INTERVIEW WITH MICHAEL SCHUMACHER - II

Who : Michael Schumacher
About : Formula One Legend
Website: http://www.mschumacher.com/ (Fan Site)

How it happened : Interview with Michael Schumacher
Interview Date: April 3, 2003
Place: F1 Bahrain Grand Prix, in the Paddock area
Pics: Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix

There are people who say he isn’t good for formula one. Because as long as he is in formula ‘won’, he isn’t going to give anyone else a chance to win ! That just about sums up Michael Schumacher, the richest living sportsperson on earth. The aura around him is extraordinary. Seeing him live, shaking hands with him and talking to him seem surreal when you know that this person is the undisputed king of the formula one sport.

Nikhil Taneja(NT) : After having driver the Bahrain track quite a few times now, where would you say this track is lacking and where would you say that it is better than other tracks?
Michael Schumacher(MS) : I wouldn't say there's any reason to say that it's lacking because it's very good in terms of run-off areas. We have seen a lot of offs during the days. I don't know if any of us have hit the wall, I don't remember. I don't think so, because the run-off areas are so good and it's technically demanding, so from a race driver point of view, it's a success.

NT : Which one track would you say is the most challenging you have ever raced on and how would you compare Bahrain to that particular track?
MS : I think everybody knows I'm in love with Spa, so that stays number one, but this is not far off.

NT : But could the Sakhir circuit rival your favourite Spa-Francorchamps?
MS : Even Spa was new once and had no history, so we have to give it time where the new tracks are concerned.

NT : So what do you think of the Bahrain Grand Prix 2004 ?
MS : I think everybody here has done a superb job. They have prepared a circuit for us which was very interesting to drive, technically very difficult, a big challenge. As well, the organisation in terms of pits and space availability, it was just superb. The welcome of the fans, all the people here, was very warm so it was a very, very nice experience I guess we all had here and we look forward to coming back.

NT : This is your third win in a row this season. How were you feeling in the cockpit ?
MS : It was hard work because the brakes were sort of marginal and we had to keep an eye on the tyres. You saw both tyre companies were fighting with blisters so you had to drive on a fine line, not push it too hard, not overdo it otherwise you would fall into this problem and that makes it look less spectacular. But I thought I finished just a couple of seconds ahead of Rubens rather than half a minute.

But it was a superb weekend. We worked our way through, it was tough at times, we looked reasonable on Friday, had a bit of difficulty on Saturday to get the balance right as conditions changed but in the final moment we had everything spot on, we managed the first row and we managed the first and second position - that is obviously the dream result.

NT : So what has impressed you most in Bahrain ?
MS : Well… the people seem very nice and warm-hearted and the organisers have done an incredible job to build this facility in a relatively short space of time.

NT : You are already six time World Champion and it seems you are all set to become the seven time World Champion. Is there anything, according to you, that you have yet to achieve?
MS : I don't' want to talk about what might happen or what might not happen, but the fact is that I love the sport and may I keep going as long as I love it.

NT : This is just a little humour: How many speeding tickets have you managed on the road?
MS : Usually they come afterwards, when the results are taken from all the photos. I haven't seen any photos taken of me! I haven't seen any photos yet, so...(laughs)

NT : In the end, how different is fruit juice from champagne?
MS : Smells better afterwards ! (laughs)

© Nikhil Taneja (nikhiltaneja@gmail.com)