Balthazar
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Atlaksen puolella oli niin kiinnostava artikkeli, että postaan sen kokonaisena tänne:
Kommentoin myöhemmin.In the Shadow of the Dominator?
Irvine realized fairly early that Schumacher was in a class of his own. The worse the car, the more Schumacher demolishes his team mate in it.
Tough luck for Irvine that Ferrari only built average handling cars while he was there. But he didnt really care: "Its better to be a No2 at Ferrari than to be No1 at a worse team".
Barrichello came and he couldnt accept that there was an über-teammate. He pulled himself out of the situation: "I drive quicker nowdays not because I push the throttle harder or brake later, but because Im stronger mentally." If Schumacher is quicker through a corner, Rubens is no longer tyring to copy him blindly: "Some tricks you can employ youself, but only if it suits your driving style. Its better to find a couple of tenths with your on style." Barrichello also understands now, why Schumacher enjoys more attention from the team: "He simply demands more". Consequence: "I have build my own, very close ties to the team".
For Irvine, it was clear from the word go: "Michael is the boss. He signed before me, so Carte Blanche. What should have one - who came from Jordan - dared to demand? Ferrari was a ticket for me to another world".
History decided differently, Schumacher broke his leg in 1999, leaving Irvine the only possible chance for Ferrari to win the WDC. Everything shifted towards Irvine: "Not really, after Michaels accident the team practically gave up the season. Developments were shifted towards the 2000 project, aerodynamic work in the wind tunnel was concentrating on the following years car. That was the reason why we were sliding backwards on the grid further and further. The only real modification to the car was a new undertray in time for the Malaysian GP. I was suddenly driving a totally different car. A lot more downforce. But that was already too late."
Barrichello hasnt given up yet. His words before every season resemble themselves "If everything goes according to plan, I can be WDC". The fact that he had the best average qualifying position of all the drivers, throughout 2003 and that he could equal Schumacher in terms of qualifying duells makes him courageous. Even Irvine believes that his successor has a chance: "If the car is easy to drive".
Barrichello thinks that the ban on electronic aids didnt help his matter, his strenght lies in exiting the corners, just where the traction control equalizes all differences between drivers. "This is the reason why I have improved immensely my entry into the corners in 2002 and 2003, even learnt to left foot brake." Now, he is hoping: "If traction control was to be banned, I could profit from my old strength, whithout having my old weakness." Maybe that was the reason why he signed for another two years for the Scuderia.
Irvine doesnt have such problems anymore, he lives the life of the wealthy, in Miami. He is only interested in F1 occasionally: "I have seen 3 races on TV last year, while watching 2 of them I have fallen asleep after 15minutes".
Interview with Eddie Irvine
What do you remember from the 4 years together with Schumacher?
The first year. The 96 Ferrari was so unbelievably bad, I couldnt drive that shitbox. I was in fear. Michael won 3 races and poled 4 times with it. Dont ask me how he did that. A miracle.
You came from Jordan to Ferrari what was the biggest culture shock for you?
I was going through a natural learning process and grew together with Ferrari. When I left Ferrari, I still didnt finish my learning. Only at Jaguar did I learn how to develop a car. I started my last year at Jaguar with the worst F1 car of my carrier, worse than the first Ferrari. At the end of the season, we managed to make the car fantastic. The handling was better than I have ever felt in a racing car.
If you went back to Ferrari, would you have faired better against MS?
For sure. Because I understood more about racing cars. At Ferrari I was always complaining about understeer on the apex. Ross Brawn had 1000 excuses for it. It was killing me, was posion for my driving style. I turn the steering wheel early, carrying a lot of speed into the corners. At understeer I wont make the corner.
How often did you have to move over for Michael?
There was a clear rule. When I made a better start, I had to let him overtake. He was mostly faster than me so theres nothing to be critisized. In 1999, Magny Cours it cost me the championship. I let Michael through. That point was missing later in the fight with Hakkinen.
Could you have beat Schumacher under the same conditions?
Driving the cars I drove at Ferrari, no. With a perfectly balanced car like the Jaguar at the end of 2002, maybe. Michaels strenght is that he can drive every car fast. He adapts, no matter if the car under or oversteers.
Do you see any weaknesses?
He makes too many mistakes under pressure.
Is Rubinho dreaming when he thinks he can beat Schumacher one day?
He can do it, he is unbelivably fast. But he needs a car that is easy to drive. Then it isnt possible for Michael to play out his strenghts. Rubens did show that a few times in 2003. Single lap qualifying helps him. He drives softer and rounder than Michael. And he manages to put in a lap without mistakes more often.
Do you see anybody who could challenge Schumacher?
Alonso is going to replace him (edit: as the driver to beat) He was for me the best driver of 2003. He rarely makes mistakes and can already handle pressure better than Michael. I can only rate Raikkonen when he drives alongside Montoya, Coulthard is too weak.
Interview with Rubens Barrichello
What do you remember from the 4 years together with Schumacher?
I had the best season in 2003. The two victories in Silverstone and Suzuka are among the highlights of my carrier. It was difficult to win in the first place because the field was so equally spread. The worst year was 2001, I couldnt employ what I learned in 2000 at Ferrari. I was standing still. It was not possible for me to transmit my wishes for the car to the engineers. I had to change my engineer for 2002 and also how I work.
You came from Jordan and Stewart to Ferrari what was the biggest culture shock for you?
In a small team you are working on the car until you say: Thats it, it wont go better. In a top team theres always room for improvement. In the beginning, I was a lot earlier satisfied with the setup of my car than Michael. One could see the prcatice times. On Friday I was close usually. On Saturday, he made the gap bigger. Michael knew how to motivate the team to reach a better setup. I thought I already reached what I wanted.
Would life be easier for you at Ferrari without Schumacher?
Im proud to have him as a team mate. He is the ultimate challenge. I have become a better racing driver while he was my yardstick. I might have won the championship once already with a different driver on my side. But only Michael shows me that I have to improve, if I want to reach my goal.
Do you have a similar driving style?
Its completely different. Whenever Michael takes my setup he has problems. He says that the car is understeering too much. If I take his setup, I can get along with it pretty well.
Is there any chance for despair?
When Michael is a tenths faster the world doesnt come to an end for me anymore, I concentrate on driving on my own limit, and dont compare myself to anybody.
Eddie reconciled himself to his fate of being the No2. Did you think of doing that?
The day I accept that somebody is faster than me will also be the day that I stop.
Are you allowed to be the WDC?
The first question for me at Ferrari was: How can I exist in the world of Todt and Schumacher? When I stopped thinking about how close the two were friends, my relationship with both of them became better. I concentrated on myself, instead of making any doubts. Im not interested in all the talk about No1 and No2 anymore.
He recieves more attention because he demands it. Its up to me to do the same.
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