Michael Schumacher has today played down his chances of winning the world championship this year, ahead of Sunday’s opening Australian Grand Prix.
The German believes that his car is not a match for the Red Bull and that his first target is to get on the podium.
“I think this year our target and our realistic possibility would be to fight for podiums and if things go very well then maybe to win a race. Does this put us in a position to fight for the championship? No. You have to be careful with this one. I don’t think we are yet ready prepared and developed for this. If the opportunity comes we will be there,” said the seven-time champion in a Q and A session.
Schumacher was inevitably asked about his motivation and whether a win would satisfy him.
“I expressed myself last year very clear and it hasn’t changed. The most important [thing] is to fight for the championship at the time we are ready for it. To be on the podium would be great, but does it really change anything? No. What does change is if we can achieve our target to win a championship together with Mercedes. That is what I want to achieve and that is what I am here for and that is what we are fighting really hard for. Are we ready right now? No. Can we win a race? Maybe. Would it satisfy me? Absolutely, I would be thrilled about this, no doubt, and it is all about winning at the end of the day.”
