion, again let's see what more he can do.. Schuey a 7x. So far the best. If he comes back perhaps he will flounder but we would have to wait and see in the future if anyone else can actually match that record.

we were basically racing alonso?

Fine. Personally I wouldn't think NM would have a longer period than MS who is certainly fitter still now.

Then remember that most of his success came post 'his peak' as your dates have it. But the Ferrari peak - or advantage - was much diminished come 06, hugely so in 05.

But he was worn out. Not so now necessarily after some recuperation.

But why should he want to compete for WDC? Why can't he be happy to sign for 2 years, support Rosberg, and aim to top the century. That would still be effing amazing.

OK people are concerned it would ruin his reputation. I say Pah! He'd get a century. He'd be supportive. He'd be set forever at Mercedes. And he'd mentor Vettel afterwards. He doesn't have to be all about the glory. He can be about the fun and the minor success. He is human.

Yeah agree, but there's the press. And we know what they're like... If it's he can be bothered with all that crap...

Where the hell is frans?