Schumacher bitchslaps Barrichello down
Discussion
Ooooooooo, get her!
Crash.net said:
Rubens wasn't quick enough to be no.1
Michael Schumacher has responded to suggestions made by former Formula 1 team-mate Rubens Barrichello that a lot more went on at Ferrari during their time together than met the eye by insisting that the Brazilian simply wasn't quick enough to be number one.
Last week Barrichello hinted that ‘the public does not know even half of the story about what I experienced with Ferrari', adding that ‘perhaps they will be able to read the truth one day in a book' [see separate story – click here].
Schumacher and Barrichello partnered each other at the Scuderia from 2000 to 2005 – in so doing becoming one of the sport's longest-running team-mate pairings – but the duo's relationship was never quite the same again after Barrichello was told to cede victory to Schumacher in the infamous 2002 Austrian Grand Prix, and very publicly revealed his distaste for the scenario by pulling over practically on the finish line to let the sister scarlet machine past to ‘win'.
The uncomfortable scenes up on the podium afterwards – when Schumacher attempted to push Barrichello onto the top step following a chorus of boos from the crowds – led to team orders being banned in F1.
Though Barrichello was cast very much into a supporting role at Maranello during his six-year stint there before moving to Honda – winning just nine races as the man from Kerpen triumphed in no fewer than 49 and lifted five drivers' world crowns – Schumacher is adamant the São Paulista was only number two because he was not as quick.
“Nobody can make you slower because of a contract,” the 39-year-old told the Cologne-based newspaper Express. “If you are fast, you are fast, and then you are the number one.”
Johnny Herbert claimed that in the wake of him qualifying right behind then Benetton team-mate Schumacher in fourth spot for the 1995 season-opening Brazilian Grand Prix, he was no longer permitted access to the German's data.
Michael Schumacher has responded to suggestions made by former Formula 1 team-mate Rubens Barrichello that a lot more went on at Ferrari during their time together than met the eye by insisting that the Brazilian simply wasn't quick enough to be number one.
Last week Barrichello hinted that ‘the public does not know even half of the story about what I experienced with Ferrari', adding that ‘perhaps they will be able to read the truth one day in a book' [see separate story – click here].
Schumacher and Barrichello partnered each other at the Scuderia from 2000 to 2005 – in so doing becoming one of the sport's longest-running team-mate pairings – but the duo's relationship was never quite the same again after Barrichello was told to cede victory to Schumacher in the infamous 2002 Austrian Grand Prix, and very publicly revealed his distaste for the scenario by pulling over practically on the finish line to let the sister scarlet machine past to ‘win'.
The uncomfortable scenes up on the podium afterwards – when Schumacher attempted to push Barrichello onto the top step following a chorus of boos from the crowds – led to team orders being banned in F1.
Though Barrichello was cast very much into a supporting role at Maranello during his six-year stint there before moving to Honda – winning just nine races as the man from Kerpen triumphed in no fewer than 49 and lifted five drivers' world crowns – Schumacher is adamant the São Paulista was only number two because he was not as quick.
“Nobody can make you slower because of a contract,” the 39-year-old told the Cologne-based newspaper Express. “If you are fast, you are fast, and then you are the number one.”
Johnny Herbert claimed that in the wake of him qualifying right behind then Benetton team-mate Schumacher in fourth spot for the 1995 season-opening Brazilian Grand Prix, he was no longer permitted access to the German's data.
Rubens hinted the same thing to James Allen in his book Schumacher/Edge of Greatness.
It was mainly the small things but they seemed to make the difference like losing out on the spare car, Schumacher having bigger space/apartment within the motorhome. It all added up into making you feel psychologically inferior.
Rubens said he generally wanted to compete against Schumacher hence every year he announced his over ambitious and somewhat laughable claims to win WDC.
You've got to hand to the guy he was up against a superior driver and waking up every GP weekend thinking 'this is the day I will beat him'.
Schumacher was a superior driver, he had that right to be top dog but that power can be damn right manipulative. Apparantly Austria 2002, those orders came right from Todt, not Schumacher and Rubens wanted to make the team sweat hence the fiasco that went on. Johnny Herbert famously had his 'Mr Mega' rant but from recent interview with Motorsport magazine it seems Herbert had more issues with Flavio playing lap dog to Schumacher.
It was mainly the small things but they seemed to make the difference like losing out on the spare car, Schumacher having bigger space/apartment within the motorhome. It all added up into making you feel psychologically inferior.
Rubens said he generally wanted to compete against Schumacher hence every year he announced his over ambitious and somewhat laughable claims to win WDC.
You've got to hand to the guy he was up against a superior driver and waking up every GP weekend thinking 'this is the day I will beat him'.
Schumacher was a superior driver, he had that right to be top dog but that power can be damn right manipulative. Apparantly Austria 2002, those orders came right from Todt, not Schumacher and Rubens wanted to make the team sweat hence the fiasco that went on. Johnny Herbert famously had his 'Mr Mega' rant but from recent interview with Motorsport magazine it seems Herbert had more issues with Flavio playing lap dog to Schumacher.
I had a ferret called Kevin that was a bit of a handful. He had an operation that calmed him no end. Mind you, he thought he could still do the business and on occasion gave it a spirited try, but everyone knew, including him I think, that he hadn't got it anymore.
And that's what happened to MSchuey's number twos. They were emasculated. They often, like Kevin, made out that they weren't totally devoid of their manhood but they, and of course we, knew better. When you joined Ferrari as a number two, that was it. Your life as a driver was over. Irvine and Rubins, like Kevin, seemed to enjoy making out that they still had their bits intact, but that's all it was, an act.
And that's what happened to MSchuey's number twos. They were emasculated. They often, like Kevin, made out that they weren't totally devoid of their manhood but they, and of course we, knew better. When you joined Ferrari as a number two, that was it. Your life as a driver was over. Irvine and Rubins, like Kevin, seemed to enjoy making out that they still had their bits intact, but that's all it was, an act.
Derek Smith said:
I had a ferret called Kevin that was a bit of a handful. He had an operation that calmed him no end. Mind you, he thought he could still do the business and on occasion gave it a spirited try, but everyone knew, including him I think, that he hadn't got it anymore.
And that's what happened to MSchuey's number twos. They were emasculated. They often, like Kevin, made out that they weren't totally devoid of their manhood but they, and of course we, knew better. When you joined Ferrari as a number two, that was it. Your life as a driver was over. Irvine and Rubins, like Kevin, seemed to enjoy making out that they still had their bits intact, but that's all it was, an act.
Bravo And that's what happened to MSchuey's number twos. They were emasculated. They often, like Kevin, made out that they weren't totally devoid of their manhood but they, and of course we, knew better. When you joined Ferrari as a number two, that was it. Your life as a driver was over. Irvine and Rubins, like Kevin, seemed to enjoy making out that they still had their bits intact, but that's all it was, an act.
All the same, there has been quite a bit of Shuey knocking of late from many quarters. I watch with interest.
Everyone knows Schumi had a considerable smokescreen available to him for all his teammates. Brundle was the only one given a fair stab and he took schumi pretty close, but schumi was still the faster driver, just I think this is the only fair comparison anyone can make with schumi over a teammate. Any others had a weird car or a contract to contend with.
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