Schumacher will be fast this year, you saw it here first :-)

[deMuRe]

Part of a 3 year plan...

Getting rid of the "Team Mate Orders" monkey off his back...

He's allowed his team-mate to be faster, he's allowed some fresh blood into F1 to shine, now watch him dominate one last time...

(Throws up a Firewall)

[smokin]

Part of a 3 year plan...

Getting rid of the "Team Mate Orders" monkey off his back...

He's allowed his team-mate to be faster, he's allowed some fresh blood into F1 to shine, now watch him dominate one last time...

(Throws up a Firewall)

Dream on.

[calvins48]

He hasn't "allowed" anything; Nico is faster.

[Cai]

Rosberg P7, Schumacher P4

[Hammer278]

Good start for the Schum, but Rosberg screwed up.

Pacewise I believe Rosberg will win it, but Michael is at least looking very solid the 2nd half of 2011 and should continue the form this year. A win might even be on the cards for him, Merc look like they could steal regular podiums for the first few races at least.

[calvins48]

As I said earlier in the other thread, Rosberg locked up, costing him his lap.

I don't know how fast he would've been but he might've have been at least 3rd.

Quali is history now, we look forward to the race. There's no points for qualifying so we'll see if Schumi can better Rosberg in the race.

Nonetheless, a nice lap from Michael.

[bud]

Will we see you more on here if he does demure?

[racechick]

I think he will be fast, so will Rosberg. Fast enough to win the championship? I dont think so. And if they are and it's close between the two of them, despite what you say about team orders, I expect Schumacher will get the nod, I mentioned that somewhere before. However, its great to see him in the mix and should be a good season. Much closer this year.

[mnmracer]

Post-2006 Schumacher is not as good a qualifyer anymore, but superfast (faster than Rosberg) in the race. Even if Rosberg had qualified in front of him, Schumi would have had him in the race. With Schumacher on p4, I think a podium could be in reach, depending on the Red Bull's race pace.

[zurich_allan]

Certainly didn't hear it from you first I'm afraid deMuRe - various people have said that for several weeks here recently, in fact there was a reasonably lengthy debate about it on another thread last week some time. That said, in terms of Mercedes, it doesn't surprise me at all - as I said a week or so, the people at Mercedes have been super confident in their package since testing, so I was fully expecting them to be closer than in previous years.

What hasn't been mentioned on the thread so far is that last year, Schumacher was arguably the best starter on the entire grid - often overtaking anywhere from 2-5 people by the end of his first lap. If he gets a good jump, it's not too far fetched that he could split the McLarens off the line which would make for some interesting racing!

[andrew]

He hasn't "allowed" anything; Nico is faster.

Who's qualified 4th and who's qualified 7th?

[Redthir]

I never really thought of Michael Schumacher as a particularly good qualifier - good but not outstanding. If Rosberg would outpace him it would probably be through qualifying - he hasn't.

Schumi's real strength is the Grand Prix itself.

[racechick]

Rosberg made a mistake on his fast lap.

[Gibbo]

Given how well the merc performed this morning in quali, i think it's just a matter of time before Schumi gets that long awaited finish on the podium. It would be even better to see him finish on the top spot. I think i was one of many that has become sick of the German national anthem, but i would definitely make an exception for Schumi

[Ayrton Senna is God]

I can't decide if it would be more exciting if Grosjean or Schumi jumped into the lead of the first corner.