F1: New Tires For Race Make Schumacher Dark Horse

Formula 1

F1: New Tires For Race Make Schumacher Dark Horse

Mercedes driver struggled during qualifying at Bahrain...

Adam Cooper | http://www.speedtv.com | Posted April 21, 2012 Manana (BHR)

Mercedes' German driver Michael Schumacher sits in the pits on April 21, 2012 during the third practice session at the Bahrain international circuit in Manama ahead of the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix. (Photo: Getty Images)

Michael Schumacher starts the Bahrain GP from only 17th place after suffering a DRS problem on his lap in Q1, but a full range of brand new tires makes him a dark horse for a strong points finish come the race.

Schumacher was bumped down to 18th but Heikki Kovalainen after the failure towards the end of his lap cost him vital time. He gained a spot from Pastor Maldonado’s grid penalty.

However he has plenty of new soft and medium tires left having used up just a set of the latter in his single run.

“That’s the only upside to a non-working DRS in the last sector, that put us out, otherwise I would have been pretty comfortably in,” he said. “But having those fresh tires we will try and make the best out of that. It’s going to be interesting, entertaining, for all of us.”

Schumacher said it wasn’t worth using up a set of soft tires to scrape into Q2 with a non-working DRS because he would still not have moved far up the grid.

“I think the soft tires are not worth enough in that respect, no. And what do you do? You go to Q2 with a non-working RFA [rear flap adjuster]. You gain one position maybe versus you move one tire away.”

Adam Cooper notched up his 27th season as a racing journalist in 2011. He has written about F1 for SPEED.com since 2005. Follow him on Twitter.