Schuey: We want secondposted in F124 | 03 | 2011
SEVEN-TIMES WORLD champ Michael Schumacher heads into this weekend's season opener in Melbourne bullish about the chances of his Mercedes GP team. And the German believes his car is now quick enough to challenge Red Bull at the front of the field.
Despite struggling through the initial preseason tests, a raft of updates and aero-dynamic tweaks introduced at the final test at Barcelona — where Schuey topped the timesheets — revealed the W02's true potential. Now Schumacher, who struggled for pace on his return to F1 last season, can't wait to get back on track.
"I am looking forward to it after winter testing," he said today. "Mercedes has made a huge step forward with this year's car; it is a very performance-orientated car and it has paid out.
"This weekend it is up to us to prove it, and we have a good opportunity to prove good things. Nevertheless we should not overestimate things, and see the truth - and that is that Red Bull Racing is most likely the team to beat.
"I think we are going to play an important role just behind them in as part of the challenging group. I see Ferrari, Renault look good, Williams look good, McLaren is not to be forgotten because I expect them to be stronger than they were in testing, and us – this is the pack that I see, and there is a good opportunity that we might be able to fight for that position to be the second fastest."
Schumacher though stopped short of putting himself in contention for the world championship, but acknowledged that podiums and even a race win were more likely achievable targets for 2011.
"I think this year our target, and our realistic possibility, would be to fight for podiums and if things go very well then maybe to win a race," he continued. "Does this put us in a position to fight for the championship? No.
"You have to be careful with this one. I don't think we are yet ready prepared and developed for this. If it comes, the opportunity we will be there and you can be sure we will try to catch it, but we will see step-by-step. Where we were last year, where can we be this year and play it realistically, not unrealistically."
But the 42-year-old winner of 91 grands prix went on to confirm he hasn't ruled out battling for an eighth world championship next year.
"I expressed myself last year very clear and it hasn't changed," he continued. "The most important is to fight for the championship at the time we are ready for it. To be on the podium would be great, but does it really change anything? No. What does change is if we can achieve our target to win a championship together with Mercedes. That is what I want to achieve and that is what I am here for and that is what we are fighting really hard for.
"Are we ready right now? No. Can we win a race? Maybe. Would it satisfy me? Absolutely, I would be thrilled about this, no doubt, and it is all about winning at the end of the day."
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