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Schumie comes to defence of Bridgestone
Silverstone, July 18: Michael Schumacher has rejected claims that Ferrari`s tyre supplier Bridgestone is to blame for the team`s recent poor performances. The world champion said that it was a major step forward by Williams that had resulted in Ferrari struggling in the last few races.
Silverstone, July 18: Michael Schumacher has rejected claims that Ferrari's tyre supplier Bridgestone is to blame for the team's recent poor performances. The world champion said that it was a major step forward by Williams that had resulted in Ferrari struggling in the last few races.
"If you look at the season so far, Williams and McLaren were always very close to each other," said Schumacher. "In the last race, we still beat McLaren, who are running a different tyre from us, but we didn't beat Williams.
"We always talk about tyres, but success doesn't come from one thing. It's not all down to Bridgestone, as some people like to see."
Schumacher has won four races this season and no other driver has more than two victories. The Ferrari star is leading the world championship by eight points from McLaren driver Kimi Raikkonen, with Williams driver Ralf Schumacher a further three adrift.
But those bare statistics hide the fact that Ferrari have struggled to match Williams and McLaren since the Austrian Grand Prix in May five races ago.
Schumacher has won in Canada since then, but he was slower than the Williams cars that day and only finished first after both Williams drivers failed to take advantage of their superiority.
Michelin, which supplies tyres to Williams and McLaren, have made big strides this season after being outpaced in 2002, but the same is true of its teams. Ferrari tested at three different circuits simultaneously before Silverstone in an attempt to claw back some of the lost ground.
Schumacher admitted that Ferrari were struggling compared to their rivals in slow corners this season, but said they had made "significant steps" in the last week.
"In any season you have your highs and lows. Williams are on a high at the moment, but we can turn it around."
He said he was enjoying the competition this season, but not necessarily any more than he had during 2002.
"I always race to 100%, even though there was not always the need for it last year," Schumacher said. "But I did enjoy last year. I have been fighting so much all through my career and then I had this very special year last year.
"It's nice to have the best package. Fighting others is a different enjoyment, but it is still enjoyable."
Bureau Report
"If you look at the season so far, Williams and McLaren were always very close to each other," said Schumacher. "In the last race, we still beat McLaren, who are running a different tyre from us, but we didn't beat Williams.
"We always talk about tyres, but success doesn't come from one thing. It's not all down to Bridgestone, as some people like to see."
Schumacher has won four races this season and no other driver has more than two victories. The Ferrari star is leading the world championship by eight points from McLaren driver Kimi Raikkonen, with Williams driver Ralf Schumacher a further three adrift.
But those bare statistics hide the fact that Ferrari have struggled to match Williams and McLaren since the Austrian Grand Prix in May five races ago.
Schumacher has won in Canada since then, but he was slower than the Williams cars that day and only finished first after both Williams drivers failed to take advantage of their superiority.
Michelin, which supplies tyres to Williams and McLaren, have made big strides this season after being outpaced in 2002, but the same is true of its teams. Ferrari tested at three different circuits simultaneously before Silverstone in an attempt to claw back some of the lost ground.
Schumacher admitted that Ferrari were struggling compared to their rivals in slow corners this season, but said they had made "significant steps" in the last week.
"In any season you have your highs and lows. Williams are on a high at the moment, but we can turn it around."
He said he was enjoying the competition this season, but not necessarily any more than he had during 2002.
"I always race to 100%, even though there was not always the need for it last year," Schumacher said. "But I did enjoy last year. I have been fighting so much all through my career and then I had this very special year last year.
"It's nice to have the best package. Fighting others is a different enjoyment, but it is still enjoyable."
Bureau Report