F1: Schumacher Defends Ferrari Tactics

Formula 1

F1: Schumacher Defends Ferrari Tactics

Michael Schumacher says it's understandable why Ferrari allegedly wanted Fernando Alonso to win in Germany...

Adam Cooper | http://www.speedtv.com | Posted July 25, 2010 Hockenheim (GER)

Michael Schumacher has struggled in his return to Formula One this season. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

Michael Schumacher has defended Ferrari’s alleged use of team orders in Hockenheim – while admitting that the team might sometimes have gotten it wrong in his era.

LINK > UNOFFICIAL RACE RESULTS: GERMAN GRAND PRIX – HOCKENHEIMRING
LINK > UPDATED DRIVER STANDINGS: GERMAN GRAND PRIX – HOCKENHEIMRING

Schumacher said he totally understands Ferrari’s quest to win the title with Fernando Alonso, but in effect conceded that Austria 2002 – the pass that led to the ban – was over the top, because the team was so dominant at the time.

“Watching TV occasionally [on the big screens] I saw Felipe (Massa) be in first position,” said Schumacher. “I felt obviously happy because he’s a friend of mine. Then hearing Alonso has won the race I was wondering what kind of strategy was that?

“I have been criticized in the past, for exactly that. I have to say I understand 100 percent and I would do exactly the same if I would be in their situation. Because at the end of the day what are we here for? It’s fighting for a championship. There’s only one that can win the championship. By the end of the year if you think you have lost the championship for exactly that point, you will ask yourself - not only yourself but all the fans, all the TV, all the journalists and so on - why didn’t you do so?

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“And I think if you go back to other years in other teams in other situations, in the last race for example, there were clear team orders. And everybody accepts those. That’s normal, that’s the last race, and so on. So whether it’s the last race or second-to-last race or even earlier, what’s the point [of criticizing]?

“I can see like in the years ... when we did it, we were leading so much and people thought it was unnecessary. I can agree on that one in a way. In principle, I fully accept and agree [with] what’s going on.

“You have to do it in a way that’s maybe nice and not too obvious, make it a nice fight, but there’s only one target. And that’s winning the championship.”

LINK > UNOFFICIAL RACE RESULTS: GERMAN GRAND PRIX – HOCKENHEIMRING
LINK > UPDATED DRIVER STANDINGS: GERMAN GRAND PRIX – HOCKENHEIMRING

Adam Cooper notched up his 25th season as a racing journalist in 2009. Born in London, England, he saw his first F1 race at age 10 in 1976. He began freelancing for Autosport magazine in 1985 and was on the fulltime staff from 1987-92. He then went freelance again, initially spending two years in Japan before following the 1994 Champcar series from a base in Indianapolis. He has not missed a Grand Prix since Suzuka ‘94, a run that has extended to Abu Dhabi ’09. Adam has written books about Eddie Irvine, Piers Courage and Michael Schumacher and hosts a race preview show on Sirius XM. He has written about F1 for SPEEDtv.com since 2005. Check out Adam's Blog or follow him on Twitter

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Adam Cooper

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