108 replies to this topic

[D.M.N.]

http://news.bbc.co.u...ort/7661652.stm

Sure some of you guys will want to listen to this. Just a prior warning: It's 20 minutes long.

[DiStefano]

Painful to watch, that guy is a ****ing moron, he makes Allen look like a normal guy.
I'm surprised Michael didn't walk out.

[Coma]

Funny watching the interviewer repeatedly trying his best to get Schumacher to say Hamilton is the best thing since sliced cheese, and Schumacher playing him down constantly and giving very generic stock answers. He did the same thing in the Itv interview earlier in the year when pressed about Hamilton.

[MichaelPM]

My god...this isn't what we will have to face with the BBC coverage next year?

I thought BBC taking over would improve the sports coverage and remove the ******** bias plaguing ITV.

[F575 GTC]

Originally posted by Coma
Funny watching the interviewer repeatedly trying his best to get Schumacher to say Hamilton is the best thing since sliced cheese, and Schumacher playing him down constantly and giving very generic stock answers. He did the same thing in the Itv interview earlier in the year when pressed about Hamilton.

That's what i thought. They might as well go and ask Sir Alex Fergurson who he wants to win the Premier / Champions League - Chelsea or Man. United?

[brunopascal]

"I guess it's natural that you as british you talk about Hamilton....I guess we have quite a few other drivers around"

brilliant reply

[RodrigoL]

I turned this s*** off after 5 minutes. Just out of interest, was there a question that didn't contain Hamilton's name?

[brunopascal]

Originally posted by RodrigoL
I turned this s*** off after 5 minutes. Just out of interest, was there a question that didn't contain Hamilton's name?

Oh yes, there were a few!

Schumi gave good sensible answers I'd say....sometimes too diplomatic maybe, I'd have liked to know more of what he thought. But I can understand it.

[craftverk]

lol. You people who critcize Allen and ITV must feel horrified.

I see the British Broadcasting Coporation working well. I personally thought the interview was painful, I just hope it's not going to be like that next year. And if it is... .....

[RedBaron]

That guy is from BBC breakfast. He used to, or still does sports news then. He is absolutely terrible, he gets 20 minutes with Michael Schumacher and this is how he acts. His face, that awful gritted cheesey toothed smile is so irritating.

I hope he isn't on the BBC F1 team... An evil you know is better than an evil you don't... we love you James.

Edit: haha he tries to interrupt Schumacher and he cuts him off instantly.

[travbrad]

I'm not sure what is more amazing, Schumacher's patience or his driving skills

[Mika Mika]

did no one tell the BBC guy Silverstone have been binned allready???

Oh and just how many pies has schumacher been eating?????

[DaleCooper]

Originally posted by RedBaron
That guy is from BBC breakfast. He used to, or still does sports news then. He is absolutely terrible, he gets 20 minutes with Michael Schumacher and this is how he acts. His face, that awful gritted cheesey toothed smile is so irritating.

I hope he isn't on the BBC F1 team... An evil you know is better than an evil you don't... we love you James.

Edit: haha he tries to interrupt Schumacher and he cuts him off instantly.

Nobody cuts off the Red Baron!!



Cooper

[MONTOYASPEED]

What a waste of a chance...

[BunnyK]

Where is SeanValen when you need him

[Galko877]

The first times Michael was asked about Hamilton last year he has been pretty polite and praising him. (Actually he already pointed him out as a great talent in 2001.) But I think by now he simply got fed up with being asked about him all the time when he talks to the British media. Who can blame him? Maybe people who are interested in a MS interview don't just want to hear another Hamilton praise-fest.

[eoin]

Originally posted by BunnyK
Where is SeanValen when you need him

Rewatching it ;)

[MONTOYASPEED]

Originally posted by BunnyK
Where is SeanValen when you need him

SCHUMACHER THE LEGEND HE IS STILL FIT AND CAN RETURN ANY MOMENT. EXCELLENT

[rolf123]

Rob Bonnet is a total tool. He has long been a sportscaster for BBC and thinks he's it. I fear they will use him next year.

I love the way Schumi did not particularly praise Hamilton at all

[Suntrek]

Originally posted by travbrad
I'm not sure what is more amazing, Schumacher's patience or his driving skills

I agree. What a horrible interview (er). :

I think for the first time in my life I feel sorry for MS. He's brilliantly patient and really takes his time to explain and make his points clear, though.

[kar]

Who cares about the muppet from the BBC, 20 minutes of _that_ chin Baahhh wish he was still in F1

[DaleCooper]

It was sad to hear that his batteries ran down to nothing. No hint of a comeback either, rather the opposite.
&^%&%#$&^%$&%$%$!!!


Cooper

[panzani]

TNF?;)

[Chicken McNuggets]

I was watching the interview a little earlier and felt the same way on the prospects of another slightly fanatical Hamilton bias. It mirrors the inclination of the existing BBC F1 coverage (online, anyway), so this looks like a good preview of the kind of emphasis we'll get in '09. Very predictable fare.

[ensign14]

"The Michael Schumacher World Champion Tower".

He's got a vivid imagination, hasn't he?

[pUs]

Totally mindless questions.. Hamilton, Hamilton, Hamilton...

However, towards the end Michael actually gets an interesting question, when the interviewer asks where Michael got the most excitement, or "bounce" or whatever, if it was when he sprayed champagne, or had a great overtaking manouvere etc..

I thought his answer was a bit interesting and is perhaps quite telling of his personality, that what gave him the biggest buzz in F1 was to develop the car with his team and maximizing everything and feeling that every single detail is 100%. And that victory itself after having set up everything perfectly was simply a "reward" for the hard work.. might not sound that passionated, but it sure was efficient and gave him great results.

On the edge interviewing EXCELLENT

[Sakae]

Originally posted by ensign14
"The Michael Schumacher World Champion Tower".

He's got a vivid imagination, hasn't he?

Your dislike for him equals to only my "likes" of Kubica. That's why I do uderstand.

[BunnyK]

Originally posted by pUs

I thought his answer was a bit interesting and is perhaps quite telling of his personality, that what gave him the biggest buzz in F1 was to develop the car with his team and maximizing everything and feeling that every single detail is 100%. And that victory itself after having set up everything perfectly was simply a "reward" for the hard work..

EXCELLENT

Me too, I didn't expect such an intelligent answer... also when he said he never felt he was the best

[kar]

Originally posted by pUs
Totally mindless questions.. Hamilton, Hamilton, Hamilton...

However, towards the end Michael actually gets an interesting question, when the interviewer asks where Michael got the most excitement, or "bounce" or whatever, if it was when he sprayed champagne, or had a great overtaking manouvere etc..

I thought his answer was a bit interesting and is perhaps quite telling of his personality, that what gave him the biggest buzz in F1 was to develop the car with his team and maximizing everything and feeling that every single detail is 100%. And that victory itself after having set up everything perfectly was simply a "reward" for the hard work..

EXCELLENT

Indeed

Michael may or may not be the most talented driver in all of history, but he almost certainly was the one who could put it all together, and so consistently, year after year after year.

[pUs]

Originally posted by BunnyK


Me too, I didn't expect such an intelligent answer... also when he said he never felt he was the best

Same here, I think it sounded quite genuine.

[pUs]

Originally posted by kar


Indeed

Michael may or may not be the most talented driver in all of history, but he almost certainly was the one who could put it all together, and so consistently, year after year after year.

Yeah, I think so too now when looking back. There might well have been others from his generation that were perhaps slightly more talented.

However, the way he conducted himself at work I think set him apart. He actually seemed to enjoy hard work and preparing everything to such an extent that victory almost came to him naturally.

[kar]

Originally posted by Suntrek


I agree. What a horrible interview (er). :

I think for the first time in my life I feel sorry for MS. He's brilliantly patient and really takes his time to explain and make his points clear, though.

Schumi was always a very good interview. The reason he was always considered 'boring' by some was because of jackasses like this guy trying to lead the interview and or put words in his mouth.

Very patient though I would have lost my temper after 2 minutes of that rubbish.

[Mika Mika]

If the BBC is gonna be like that i'm praying that they keep James Allen.......

[kar]

Originally posted by Mika Mika
If the BBC is gonna be like that i'm praying that they keep James Allen.......

Same this guy is the biggest tool I've heard for a while - didn't even know Silverstone had lost its GP already either

[Mika Mika]

Originally posted by kar


Same this guy is the biggest tool I've heard for a while - didn't even know Silverstone had lost its GP already either

What a twunt...

Michael Schumacher tower like like the building from the original Die Hard

[RSNS]

A wasted opportunity, I think. But the end is interesting. Notice that Schumacher totally refuses to say he was the best driver. What might he really think? He considered Hakkinnen very highly, the same with Alonso. What does he really think? Probably we will never know from him.

[SevenTwoSeven]

NEXT WEEK :- Lewis Hamilton discusses Micheal Schumacher with the BBC

Great stuff, but you could really sense MS was getting fed up of the Lewis Hamilton related questions!

[COUGAR508]

Originally posted by Chicken McNuggets
I was watching the interview a little earlier and felt the same way on the prospects of another slightly fanatical Hamilton bias. It mirrors the inclination of the existing BBC F1 coverage (online, anyway), so this looks like a good preview of the kind of emphasis we'll get in '09. Very predictable fare.

Some of the interview was played on BBC Radio on Friday morning, and there was general astonishment from the presenters at the suggestion that "our Lewis" was not the best driver out there. The interview, and the reaction to it by the BBC, was very simplistic, and very typical of mainstream sports coverage in the UK media.

[Bob Nomates]

without watching the interview schumacher is well boring anyway!
It would be great now he's retired, if he would finally give us a glimse into his win at all cost ways, because otherwise he's going to go down as the most sucessful boring driver ever.
He's not even bothered to write an autobiography, the basturd!

[DaleCooper]

Originally posted by RSNS
A wasted opportunity, I think. But the end is interesting. Notice that Schumacher totally refuses to say he was the best driver. What might he really think? He considered Hakkinnen very highly, the same with Alonso. What does he really think? Probably we will never know from him.

You mean to suggest that he doesn't think he was the best??

To say it would be bad form, he knows that and doesn't want to come across as arogant, the ever humble champion.

But he is convinced he was the best, that much is clear. He will always dispute it though, as he should. They all think they are the best, their opinions mean very little in this case.


Cooper

[stevewf1]

Michael Schumacher is an odd character... He can be the coolest and calmest person but sometimes it seems as if he has the biggest panic button of anyone...

The ultimate "control freak"?

[aditya-now]

This interview is priceless.

I have to say, I like Schumacher more and more since he retired. He came across very sincere, self-controlled and wise.

The best bit for me was, that Jackie Stewart should become permanent race steward.

Very much tongue in cheek.

[Galko877]

Originally posted by pUs
Totally mindless questions.. Hamilton, Hamilton, Hamilton...

However, towards the end Michael actually gets an interesting question, when the interviewer asks where Michael got the most excitement, or "bounce" or whatever, if it was when he sprayed champagne, or had a great overtaking manouvere etc..

I thought his answer was a bit interesting and is perhaps quite telling of his personality, that what gave him the biggest buzz in F1 was to develop the car with his team and maximizing everything and feeling that every single detail is 100%. And that victory itself after having set up everything perfectly was simply a "reward" for the hard work.. might not sound that passionated, but it sure was efficient and gave him great results.

On the edge interviewing EXCELLENT

And actually it's probably true too, because that's how Ross Brawn decribed him as well last year:

"He had terrific application. So when you take that raw talent, which is pretty rare, and you mix it with that application, that tremendous commitment and passion for the team spirit of F1."

"He was a guy who loved to win, but he also loved to win as a team. He took extra satisfaction from winning as a group. You put all those things together and that is why he was so exceptional. Take one of those things away and he wouldn't have been the complete deal."

People always talk about drivers wanting to achieve success for their ego and in most cases that is completely true, but I think Schumacher was the ultimate teamplayer in this World of big egos. That's not to say he didn't have ego, of course he did, but I don't think any other driver has understood the team aspect as much as him.

[kar]

Originally posted by stevewf1
Michael Schumacher is an odd character... He can be the coolest and calmest person but sometimes it seems as if he has the biggest panic button of anyone...

The ultimate "control freak"?

Really? Over the course of a career of nearly one and a half decades he had maybe less than 5 incidents that could at all be described as moments of 'panic'.

In contrast the British golden child has probably had that many in the course of just two seasons.

[DCult]

Originally posted by BunnyK
Where is SeanValen when you need him

Propably throwing away the dirty tissue

[Galko877]

Originally posted by RSNS
A wasted opportunity, I think. But the end is interesting. Notice that Schumacher totally refuses to say he was the best driver. What might he really think? He considered Hakkinnen very highly, the same with Alonso. What does he really think? Probably we will never know from him.

I don't know if he has thought of any other driver specially when he said that. People on F1 BBs always go on about how drivers HAVE to think they are the best to be successful. Is that really so or is that just a myth? I mean I have heard Jim Clark was modest, and Juan Manuel Fangio said: "You must always strive to be the best, but you must never believe that you are." I see this frame of mind with Michael too. And I don't see any reason why a driver cannot be successful if he doesn't think day in, day out: "I am the best, I am so great, so fantastic, nobody can beat me". Actually I think this kind of thinking is more a weakness than a strength compared to the Fangio mentality.

You have to have a healthy confidence, yes, but I think Michael just didn't think about how great he was. Maybe he didn't have time to think about that, he was too busy thinking about how to make the car better. He just wanted to achieve with his team that his car+driver package is the best and at the end he didn't care much if he wins because he as a driver is better than anybody or because he, together with his team have managed to make the car better than anybody else. It's the whole package that matters, that's what F1 is about, and he knew that. But I think in this way of thinking it's an important element to be involved in making your car, in the development process to be proud, not just sit into what is already the best.

To me it's also odd to see people writing they are surprised by the intelligent answers he gave or how "sincere, self-controlled and wise" he came across. To me he always came across like that. Too bad some of his best interviews (Stern, Süddeutsche Zeitung) never make into the English languaged media. The one he gave to the Süddeutsche Zeitung at the end of his career was one of the best, most intelligent and, I think, sincere, interviews I have read from any F1 driver.

[Tenmantaylor]

It wasnt half as bad as some of you make out. The first half was admittedly too LH orientated but in general it was good to hear some of MS' thoughts even though he got interupted too often. I think we are safe in that the interviewer is a newsreader and wont be part of BBCs sports lineup next year.

[Tenmantaylor]

Originally posted by Galko877

. Maybe he didn't have time to think about that, he was too busy thinking about how to make the car better.

This is the crux of it. You CAN be the best driver by some margin and still get trounced if you dont do what Michael did with his team.

[Coma]

Michael sounded like a politician in this interview, why the hell is he being so diplomatic? He barely gave a straight answer on anything. Most other retired drivers are straight shooters, and so was schumacher in the mid 90s when he called hill second rate and not a real no 1 driver.

[kar]

Originally posted by Coma
Michael sounded like a politician in this interview, why the hell is he being so diplomatic? He barely gave a straight answer on anything. Most other retired drivers are straight shooters, and so was schumacher in the mid 90s when he called hill second rate and not a real no 1 driver.

Straight shooters or just bitter? I think Michael is supremely confident in himself and in the life he's had and the life he has ahead of him. It affords him a degree of humility when dealing with the media that maybe other drivers don't feel they can show.

Michael is undoubtedly the best driver of his generation and arguably of all time, he doesn't need to dump on other drivers past or present to make himself feel better or to somehow affect others' impression of him.