Justice minister, DGA chief discuss partnership to boost digital judicial services    Netanyahu does not rule out further strikes on Hamas leaders    US farmers are being squeezed – and it's testing their deep loyalty to Trump    Romania condemns 'irresponsible' Moscow after Russian drone breaches its airspace    Kirk's assassination is forcing US politicians to make difficult choices about their safety    India players refused handshakes, says Pakistan coach    Final stage of Spanish Vuelta cycling race abandoned after disruption by pro-Palestine protesters    Mané fires Al Nassr past Al Kholood to keep perfect start as Ronaldo honored    Lacazette brace earns NEOM SC first Saudi Pro League win    Adolescence star Owen Cooper makes Emmys history at 15    Saudi liquidity grows 8.4%, reaching SR3.1 trillion in July 2025    Over 434,000 people acquire first aid skills during nationwide health campaign    Saudi Arabia's legislative advancement highlighted at International Conference on Judicial Training    Sudden swerving among 3 major causes of accidents in Riyadh in 2024    Princess Haifa emphasizes pivotal Saudi role in shaping future of tourism    Sahm Capital names Saudi Olympian Fayik Abdi as brand ambassador    SR9000 fine for copyright infringement using AI    King Charles and Prince Harry finally reunite after 19 months apart    Anastacia: Arnold Schwarzenegger made me sing Whatta Man 12 times    Thousands pay their last respects to Giorgio Armani, private funeral on Monday    The key to happiness    Sholay: Bollywood epic roars back to big screen after 50 years with new ending    Ministry launches online booking for slaughterhouses on eve of Eid Al-Adha    Shah Rukh Khan makes Met Gala debut in Sabyasachi    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Schumi puts his legacy on the line
By Alan Baldwin
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 06 - 03 - 2010

The return of Michael Schumacher, after three years away and at the age of 41, was always going to take top billing in a blockbuster of a Formula One season.
The big question, with the championship kicking off in Bahrain next week, is whether the German can roll back the years and deliver what is expected of him in a new era and against one of the most competitive fields in ages.
The box office needs the most successful driver of all time to be back with a bang, fighting wheel-to-wheel to increase his record tally of 91 race wins and challenging for an unprecedented eighth title.
Failure with his new Mercedes team could otherwise damage the glittering, and at times controversial, legacy that Schumacher had established over the 16 years before he retired from Ferrari in 2006.
“A lot of people will be interested to see how he copes,” reigning world champion Jenson Button said this week.
“It's not just Michael at 41 that people are talking about, it's Michael coming into a team that's new to him,” added the Briton, whose place at the former Brawn team was taken by Schumacher after he decided to move to McLaren.
“He was with Ferrari for many years, where I'm sure he could pretty much have anything he wanted, whereas now Formula One is different.”
There will be many challenges ahead for ‘Schumi', not least racing against three other world champions including one – McLaren's Lewis Hamilton – who was not even in Formula One last time Schumacher was around.
The most fundamental task, however, will be making sure that he beats a young teammate who has yet to win a Grand Prix.
If he cannot assert himself over fellow German Nico Rosberg, then the script of returning hero will have to be rewritten at the very least.
Beating a teammate is always a driver's best measure of how competitive he is and Schumacher has yet to come off second best against anyone set alongside him.
Rosberg, 24, is the first German to partner the former Ferrari ace and has shown he is no slouch in his four seasons with Williams. He has also been assured of equal treatment by Mercedes.
If he beats Schumacher, his stock will only rise. But it is a big if.
Brazilian Rubens Barrichello, Schumacher's long-suffering teammate at Ferrari, grinned when asked after the first day of pre-season testing last month what advise he could give to Rosberg.
“Get out of there,” he joked. “Knowing what I know, and seeing how fast Michael went today, it is going to be a tough job.”
Schumacher has shown in testing that he still has the pace and fitness. Never one to espouse the line that the competing is as important as the winning, he is certainly not coming back just for fun.
“People, including me, are expecting big things from Michael and I think there is no reason why he shouldn't win the championship if the car is good enough,” Formula One's commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone said recently.
If Mercedes can give him the tools then Schumacher may not have too many qualms about abandoning the quiet life at home in Switzerland with his wife and young children to rejoin the travelling circus.
Mercedes team boss Ross Brawn, a close ally from the days when the Briton was Ferrari technical director, certainly has no concerns about Schumacher's mental or physical preparation.
“He's got a tremendous work ethic and he wouldn't do this unless he was convinced that he can do the job. And I'm convinced he can do the job,” he said back in January.
“There is nothing in a racing car that wears out parts of your body, it's just down to your stamina and strength,” he added. “So I fully expect Michael to be able to cope with any demands we make of him.”
Schumacher feels he has nothing to prove about his age, although the battle between the ‘old man' and young warriors such as Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel will be one of the storylines of the season.
Vettel, overall runner-up with Red Bull last year, made his debut only in 2007 when he acquired the nickname of ‘Baby Schumi'.
Schumacher, as excited as a novice when testing the car for the first time last month, can hardly wait for battle to commence.
“I just have to prove to myself that I am still able, but the main reason why I am doing this is because I feel again thrilled by it,” he said at a team presentation in January.
“I feel big excitement to just drive and compete at the highest level of motorsport.”


Clic here to read the story from its source.