British Lewis
Hamilton may dream about being cast in the role of James Bond, but
seven-times Formula One champion Michael Schumacher said the role was
already his.
“I am probably
James Bond because I did my seventh title in the 700th grand prix,” the
German, returning to Formula One at the age of 41 and after three years
out, told a Mercedes news conference when asked what movie role he
might fill.
“So that means 700
— 007.” Hamilton, McLaren’s 2008 world champion who has yet to race
against the most successful Formula One driver of all time, told
Reuters that he had always dreamed of being cast in the role of the
British secret agent.
With Mercedes
fielding an all-German team of Schumacher and Nico Rosberg against
McLaren’s reigning champion Jenson Button and Hamilton, the season has
already been scripted as an Anglo-German battle.
However, Schumacher
warned that it could take time for Mercedes, who have taken over 2009
champions Brawn led by his long-time friend and former Ferrari ally
Ross Brawn, to get up to speed.
“The most important point is that probably we won’t be able to win straight away,” he said.
“If possible,
great. But I don’t think that is the key factor for the season. For me
obviously, the goal is the end of the year result and that means not to
lose too much ground at the beginning.
Where exactly we are going to be, I don’t know.”
Four champions
The German, who won
his five most recent titles with Ferrari and has a record 91 wins to
his credit, is returning at a very different time to the one he
dominated before retiring at the end of 2006.
There are four
world champions on the starting grid and the top four teams all harbour
realistic title ambitions in what is shaping up as the most competitive
season in years.
“I think you see four teams that have been very close over winter testing,” said Schumacher.
“The last test
showed McLaren quite strong, so was Red Bull and all winter Ferrari was
very strong and we believe we are strong.” The German said he could not
wait for the challenge, with his wife Corinna joining him in Bahrain
and fully supportive of his return.
“I mentioned when I
announced the contract that I felt like a little boy of 12 years. I
have grown a little bit since then but not much,” he declared.
Schumacher said he
was not focusing on new opponents, such as Hamilton and Red Bull’s
young German Sebastian Vettel, but more on the challenge of driving
itself. Continued…
The oldest man on
the starting grid recalled how he had felt on his debut in 1991, when
he was racing against the ‘old guys’ like Brazilian Ayrton Senna,
Britain’s Nigel Mansell and Frenchman Alain Prost.
“It’s a good
comparison,” he said. “When I arrived in Formula One, it was so far
away that my biggest expectations were far off what I finally did. I
didn’t think I would be able to play on the same playing field.
“But when I arrived
I understood that they all cook with the same water we all do. They are
all humans, with special abilities but so did I have.
“The same way round, I have the greatest respect for all the other
guys that are around. I know I have been very successful and success is
lots of details that make it. I will work very hard on those and so do
the other guys. That’s why I respect and expect a tough fight.”
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