23 replies to this topic

[molive]

I mean, there´s no need for him to go over-the-top in a useless practice session and risk injury.

The only reason I can think of is that MS realized he has to step on it to be ahead of RB, so he is going to push it beyond his usual self to be ahead of RB and start making his case (he´s #1).

MS should´ve learned his lesson from last year´s crash and save his best for when it counts...This atitude can easily backfire on him.

[nhbrian]

There's no such thing as a "useless" practice session; otherwise, they wouldn't run them. Michael now knows just how far he can push his car; Mika, David and Rubens do not. This is why he will end up in front when it counts

[man from martinlaakso]

Nhbrian, no driver knows excatly, how far he can push his car, not before he has gone overboard. The tracks are very different and the conditions usually change at least somewhat during the weekend. So you don't know, you just make a validated guess. Sometimes you will get it wrong.

Schumey is a great driver, but in decisive races he has underperformed several times.

[molive]

quick analisys:

MS never had to work hard to beat Eddie in Aussie practices:

1999:
07. M. Schumacher 1:33.57608.
14. Irvine 1:34.595

(1 sec ahead)

1998:

1 M. Schumacher 1m 33.826s2
17 Irvine 1m 37.891s

(4 secs ahead!)

1997:
1- Schumacher 1m 32.496s
6- Irvine 1m 34.157s

(1.6 secs ahead)

I might add that this comparison is for FREE-PRACTICE sessions, which are usually useless, so, in conclusion, this post is rather useless too...

[Zoe]

So MS has gone off, so what? People just behave and talk like this has never happened before.

I am particularly disappointed by Jackie Stewarts comments that I just read on AtlasF1. Yes, he is so smart, incredible. I am only waiting before he gets onto the back of one of his drivers; he's done it before, so just wait.

In my opinion he's becoming one of the smartasses and Iknowbetterthanallofyou that I dislike. One infamous (German) team owner even went so far as driving a car around the circuit and declaring it "perfect" afterwards, just to put blame on his driver. What a good team motivation; I wonder why this particular team didn't survive that season.

Zoe

[RAD]

I did not see the crash in free practice, but I agree with JS all the way on that. MS deserves a good bitchin' out from Todt. Now instead of getting the car fine tuned, Ferrari has to worry about getting Michael's car back together. Why don't they just make it the back up and reconfigure the back up to be MS's car?


I think that RB just might give MS all he can handle this year. It scares me to think of what might happen. I think we all remember Silverstone last year. Having said that, I hope that MS is taking some anger management classes. RB looks to be a smooth and laid back driver. He will take what he gets, where MS will demand win after win.

[szs]

molive, it must be hard for you to swallow that michael beat rubens always in testing and already in the first and second practice.

[This message has been edited by szs (edited 03-10-2000).]

[Mila]

Stewart's comments foster more driver bashing. I have never heard so many people pass judgment on their peers than over the last two seasons. will all of these guys just shut up! ok, JYS is retired, but he still has a competitive spirit; I wonder if he had one eye on the record books when he was quoted.

molive, I tend to agree. under the circumstances--a Friday practice--that extra tenth might be valuable to the driver later on, but this advantage would normally be outweighed by the set back such a crash would cause to the team.

all in all, MS has to answer to Luca, not JYS.

[The RedBaron]

Molive -just live with it, don't read too much into the accident, the track was extremely dusty and therefore slippery afterall. Even the likes of Mika and DC had their spins.
I can see a whole season of you trying to over-analyse situatiosn why Schumacher has been faster or collecting more points than Rubens.
Just live with it, Rubens will sooner or later win his first GP.......god knows we waited long enough for it to happen......how many is it now?
100? 110? or 120?

[Todd]

If you look at the gap from Michael to Eddie in the past, how the heck can you say he wasn't trying back then? Do you think he just puttered around and was more than a second faster than Eddie? Didn't both McLaren drivers spin too? I think the competition was between all four drivers. They all want to know who is best prepared. If you think Rubens is the first thing on Michael's mind right now, you're on crack. The big question is whether the Ferrari is going to be competitive with the McLaren when it counts. He already knows how much faster then Rubens he is from testing.

------------------
Forza Michael Schumacher,
Todd

[molive]

szs,

no, it´s not hard.

You MS fans are the ones that must be feeling the heat already. After all, if being a newcomer to the team, etc, RB is that close to MS fastest time, imagine when he gets settled...

[Bob Nomates]

I think that he did it just to wind Molive up ;)

[Lantern]

Rubens has said that there is nothing more for him to learn about the Ferrari team and that he is completely settled. So, what kind of settling are you looking for? His butt to make those settling marks in the seat ;)

[molive]

RedB,

Ok, I agree, maybe RB is not MS´s main concern right now.

I can see a whole season of you trying to over-analyse situatiosn why Schumacher has been faster or collecting more points than Rubens.

Who´s over-analyzing?

I conceded above that this post is USELESS, so why are you so upset?

Chill out dude! we have a whole season to argue...

[Todd]

molive,

I'm really going to have to laugh every time Rubens comes up second best. As a Michael fan, all I'm concerned about is the fact that Schumacher often has the best Sunday times only to have McLaren step it up an extra 8/10ths in qualifying. Rubens is doing a nice job to be mixing it up with the other top cars. If he was in third and Michael was making excuses for being 8th, then I'd think there might be a problem. Trade in the crack for some ludes. It might help you get a grip.

------------------
Forza Michael Schumacher,
Todd

[DangerMouse]

Schumachers crash is both stupid and unnecessary, the team is now one chassis short which, according the Todt will be out of action until Sunday. MS will obviously get Ruben's spare, which makes Ruben's weekend difficult, if he should spin in qualifying Ruben's will end up midfield and without a car, Jackie Stewart has rightfully critisised MS for his crash, it's pointless and stupid driving that hard in the first session of the first race. Especially in Oz because you cannot get new parts quickly.

[RedFever]

Molive, honestly I don't think Michael was pushing to demonstrate to Rubens he is faster. I think what he was trying to do is put pressure on Hakkinen by showing him that he no longer enjoyes a 2 seconds advantage like in the past. Mika is extremely relaxed after winning again in 99 and all the pressure is on Michael to win the title. If Mika loses, who is going to blame him? the guy won the past 2 titles. But if Schumi loses, you know they are going to grill him. I really believe Schumi is trying to get some of the pressure off him and put it on Mika's shoulders by leaving him behind, even in these less significant free practice sessions.

Regarding Rubens Michael was jubilant. He said it was fantastic that theyr were so fast, that the car had no problems and that both Ferrari were so close, which meant the car is really good. Maybe Rubens has a role in MS's pushing hard, but I still believe is 85% to press Mika and 15% for Rubens.

[130R]

That was a pretty big blunder by Schumi, as indicated astutely by JYS. Nice to see him start the season with a mistake. If it had of been Hakk....

[Chris]

What we can see is that twice in the past month Schumacher has had a big off, I don't know wether the reason is Mika or Rubens, but he is certainly under high pressure to perform.
In fact last year he also made some mistakes when Eddie was close to him, so I think that he is really trying to show on the track who is the number 1 at Ferrari.

[This message has been edited by Chris (edited 03-10-2000).]

[Todd]

Throughout his career, Michael has had plenty of offs n practice. That is when he takes his chances. It doesn't matter as much as in a race and it shows that he isn't spooked by his Siverstone accident.

------------------
Forza Michael Schumacher,
Todd

[The RedBaron]

I think your right RedFever.
Personally (in chill mode) its a good thing that Rubens is up there and very close, it
should help Schuey to reach new levels and in
the process reel in the Mclarens. We should stop bickering amongst ourselves Molive, it is first and foremost a team effort. I know your hoping that Rubens might be next Brazilian WDC ....and good for you, but the common enemy are the McClarens. I would sooner see Rubens win races then either DC or Mika thats for sure, in the same way i supported Eddie last year.
I'm sure Rubens himself would celebrate a Ferrari victory coming from Schuey then either of the Macs.
So stick your patriotism up your ar#e and unite behind the team

[FlagMan]

I was under the impression that drivers are not allowed to use the spare car during practice and qualifying....

Of course what constitutes a spare car?

From the picture posted here the car didn't look too bad - tub looked undamaged so they should be able to graft new bits on to it.

[RedFever]

well, the car is damaged, but the chassis is alright. Therefore they might have already replaced the damages during the night (actually, it's still night)

[molive]

RedB,

I´m sorry if I upset you with my ´patriotism´, but I rather see Hakk, DC, JV, or whoever else win a race than MS.

I root for RB, not Ferrari. If RB was driving for Mac I´d be waiving silver flags right now...

And that´s that.