189 replies to this topic

[pabloh20]

El Maestro, on 31 July 2009 - 01:37 PM, said:

He never shyed away from a challenge, but he never had a team mate on equal terms either, maybe towards the end of his successful career he felt he didn't need the hassle/challenge, and he preferred to keep it that way. Maybe not, I don't claim to know, and neither should you. I don't really see the problem with it though if that is what happened, anybody could understand Schumacher not feeling the need to go out and beat Raikkonen over a season. As for RoC, nope not the same. Nobody's reputation is on the line in the RoC, it's not like anybody is going to say "did you hear that Michael Schumacher, 7 times world champion but crashed out of the RoC, he must be a rubbish driver". Racing against a bunch of other highly skilled racer's from other categories for fun does not have the same bearing on someone's reputation as racing in Formula One for a season. When Kova won the RoC nobody proclaimed him an exceptionally gifted driver, likewise if Schumi did crap no one could claim he was a poor driver.

Nope, your theory is dependant on completely unprovable rumour, my theory is based on Herr Schumacher's actions post retirement. His actions do not fit his words, so in my opinion it was a number of things which lead to his retirement, e.g. the reaction from the Monaco incident, the fact he'd satisfied what he wanted to do in the sport, and the hiring of Raikkonen, and maybe spending more time with his family was somewhere near the bottom of that list.

I'm not claiming to know, I'm just claiming your wrong

However, if you are admitting to not knowing, then you have to take Schumi and his reasons at face value.

Regarding the RoC, I am not saying that his reputation would be tarnished to the general public, however, if he was that bothered about competing with other drivers on equal terms, and in some cases terms balanced in favour of other drives in the RoC, then he just wouldn't do it.  To me that's an indication that he would have quite happily taken on anybody coming into 'his' team in a car that was probably developed towards his driving style.

El Maestro, on 31 July 2009 - 01:37 PM, said:

It would have been nice to see Schumi vs Raikkonen in 2007, maybe it would've been quite close...sadly we'll never know 'cos Schumi is such a pussy :whistling emoticon:

He always had a team mate on equal terms............he just beat them like he was their Daddy at the start of the season and then they had to become his b!tch.  Which is exactly what he would have done to Kimi {whistling emoticon]

[Rainmaster]

BradSpeedMan, on 31 July 2009 - 01:29 PM, said:

you get it by having the dominant and fastest car on the grid...like Nando, MS and Mika. Wether you fragile or break down in tears with a helicopter hovering over you while you think the championship is over.... F1 pundits will tell you how fragile and insecure Mika really was, I guess the father figure of Ron Dennis helped him with that aspect as he was the darling of the team.

edit: I just realise how applicable the last statement is to Fernando's championship years too, when he acted like a spoilt kid who threw his toys when things did'nt go his way...

I think your right about that, lots of sportsmen are insecure deep down and I do think Mika was one of those (out of the c#ckpit).

BradSpeedMan, on 31 July 2009 - 01:42 PM, said:

I just realise, how could it not occur to me.....I guess you're more a Schumacher fan than a Kimi fan...am I right?


There's not alot of you around, that is, a Schumacher turned Kimi fan.

Depends how you mean. Schumacher was a better driver, due to his consistency and application of his talent. Kimi is just as talented in my opinion, but less complete, and his application/attitude isn't as admirable. However, I identify more with Kimi (just waiting for someone to tell me sports has nothing to do with personality, yeah right) because he seems like a more chilled out, intelligent person, he reminds me of myself more than Schumacher does (who never showed any kind of good personality or integrity). So basically Schumi is the kind of sportsmen we love to hate, and Kimi is (sort of) the one we hate to love, because he doesn't seem at all bothered yet he still wins. Saying that, Schumi won 7 titles and Kimi will only probably end up with 1, so the universe is fair in this regard because MS worked much harder and got rewarded better....but he'll never be as cool or have as much fun as Raikkonen. Maybe.

[pabloh20]

BradSpeedMan, on 31 July 2009 - 01:42 PM, said:

I just realise, how could it not occur to me.....I guess you're more a Schumacher fan than a Kimi fan...am I right?


There's not alot of you around, that is, a Schumacher turned Kimi fan.

I think you may have read By George's post a bit wrong there, Bradley

BradSpeedMan, on 31 July 2009 - 01:44 PM, said:

you still don't believe me? Paul, I'm serious here

Overcompensating, I think is the term, Brad

[F1 FANatic]

Insider, on 31 July 2009 - 07:44 AM, said:

MS retired because F1 was no longer a challenge for him.  He'd done it all.  It's not hard to imagine. Getting back in at this juncture would almost be impossible for most individuals.  The rigorous medical tests associated with re-acquiring a Super Licence may prove difficult for some individuals with little under four weeks to prepare, specifically the neck strength tests but in Michael's case, politics will probably win the day. The granting of Super Licences has become something of a joke over the years. To qualify for an FIA Super Licence the requesting driver must already be the holder of a Grade A competition licence, and additionally meet the requirements of the FIA International Sporting Code, Appendix L. These requirements state that the driver must be either the reigning champion in a lower category of motor sport, for example Formula 3 (British, Italian or Japanese championship, or Euroseries) or GP2 Series (formerly known as Formula 3000), or must have consistently finished well in these categories. For example, a driver finishing in the first three positions five times within the last two years in GP2 will be eligible for a Super Licence. Additionally, drivers who have competed in the IndyCar Series are eligible for a Super Licence if they finished within the first six places of the drivers championship. This allows drivers from the United States domestic series to move into Formula One without first taking part in other FIA sanctioned events. Under exceptional circumstances Appendix L also allows the FIA to award a Super Licence to a driver who does not meet the normal criteria if a vote reveals unanimous agreement by the members, and provided that the driver has completed 300 kilometres of testing at racing speeds in a current car. Neither Raikkonen or Davidson were eligible under any of the above Regulations or Appendix L when they joined their teams. Go figure. The FIA's Chief Medical Officer, Professor Sid Watkins will have to issue a Medical Certificate Of Aptitude to MS and although Sid is a very strict examiner, the pressure from the FIA, FOM and SF will be enormous.  Having said that, I don't believe Michael will race if he feels he is less than 100% fit for the job in hand.

There is one more way to qualify for a super-license though, and that is the way schumi will be eligible for his. Any former F1 competitor is eligible for a super-license if he has raced in 15 F1 GPs in the last 3 seasons. Since this is the 09 season, the 06 07 and 08 seasons are counted, it doesn't matter that its half way through the season.

Secondly, to say that a doctor, especially someone of Sid Watkins caliber would be bent with political pressure to allow an unfit man into F1 is absolutely ridiculous, especially with what has happened to Felipe and Henry in the past few weeks. If Michael was to get hurt because of a medical problem that would be the death knell for F1

[BradSpeedMan]

El Maestro, on 31 July 2009 - 01:52 PM, said:

I think your right about that, lots of sportsmen are insecure deep down and I do think Mika was one of those (out of the c#ckpit).



Depends how you mean. Schumacher was a better driver, due to his consistency and application of his talent. Kimi is just as talented in my opinion, but less complete, and his application/attitude isn't as admirable. However, I identify more with Kimi (just waiting for someone to tell me sports has nothing to do with personality, yeah right) because he seems like a more chilled out, intelligent person, he reminds me of myself more than Schumacher does (who never showed any kind of good personality or integrity). So basically Schumi is the kind of sportsmen we love to hate, and Kimi is (sort of) the one we hate to love, because he doesn't seem at all bothered yet he still wins. Saying that, Schumi won 7 titles and Kimi will only probably end up with 1, so the universe is fair in this regard because MS worked much harder and got rewarded better....but he'll never be as cool or have as much fun as Raikkonen. Maybe.

If we have to go by what you say here, then it means that Kimi is more talented than Schumie, because he does'nt require the application and the long hours (the hard work) that Schumie need to be the fastest.

[pabloh20]

El Maestro, on 31 July 2009 - 01:52 PM, said:

I think your right about that, lots of sportsmen are insecure deep down and I do think Mika was one of those (out of the c#ckpit).

In all serious now, it's not something I would have ever associated with Mika.  Yeah, I know he had his cry in the woods, but to me I always thought that was just the outpouring of emotion due to being stretched to the limit and always hiding the emotions.  I am not saying you and Brad are wrong, just not something I would associate with Mika.  Personally, I think he was a more fearce competitor than most of the current bunch of F1.

El Maestro, on 31 July 2009 - 01:52 PM, said:

Depends how you mean. Schumacher was a better driver, due to his consistency and application of his talent. Kimi is just as talented in my opinion, but less complete, and his application/attitude isn't as admirable. However, I identify more with Kimi (just waiting for someone to tell me sports has nothing to do with personality, yeah right) because he seems like a more chilled out, intelligent person, he reminds me of myself more than Schumacher does (who never showed any kind of good personality or integrity). So basically Schumi is the kind of sportsmen we love to hate, and Kimi is (sort of) the one we hate to love, because he doesn't seem at all bothered yet he still wins. Saying that, Schumi won 7 titles and Kimi will only probably end up with 1, so the universe is fair in this regard because MS worked much harder and got rewarded better....but he'll never be as cool or have as much fun as Raikkonen. Maybe.

Interesting and very similar to my own views, except that I think Kimi's attitude is admirable

[pabloh20]

BradSpeedMan, on 31 July 2009 - 01:58 PM, said:

If we have to go by what you say here, then it means that Kimi is more talented than Schumie, because he does'nt require the application and the long hours (the hard work) that Schumie need to be the fastest.

I think what George means, if I have read correctly, is that he thinks Kimi and Schumi are of an equal talent, in that Kimi is as fast as Schumi and vice versa, but that Schumi has made more of that talent by working harder.

[Rainmaster]

pabloh20, on 31 July 2009 - 01:50 PM, said:

I'm not claiming to know, I'm just claiming your wrong

However, if you are admitting to not knowing, then you have to take Schumi and his reasons at face value.

Regarding the RoC, I am not saying that his reputation would be tarnished to the general public, however, if he was that bothered about competing with other drivers on equal terms, and in some cases terms balanced in favour of other drives in the RoC, then he just wouldn't do it.  To me that's an indication that he would have quite happily taken on anybody coming into 'his' team in a car that was probably developed towards his driving style.


He always had a team mate on equal terms............he just beat them like he was their Daddy at the start of the season and then they had to become his b!tch.  Which is exactly what he would have done to Kimi {whistling emoticon]

Ah well, you can claim I'm wrong but if you don't know either then it's all bollocky bollocks isn't it? Trust me, this will go quicker and less painful if you 1) agree with me or 2) accept either explanation might be true!

I don't have to take anything at face value just because I don't know it's not true, that doesn't sound like a smart way of living to me! Better to question these things, and we get these fun debates like these, which are so much fun. Besides, everybody knows when it comes to a liar liar pants on fire like Schumacher you have to be on your guard - if you left him alone with your granny he would probably try to force her off the track or something like that. The cheeky devil.

As for the RoC, well I see your point (nice piercing, btw) but I can't agree that competing in a one off event for fun is really anything like competing over a full season of F1 - that's sounds like bollocky bollocks on your part to me Also, the mere hiring of Kimi for such money would have been a strong indication to Schumi that the days of it being "his" team were probably over.

Yep, I think he would have done that too and that's the way it would have gone down. Shame we'll never know, thanks Michael   

BradSpeedMan, on 31 July 2009 - 01:58 PM, said:

If we have to go by what you say here, then it means that Kimi is more talented than Schumie, because he does'nt require the application and the long hours (the hard work) that Schumie need to be the fastest.

Mmm that would only work if he won a similar amount of titles or had as much success as Schumi. He's good Brad, just not that good  

pabloh20, on 31 July 2009 - 02:01 PM, said:

In all serious now, it's not something I would have ever associated with Mika.  Yeah, I know he had his cry in the woods, but to me I always thought that was just the outpouring of emotion due to being stretched to the limit and always hiding the emotions.  I am not saying you and Brad are wrong, just not something I would associate with Mika.  Personally, I think he was a more fearce competitor than most of the current bunch of F1.


Interesting and very similar to my own views, except that I think Kimi's attitude is admirable

I think Mika was a fierce competitor too, but out of the c#ckpit it did seem to get to him so I think in that regard it was a weakness (although not a real weakness because it didn't affect his driving). I think Alonso and Hammy are pretty strong competitors though, it would've been fun to see more battles between Schumi and them.

As for Kimi, yeah I agree actually, he's done alright for himself with his attitude  

[Rainmaster]

pabloh20, on 31 July 2009 - 02:06 PM, said:

I think what George means, if I have read correctly, is that he thinks Kimi and Schumi are of an equal talent, in that Kimi is as fast as Schumi and vice versa, but that Schumi has made more of that talent by working harder.

Pretty much, yup.

[BradSpeedMan]

pabloh20, on 31 July 2009 - 02:06 PM, said:

I think what George means, if I have read correctly, is that he thinks Kimi and Schumi are of an equal talent, in that Kimi is as fast as Schumi and vice versa, but that Schumi has made more of that talent by working harder.

ok, after rereading George post I agree

Edited by BradSpeedMan, 31 July 2009 - 02:23 PM.

[Rainmaster]

You two are confusing even me now and I wrote the fecking posts

What I meant was very simple: Schumacher and Kimi are of roughly equal talent. Schumacher works harder, and so was more successful. Kimi won 1 title, but "he's good Brad, just not that good" was a reference to the fact that he couldn't win 7 titles with such an attitude.

And now Brad has edited that quote out of his post, bollock me this will be confusing

Edited by El Maestro, 31 July 2009 - 02:22 PM.

[pabloh20]

El Maestro, on 31 July 2009 - 02:21 PM, said:

You two are confusing even me now and I wrote the fecking posts

What I meant was very simple: Schumacher and Kimi are of roughly equal talent. Schumacher works harder, and so was more successful. Kimi won 1 title, but "he's good Brad, just not that good" was a reference to the fact that he couldn't win 7 titles with such an attitude.

And now Brad has edited that quote out of his post, bollock me this will be confusing

I don't think the confusement had anything to do with Brad's editing

[pabloh20]

El Maestro, on 31 July 2009 - 02:13 PM, said:

Ah well, you can claim I'm wrong but if you don't know either then it's all bollocky bollocks isn't it? Trust me, this will go quicker and less painful if you 1) agree with me or 2) accept either explanation might be true!

I don't have to take anything at face value just because I don't know it's not true, that doesn't sound like a smart way of living to me! Better to question these things, and we get these fun debates like these, which are so much fun. Besides, everybody knows when it comes to a liar liar pants on fire like Schumacher you have to be on your guard - if you left him alone with your granny he would probably try to force her off the track or something like that. The cheeky devil.

As for the RoC, well I see your point (nice piercing, btw) but I can't agree that competing in a one off event for fun is really anything like competing over a full season of F1 - that's sounds like bollocky bollocks on your part to me Also, the mere hiring of Kimi for such money would have been a strong indication to Schumi that the days of it being "his" team were probably over.

Yep, I think he would have done that too and that's the way it would have gone down. Shame we'll never know, thanks Michael   



Mmm that would only work if he won a similar amount of titles or had as much success as Schumi. He's good Brad, just not that good  



I think Mika was a fierce competitor too, but out of the c#ckpit it did seem to get to him so I think in that regard it was a weakness (although not a real weakness because it didn't affect his driving). I think Alonso and Hammy are pretty strong competitors though, it would've been fun to see more battles between Schumi and them.

As for Kimi, yeah I agree actually, he's done alright for himself with his attitude  

As far as I am concerned there's nothing wrong with bollocky bollocks.  It's true it doesn't compare to complete bollocks, but it's no disgrace having to concede 2nd best to complete bollocks.


Anyway regarding hiring Kimi for such money - wasn't Schumi on more, though?

[YHR]

Is it just me.  Allowing MS to test is breaking the rules isn't it???  They never let the Rookie at Torro Rossi test last race???

I don't understand how come there are two sets of rules. I don't car what MS has done in the past, this sport should be bigger then that.  MS comes back , and everyone roles over.  Testing in a two year old Ferrari is fine in my books, but allowing him to test the 2009 is wrong.  If they are going to do this they better drop the testing ban for all the teams.  The new rookie would benefit from testing as well so they should let him.  IF they don't this whole thing stinks.   Preferential treatment should not be given to any driver or team.

Edited by YHR, 31 July 2009 - 06:03 PM.

[medilloni]

wapi, on 31 July 2009 - 01:28 PM, said:

There is no view. There is only hatred.

My mistake, I didn't know we had French members here.

[pabloh20]

YHR, on 31 July 2009 - 04:59 PM, said:

Is it just me.  Allowing MS to test is breaking the rules isn't it???  They never let the Rookie at Torro Rossi test last race???

I don't understand how come there are two sets of rules. I don't car what MS has done in the past, this sport should be bigger then that.  MS comes back , and everyone roles over.  Testing in a two year old Ferrari is fine in my books, but allowing him to test the 2009 is wrong.  If they are going to do this they better drop the testing ban for all the teams.  The new rookie would benefit from testing as well so they should let him.  IF they don't this whole thing stinks.   Preferential treatment should bot be given to any driver or team.

No, only testing the 2009 car would be breaking the rules and they are not going to let him test that.

[YHR]

Are you sure.  I read they were going to let him test the 2009 car.

[Quiet One]

YHR, on 31 July 2009 - 06:02 PM, said:

Are you sure.  I read they were going to let him test the 2009 car.

No, he is testing a 2007 car. Although it looks like a 2008 spec rear wing to me.
Anyways, he can only test for parking purposes.

[LabradoRacer]

pabloh20, on 31 July 2009 - 02:47 PM, said:

I don't think the confusement had anything to do with Brad's editing

You & Dubya went to the same school?



Well, talk about Schu's level of dedication!! Already tested the '07 car today, & all set to test the '09 car tomorrow!

[YHR]

I know he is testing the 2007 car, but the press is reporting the Ferrari has requested that he be allowed ot test the 2009 car.  If they do this it would be wrong.

[LabradoRacer]

Quiet One, on 31 July 2009 - 06:06 PM, said:

No, he is testing a 2007 car. Although it looks like a 2008 spec rear wing to me.
Anyways, he can only test for parking purposes.

Yeah, you're right in a way. He's practising to park his car stylishly on the parc freme, post-victory. So there.

[LabradoRacer]

BradSpeedMan, on 31 July 2009 - 01:58 PM, said:

If we have to go by what you say here, then it means that Kimi is more talented than Schumie, because he does'nt require the application and the long hours (the hard work) that Schumie need to be the fastest.

In my opinion, sportspersons who just go by on talent without any hard work whatsoever, tend to be buffoons. McEnroe, Maradona to name just 2.

[Grabthaw the Hammerslayer]

YHR, on 31 July 2009 - 04:59 PM, said:

IF they don't this whole thing stinks.   Preferential treatment should not be given to any driver or team.

Because of course we all know how objective, fair and honest F1 and the FIA really are

[Quiet One]

LabradoRacer, on 31 July 2009 - 06:13 PM, said:

Yeah, you're right in a way. He's practising to park his car stylishly on the parc freme, post-victory. So there.

It might seem as if I'm laughing at your face. But I'm not.
Anyways, it is possible that they let MS test a 2009 car. Rules for him were always..."special"

(Ahh that tingling in my fingertips when I get to bash him again! Oh joy!)

[LabradoRacer]

FOTA is cool beans with Schumi testing the '09 car. That settles the argument of the legitimacy.

[LabradoRacer]

Without taking anything away from Schu's skills (as if that's possible!), what if not allowing him to test the '09 car leads to some disastrous accident? I don't know much tech wise, but if the '09 car is a vastly different beast from what he drove last, he has a right to test it. Again, I say, FOTA has no problems in allowing him to do so. Do you think they don't care for rules?

[Argento Reloaded]

So then didn�t allow a rookie teenage to test a car before its maiden GP and they could let MSC to test... fair! But regarding FIArrari everything is possible! And MSC needs to practice to how to hit other cars and all other dirty tricks.

[dribbler]

If I may say so, I think George and Paul, in particular are reading way too much into the reasons why Michael retired. Why does there have to be a secret underlying reason? The various rivalries between drivers and their respective apparent 'fears' of each other is on the whole media twoddle, invented to create the illusion of some clash of titans. I believe the reality to be quite different. Most of the drivers competing in F1 probably readily accept that their talents are pretty even. Michael in an average car was no match for say, Alonso in a good one. That doesn't suddenly make Fernando any better. Drivers do well when the whole package works and theat's what they accept. How often do we hear drivers bad mouthing each other?

Michael had privilages at Ferrari and worked with a team of talented people who just so happened to dominate for a long period of time. That's how Michael won. Yes, he knew how to go around a corner and yes, he put in an extra special effort level to help his success, but he was not and is not super human. It was a fortunate set of circumstances all coming together at the right time.

My understanding of his retirement decision was that he was finding it difficult to fully commit, body and mind to the considerable demands of an entire season. He was so in tune with his body that he knew he was past his best. Faced with that prospect, the Schumacher of '07 would not have been as good as the Schumacher of before. If you have achieved at the highest level for so long, it's not unreasnoble to make the decion to stop when you know this is no longer achievable. We are talking tiny detail here; he still would have been at least the equal of the current crop as it was back then but that probably was not enough for him.

So yes, I accept that he would have thought that Kimi and Fernando were as good, if not better than he was. Is that a 'fear' of them? No, I think that's a gracious bow out at exactly the correct time. That hasn't stopped his desire to compete and it's this that creates the preception that he had unfinished business. But let's face it, the odd motorcylce race, the ROC and go karting demand nothing like the commitment he felt necessary to devote to F1 in order to reign supreme.

If he was sitting on the sidelines, positively itching to get back into F1, he would not have undertaken his current commitments or allowed himself to get a little out of shape.

Let's not read too much into the situation. He's doing it because he can and because it's a favour to the team he loves. Being the equal of Kimi and raising a few eyebrows here and there will be a bonus. But there are no psychological wars to be won; Kimi really doesn't care and Michael has nothing to prove. No one is afraid.

[Rainmaster]

pabloh20, on 31 July 2009 - 02:47 PM, said:

I don't think the confusement had anything to do with Brad's editing

If I wanted people to understand it, I would have explained it better

pabloh20, on 31 July 2009 - 02:51 PM, said:

As far as I am concerned there's nothing wrong with bollocky bollocks.  It's true it doesn't compare to complete bollocks, but it's no disgrace having to concede 2nd best to complete bollocks.


Anyway regarding hiring Kimi for such money - wasn't Schumi on more, though?

Not sure if he was on more but he would've been on similar or more I imagine, but that doesn't really make a difference. Ferrari weren't hiring Kimi for that money to be a No.2 driver, that much was obvious.

YHR, on 31 July 2009 - 06:11 PM, said:

I know he is testing the 2007 car, but the press is reporting the Ferrari has requested that he be allowed ot test the 2009 car.  If they do this it would be wrong.

They have asked the other teams for permission for Schumi to test the F60 so I think it's okay.

meanioni, on 31 July 2009 - 06:35 PM, said:

    

Because of course we all know how objective, fair and honest F1 and the FIA really are  

Indeedies.

dribbler, on 31 July 2009 - 07:03 PM, said:

If I may say so, I think George and Paul, in particular are reading way too much into the reasons why Michael retired. Why does there have to be a secret underlying reason? The various rivalries between drivers and their respective apparent 'fears' of each other is on the whole media twoddle, invented to create the illusion of some clash of titans. I believe the reality to be quite different. Most of the drivers competing in F1 probably readily accept that their talents are pretty even. Michael in an average car was no match for say, Alonso in a good one. That doesn't suddenly make Fernando any better. Drivers do well when the whole package works and theat's what they accept. How often do we hear drivers bad mouthing each other?

Michael had privilages at Ferrari and worked with a team of talented people who just so happened to dominate for a long period of time. That's how Michael won. Yes, he knew how to go around a corner and yes, he put in an extra special effort level to help his success, but he was not and is not super human. It was a fortunate set of circumstances all coming together at the right time.

My understanding of his retirement decision was that he was finding it difficult to fully commit, body and mind to the considerable demands of an entire season. He was so in tune with his body that he knew he was past his best. Faced with that prospect, the Schumacher of '07 would not have been as good as the Schumacher of before. If you have achieved at the highest level for so long, it's not unreasnoble to make the decion to stop when you know this is no longer achievable. We are talking tiny detail here; he still would have been at least the equal of the current crop as it was back then but that probably was not enough for him.

So yes, I accept that he would have thought that Kimi and Fernando were as good, if not better than he was. Is that a 'fear' of them? No, I think that's a gracious bow out at exactly the correct time. That hasn't stopped his desire to compete and it's this that creates the preception that he had unfinished business. But let's face it, the odd motorcylce race, the ROC and go karting demand nothing like the commitment he felt necessary to devote to F1 in order to reign supreme.

If he was sitting on the sidelines, positively itching to get back into F1, he would not have undertaken his current commitments or allowed himself to get a little out of shape.

Let's not read too much into the situation. He's doing it because he can and because it's a favour to the team he loves. Being the equal of Kimi and raising a few eyebrows here and there will be a bonus. But there are no psychological wars to be won; Kimi really doesn't care and Michael has nothing to prove. No one is afraid.

Yep, I am only discussing it because there is nothing else to talk about, and I like to see who I can wind up around here (trying to fill Murray's absence from the forum maybe).

I think Schumacher retired at the right time too so the reasons are really irrelevant, ultimately he didn't have to prove anything else so he left.

[YHR]

Argento, on 31 July 2009 - 06:49 PM, said:

So then didn´t allow a rookie teenage to test a car before its maiden GP and they could let MSC to test... fair! But regarding FIArrari everything is possible! And MSC needs to practice to how to hit other cars and all other dirty tricks.

Exactly my point.  A teenage rookie is expected to come into F1 cold, and no one seems to have an issue.  MS is the most successful driver ever.  Why should he be allowed to test????  The only resason is so he can perform better on race day, and that my friend is unfair if they don't open it up for everybody!!!!!!!.

Whatever, we will see what the FIA decides.  FOTA is OK with it, but they don't make this decsion, the FIA does.

IMHO they either open up testing for all the teams or tell Ferrari no. Even opening up testing is BS in my opinion.  They are doing something special for someone that they wouldn't do for anyone else on the grid.

Edited by YHR, 31 July 2009 - 07:37 PM.