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F1.... This season the tightest ever.
Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2005 8:55 pm
by Mike_The_Undertaker
Schumacher vows to gamble
Byron Young wrote:21apr05
MICHAEL Schumacher has threatened to return to his bad boy ways when he launches his championship counter-attack in Sunday night's San Marino Grand Prix at Imola, Italy.
And Mark Webber expected the seven-time champion would be back to his devastating best on home turf.
Ferrari ace Schumacher warned runaway title leader Fernando Alonso he had nothing to lose and would get tough after the worst start of his 15-year-career.
"The events this season have been working in Fernando's favour, but it is unlikely to stay that way," Schumacher said.
"He will have to keep the championship in mind now and will have to handle some situations differently -- for instance be more careful and pull back sometimes just to make sure he scores some points. I, on the other hand, have nothing to lose so I can attack and push."
Alonso, 23, has won the past two races and his Renault teammate Giancarlo Fisichella was the victor in Melbourne.
Schumacher gave a glimpse of his tough-guy antics when he pushed fellow German Nick Heidfeld out of the Albert Park race and was made to apologise by fellow drivers.
"This will be Ferrari's strongest weekend of the year," Williams driver Webber said. "And BAR can only get stronger but we will too. We will be there, battling at the front.
"We haven't got quite the results we wanted, but then we haven't deserved anything yet.
"Both cars have yet to finish a race, which is not ideal, but Europe and Imola will be a real indication for the form guide."
The cooler temperatures compared to the dusty heat of Bahrain or the sweaty Malaysia will also play into Schumacher's hands by making his Bridgestone tyres more competitive.
"We know a lot of other teams bring lot of upgrades to Imola, but we have got some improvements too and we lost a bit of ground in some places in Bahrain, so we should be getting that back for free too," Schumacher said.
Webber is a fan of the Imola track despite its reputation after the deaths of Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger 11 year ago.
"I like Imola a lot," he said.
"I've been relatively successful there in the junior categories, won in Formula 3000 just before I came into F1 which is my favourite memory here -- and the atmosphere is great, tucked away as it is, in a forest."
Championship hopeful Juan Pablo Montoya will miss a second successive grand prix after injuring his shoulder playing tennis nearly three weeks ago.
McLaren confirmed Austrian Alexander Wurz would continue to deputise.
F1.... This season the tightest ever.
Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2005 5:29 am
by Graham Las Darrington
I suspect the subtext of this Schumacher speak is: while I've got the fastest car and am winning easily I'm the gentleman driver. When I've just got a car that's on a par with others I'm prepared to do whatever it takes to pass/win.
Look out Mark W, Alonso etc you might be about to see the unpleasant side of MS.
The thought of Schumacher vowing to gamble is disconcerting. I hope nobody including the man himself comes to regret it.
F1.... This season the tightest ever.
Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2005 6:50 am
by steaming stormer
So he should, that's what it's all about. Winning the race. Obviously in a fair manner, but I'm happy to see the bloke take risks
F1.... This season the tightest ever.
Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2005 9:51 am
by thinga87
Hopefully it produces crashing and passing though. Different people might be winning races this season, but they are all doing it in a similar manner to what Michael Schumacher does.
F1.... This season the tightest ever.
Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2005 3:56 pm
by Insomniac
steaming stormer wrote:So he should, that's what it's all about. Winning the race. Obviously in a fair manner, but I'm happy to see the bloke take risks
Obviously a Ferrari fan...
(If not, it's a strange comment to make - Schumacher and 'fair' just don't make sense in the same sentence)
F1.... This season the tightest ever.
Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2005 5:23 pm
by Mike_The_Undertaker
Insomniac wrote:steaming stormer wrote:So he should, that's what it's all about. Winning the race. Obviously in a fair manner, but I'm happy to see the bloke take risks
Obviously a Ferrari fan...
(If not, it's a strange comment to make - Schumacher and 'fair' just don't make sense in the same sentence)
It dose if thers a "un" somewhere in it 
;lol:
F1.... This season the tightest ever.
Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2005 10:43 pm
by perthstormer
I hate ferrari and the fact that there not winning has actuly made me switch on again I didnt even bother watching a single race last year I would follow the results and thats about it. My main concern these days is how is webber going im a maclearn man but I seem to have lost interest in them as well. Lets hope that schuy tries too hard and get a few more dnf,s.
F1.... This season the tightest ever.
Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2005 2:05 am
by PD
I'm not an F1 fan and usually find the races monotonous to watch.Since I happen to be up late & tomorrow is a holiday,(I don't have to get up a 4am
), I saw bits of the San Marino race on channel eddie & since Graham's hero appeared to be having a shot I kept popping back to watch.
I'm even less of a Shu/prancing pony fan than I am an F1 fan
but the speed of the car & the duel with Button was good to watch.Well it was until the overrated BBQ got in the way & wrecked it.I would have been REALLY disappointed if Webber had also managed to screw over the eventual winner in the same way.
F1.... This season the tightest ever.
Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2005 8:54 am
by Thunderstruck
So far, it's been almost exactly the same as last year and the years before, just change the winning team
F1.... This season the tightest ever.
Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2005 2:08 pm
by Insomniac
7 different teams in the top 7 in qualifying - it certainly is a bit more interesting this year. That is of course until Ferrari get their act together, which it appears is imminently close.
But why does it ALWAYS seem to be Barrichello's car that breaks down on the odd occasion that Ferrari have mechanical problems??
If you take out the Ferraris, you have a fairly unpredictable competition (coz they are usually in a league of their own). Sure the Renaults are winning at the moment, but I doubt they'll stay at the top for very long. The biggest disappointment for me so far this year has been Mark in the Williams - he just seems to go backwards in every race.
F1.... This season the tightest ever.
Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2005 2:52 pm
by steaming stormer
Insomniac wrote:steaming stormer wrote:So he should, that's what it's all about. Winning the race. Obviously in a fair manner, but I'm happy to see the bloke take risks
Obviously a Ferrari fan...
(If not, it's a strange comment to make - Schumacher and 'fair' just don't make sense in the same sentence)
Actually, not a Ferrari fan at all. Not really a huge F1 fan, I find it boring a lot of the time. All I'm saying is that it's a race and the bloke needs to do something to win rather than just sit back and follow the car in front of him. That won't win anyone any race
F1.... This season the tightest ever.
Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2005 7:30 pm
by Thunderstruck
I don't rate Webber.
F1.... This season the tightest ever.
Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2005 8:02 pm
by steaming stormer
If I had to pick a team, I like the Red Bull team. Went to the Melbourne GP this year, and decided they were cool
F1.... This season the tightest ever.
Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2005 9:17 pm
by Mike_The_Undertaker
steaming stormer wrote:If I had to pick a team, I like the Red Bull team. Went to the Melbourne GP this year, and decided they were cool
Yea Go Kreting Dang
F1.... This season the tightest ever.
Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2005 7:54 am
by Graham Las Darrington
Trouble is Mr Cobbler has been known to shunt people off to suit his purposes - not a winning move just downright dangerous.
F1 would be a lot better to watch if they could give them all the same car (one each that is
). Then we might see 1) some better racing 2) Who's the best drivers.
Our commentators here just equate finishing in the top three or four as meaning they are the best drivers! Success is more usually down to the car and it's tyres!
I'm all for revamping the sport - Schumacher's had it too easy the last few years.