Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, has admitted that he isn’t driving at the same level as his team-mate, Nico Rosberg.
“With how the car behaves at the moment I am not driving at his [Rosberg’s] level. At least not in qualifying,” he told the official F1 website.
The German made his comeback at the start of the 2010 season to much fan-fair. Many in the media expected him to become instantly competitive, but the more knowledgeable pundits gave him time to settle, marking the half-way points in the season as the turning point.
So far, he has been outclassed by his fellow German more often than not, but Schumacher doesn’t believe his comeback was a mistake when that exact question was put to him.
“I enjoy what I’m doing and because I believe in being able to reach my goal – to win the title,” he replied. “I have to accept that it will take time.
“Of course we all in the team believed that we would be more competitive this season. Unfortunately that’s not the case.”
In response, Bernie Ecclestone, also present at the interview, hinted that the car was in fact the issue.
“If Michael were driving a Red Bull I would put my money on him,” said the F1 mogul.