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Schumi ready for challenge
Source: Agencies |
January 26, 2010, Tuesday
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MICHAEL Schumacher sauntered back into the Formula One limelight in Mercedes overalls yesterday to kick off his bid for a record eighth title at the ripe old age of 41.
Returning to centerstage three years after he retired, the former Ferrari driver looked trim and relaxed as he appeared alongside fellow-German Nico Rosberg at a presentation of the Mercedes GP team in Stuttgart, Germany.
"It's a great emotion and a great feeling I am getting," said Schumacher in his first public appearance for his new team since announcing his comeback last month.
"Finally the 2010 Formula One season is firing up. I have to say that I am totally committed to this new challenge. This season feels like a re-start for me and I am so motivated."
The car presented to the media was the 2009 Brawn GP that took Britain's Jenson Button to the title, repainted in the evocative 'Silver Arrows' colors of the team's new owners. The Mercedes museum was a fitting backdrop for a Mercedes-powered car.
The new Mercedes MGP W01, the first "Silver Arrow" since Mercedes last competed as a works team in 1955, will make its debut when testing starts at Spain's Valencia circuit on February 1.
Team principal Ross Brawn has also assured Rosberg he will get equal treatment with Schumacher despite the gulf between them in achievement and experience. "We don't have a number one driver and we don't intend to have a number one driver," Brawn told reporters.
Second place
Rosberg, son of 1982 world champion Keke, joins from Williams with a second place his best result in four seasons.
The 24-year-old German admitted to some concern when he heard Schumacher would be his teammate.
"There was this little bit of doubt within me, especially because Michael has a very good relationship with Ross and all that," he said.
"Recently I've had a lot of discussions with Ross and (Mercedes motorsport vice-president) Norbert (Haug) and I am very confident and comfortable that we will both have the same opportunities, same car, same everything. So that's fantastic."
Schumacher will work with Button's former race engineer Andrew Shovlin, while Rosberg will have Rubens Barrichello's experienced Jock Clear, who helped Canadian Jacques Villeneuve take the 1997 championship with Williams.
The returning champion has already made sure he has precedence in the pecking order, taking the racing No. 3 from Rosberg because he has a superstition about odd numbers. Brawn said that was a "non-issue".
"It was a simple request and there was no reason to not give him something he wanted because it made no difference to Nico," Brawn added.
Returning to centerstage three years after he retired, the former Ferrari driver looked trim and relaxed as he appeared alongside fellow-German Nico Rosberg at a presentation of the Mercedes GP team in Stuttgart, Germany.
"It's a great emotion and a great feeling I am getting," said Schumacher in his first public appearance for his new team since announcing his comeback last month.
"Finally the 2010 Formula One season is firing up. I have to say that I am totally committed to this new challenge. This season feels like a re-start for me and I am so motivated."
The car presented to the media was the 2009 Brawn GP that took Britain's Jenson Button to the title, repainted in the evocative 'Silver Arrows' colors of the team's new owners. The Mercedes museum was a fitting backdrop for a Mercedes-powered car.
The new Mercedes MGP W01, the first "Silver Arrow" since Mercedes last competed as a works team in 1955, will make its debut when testing starts at Spain's Valencia circuit on February 1.
Team principal Ross Brawn has also assured Rosberg he will get equal treatment with Schumacher despite the gulf between them in achievement and experience. "We don't have a number one driver and we don't intend to have a number one driver," Brawn told reporters.
Second place
Rosberg, son of 1982 world champion Keke, joins from Williams with a second place his best result in four seasons.
The 24-year-old German admitted to some concern when he heard Schumacher would be his teammate.
"There was this little bit of doubt within me, especially because Michael has a very good relationship with Ross and all that," he said.
"Recently I've had a lot of discussions with Ross and (Mercedes motorsport vice-president) Norbert (Haug) and I am very confident and comfortable that we will both have the same opportunities, same car, same everything. So that's fantastic."
Schumacher will work with Button's former race engineer Andrew Shovlin, while Rosberg will have Rubens Barrichello's experienced Jock Clear, who helped Canadian Jacques Villeneuve take the 1997 championship with Williams.
The returning champion has already made sure he has precedence in the pecking order, taking the racing No. 3 from Rosberg because he has a superstition about odd numbers. Brawn said that was a "non-issue".
"It was a simple request and there was no reason to not give him something he wanted because it made no difference to Nico," Brawn added.
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