It’s the same old story, race in, race out. Ever since the day, seven-time world champion, Michael Schumacher, stunned society by announcing his return to Formula One with Mercedes, the blowtorch has been fixed on the German’s fortunes.
The supporters and optimists, myself included, were expecting him to compete for the title in 2010, and at the very least, pick up race victories.
Twenty-four races later, neither has happened.
The maestro hasn’t even stood on the podium in his time with the Silver Arrows.
His best return has been three fourth-placed finishes (Spain, Turkey and Korea) and he has started on the grid no higher than fifth place, at last year’s Turkish Grand Prix.
Yet, when the never-ending season in 2010 finally drew to a close, with Schumacher placing ninth in the drivers’ standings, people were confident that a vastly improved Mercedes chassis, coupled with Pirelli rubber and a year’s experience at the wheel of a car, foreign to the one the German knew before his retirement, 2011 would make the return worthwhile.
Wrong.
Not even a visibly stronger looking chassis – the Mercedes W02, has given Schumacher the answers he has sought.
Five races into 2011, he has only fourteen points, his best outing being a sixth place at last weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix. At this rate, he will struggle to match his return of last season.
The question now needs to be asked.
It would be naive and unfair to say straight out, that Schumacher’s return was a mistake, that’s what life is about, making decisions – they don’t always play out the way it is envisaged.
The real question is, has Schumacher’s comeback been terrible, or rather, has the statistically greatest driver of all time in almost every department, been so unfortunate, to return at a time when there are no less than half a dozen obviously talented individuals in the sport?
I prefer the latter option. Look at the names in F1.
Vettel. Alonso. Hamilton. Button.
Five titles in the past six season between themselves.
Then there’s Webber, Rosberg, and until this season, Kubica.
Reputation clearly precedes these individuals, so it would have been foolish of Schumacher to expect to be able to waltz back into F1 and re-inherit the number one status he once owned.
Even in 2010, considering the sweeping changes which have been implemented in F1 since 2006, Schumacher’s performances were far from disgraceful, it wasn’t as if he was dicing with the likes of the HRTs, Virgins and Lotuses.
If anything, his 2010 was a season to launch himself into success in the remainder of his contract.
The unfortunate thing is, that his competition, as Schumacher has himself, has improved from last season, and as is the case nine times out of ten, the younger you are, the better.
Sebastian Vettel has made a profound leap forward from the discrepancies which so nearly blighted his ultimate success in 2010.
Fernando Alonso seems better for a season under the wing of Ferrari.
Lewis Hamilton is finally settling down after the several seasons, whilst Jenson Button and Mark Webber are clearly established as the elder statesmen of the sport, having been in the sport for the best part of a decade or more.
When Schumacher had his successes in his ‘first’ career, all he had against him, genuinely, were Damon Hill, Mika Hakkinen, and then, to a lesser extent, his team-mate, Rubens Barrichello.
Each only had two or three seasons of sustained success, and with Schumacher’s undoubted, unparalleled success, he was unbeatable.
Now, he has a lifetime’s worth of opponents to deal with.
Now, he has individuals who are arguably as good as he was in his prime.
That’s why his return hasn’t gone to plan.
But in the end, as long as Schumacher is enjoying racing in Formula One, which is the reason he came back to the sport he gave so much to, then his comeback has been worthwhile.
You’d be a wise man to say that Schumacher won’t win another title, but nobody can ever deny his reputation.
It wouldn’t be surprising if he suddenly finds what is necessary to tame, what is asked of Formula One drivers of today’s era.
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