Schumacher proud of Vettel success
Friday 8th July 2011
Seven-times world champion Michael Schumacher has admitted to pride in watching Sebastian Vettel follow in his footsteps by dominating Formula One.
Schumacher holds all of F1's all-important records - championships, race wins, both overall and in one season, and pole positions.
Vettel, however, has started to suggest he could break all of those after a breathtaking run akin to Schumacher in his heyday.
Stretching back to the end of last season, Vettel has been on pole 10 times in 12 grands prix, winning nine of those.
With a 77-point lead in this year's championship, it is difficult to imagine anyone threatening to scupper his bid for back-to-back world titles.
"Records are there to be broken by whoever, and Sebastian is on the way," said Schumacher.
Asked if he felt Vettel could challenge his run of five titles in a row which he achieved with Ferrari from 2000-2004, Schumacher said: "Maybe."
And questioned on whether Vettel could be caught this season, the 42-year-old's reply was equally succinct as he said: "Difficult."
Schumacher was not being awkward or evasive with his replies as he spoke with a smile, one almost of admiration for his compatriot.
On his fellow German he added: "I get on very well with him.
"He is a good friend of mine, so I would have no hard feelings if he did beat my records. I feel he would deserve it because he would have worked hard for it.
"But he must never feel as if he is unstoppable because you know how fragile things are, how much work, how much attention is needed to be in the position you are in, to stay there, and how quickly it may disappear.
"He maybe doesn't have that experience yet, but I do.
"At the moment he is managing to extract the maximum, so there could still be a period of dominance."
Vettel has admitted to growing up watching Schumacher - there is 19 years difference between them - yet now finds himself beating on track the man he so admired.
Dismissing the notion of that being unusual, Schumacher said: "It's absolutely not weird. In a way I'm proud of that. I just have good feelings about this.
"Seeing him, how he has developed, relates to the story of how I made Formula One popular in Germany, increasing the interest for the motor industry that has supported these young kids to get their chance.
"He took his, has learned from everything he could, and it is great to watch that."
Struggling in his second season of his comeback in a relatively uncompetitive Mercedes, Schumacher goes into this weekend's British Grand Prix hoping for rain so he can merely be on the podium.
That is something that used to be a given, but now is something he has not savoured since he returned.
However, Schumacher has stated his determination to see out his three-year contract with the German manufacturer.
"I've always had the option to stop at any moment I wanted," said Schumacher.
"But I'm here for a fixed target, a three-year programme, and that is what it is."
Credit: ESPN STAR (www.espnstar.com)
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