08/05/2012
NEWS STORY
Michael Schumacher has launched a fresh attack on Pirelli, suggesting the Italian manufacturer's tyres are like "driving on raw eggs".
Speaking in the wake of the Bahrain Grand Prix, the seven-time champion said that the new tyres are damaging the sport, the Italian company having been given the mandate of producing tyres which would have a high wear rate and thereby increase the uncertainty and add to the spectacle.
"I had to drive at a pace to manage the tyres to finish with tyres left over," the German told reporters. "We should question whether that should be the case. It's unsatisfying and not what a Formula One event should be. If 80 or 90% complain, maybe Pirelli should think about it," he added. "I don't think it is right only one or two teams can handle it and the rest struggle so much."
Now, days ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix, Schumacher has launched a fresh attack on the Italian company's tyres.
"I think that they're playing a much too big effect because they are so peaky and so special that they don't put our cars or ourselves to the limit," he told CNN. "We drive like on raw eggs and I don't want to stress the tyres at all. Otherwise you just overdo it and you go nowhere."
Despite his criticism, which has been dismissed by Pirelli, the German remains confident that his team can build on its success in China.
"We have luckily got one win under our belt," he said. "I was a bit unlucky in that race as we could have got a 1-2 without doubt, but it proves that we have made a huge step because you have to consider where we came from last year, it was not what we were really looking for.
"Starting the Silver Arrows new generation, for two years we had medium success and finally we managed a victory. I am pretty sure we can have other good races this year, being on the podium and maybe being on top of the podium."