Race 2: Malaysia (10 April 2011)
Hasil buruk di GP Australia dengan cepat berusaha dilupakan kubu Mercedes dan mereka berusaha untuk tetap bersikap positif menyambut balapan selanjutnya yang digelar di Sepang, Malaysia. Schumacher juga langsung melupakan keapesannya di sirkuit Albert Park, Australia dan berpikir positif menjelang balapan di Malaysia. Menjelang balapan di Malaysia, hujan lebat diperkirakan akan turun dan juara dunia tujuh kali ini mengungkapkan keyakinannya bila saja benar hujan turun saat balapan nanti, hal ini justru akan memberikan keuntungan bagi timnya. Menurutnya bila hujan deras turun menjelang balapan, berarti balapan akan dipandu oleh Safety Car, yang akan memberikan sedikit keuntungan karena para pebalap akan diberi kesempatan memilih ban yang tepat, tapi tentu saja hujan deras juga menyebabkan kondisi trek menjadi licin dan hal ini akan sangat menyulitkan namun menurutnya dalam situasi seperti ini balapan akan menjadi menarik dan siapapun tampil menjadi juara.
Menanggapi kemungkinan peluangnya bila hujan benar-benar turun, Michael mengungkapkan bahwa sebenarnya ia tak memiliki kesempatan menjajal sirkuit basah saat sesi ujicoba berbeda dengan rekan setimnya, Nico Rosberg yang saat menjalani hari terakhir ujicoba di Barcelona, hujan deras turun dan pebalap Mercedes itu bahkan mencatat waktu tercepat.
Walaupun harapan Michael Schumacher tak terwujud tapi penampilannya bersama Mercedes di Sepang tak terlalu buruk. Di sesi latihan bebas hari Jum’at, Schumacher tampil lebih baik dari rekan setimnya dan itu berlanjut hingga Sabtu pagi di sesi latihan bebas ketiga, di mana ia mencatat waktu tercepat ke-9 sementara Rosberg ada di urutan ke-11. Tapi di babak kualifikasi, keadaan justru terbalik. Schumacher lagi-lagi gagal menembus Q3 dan kembali harus memulai balapan dari P11 sementara Rosberg mengisi grid ke-9.
Tapi hasil buruk Michael di kualifikasi dibayar tuntas oleh pebalap veteran ini dengan mempersembahkan poin pertama bagi Mercedes di musim balap 2011 ini. Meski harus terseok-seok, Schumi berhasil finish ke-9 terpaut 1:24.896 dari race winner, Sebastian Vettel sementara Rosberg harus puas finish di urutan 12 selisih 1 lap dari Vettel.
Free Practice 1:
Schumacher : 3rd (1:39.791)
Rosberg : 10th (1:40.646)
Free Practice 2:
Schumacher : 5th (1:38.088)
Rosberg : 7th (1:38.565)
Michael Schumacher’s Friday Quotes:
“We had a pretty good first day on track here in Sepang. We definitely made a step in the right direction, we were closer to our level of performance from Barcelona than in Melbourne, and I am hopeful there will be more to come. We had two typical Friday sessions, trying out a lot of things for future developments, and it looks we can make further improvements. Today, our aerodynamics and our KERS system worked very well, and I look forward to more to come in the next two days.”
Free Practice 3 :
Schumacher : 9th (1:38.300)
Rosberg : 11th (1:38.307)
Qualifying:
Schumacher : 11th (1:37.035)
Rosberg : 9th (1:36.809)
Michael Schumacher’s Saturday Quotes:
“We had some issues with the rear wing activation today and unfortunately that’s what compromised my last run in Q2. The car became difficult to drive, which is a real shame as it had been working very well during the earlier runs. The performance was much better with the wing, so of course we had to use it, and I would still say that we have made a step forward thanks to the hard work from our guys. We now have to concentrate on tomorrow’s race which we go into with the firm belief that anything can be possible.”
Race:
Schumacher : 9th
Rosberg : 12th
Michael Schumacher’s Sunday Quotes:
“I had a straightforward race today which was even a bit exciting towards the end but really full of ups and downs before. The start was quite good and then it was mainly about managing the tyres. We probably couldn’t have expected to take more than two points today and we certainly have to work on our race pace which is not yet where we want it to be. We are all aware of that and we are more than ready to keep working hard to make the necessary steps forward. Over one lap, we can already be at a good level when the car is working well, but we need to continue to work on our race performance.”
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