Schumacher GP2 test

[Giblet]

We didn't need to. Any dolt can tell it's quite obviously a thinly veiled F1 car, and the ruthless efficiency at Mercedes has invented a holographic projection system to make it appear as a GP2 car.

Obvious as the back of my hand...

[Richard]

Richard, his race engineer isn't Jock Clear. It is Andrew Shovlin according to James Allan.

Good spot, that's what I had in mind, but errors do tend to slip through sometimes (especially as I did that post on my mobile).

Jock Clear is not going to be his engineer, as discussed elsewhere with some rather juicy quotes about Schumi's character traits!

[Ray]

Huh. I expected the Ferrari red to go away and a little more German influence to his helmet. Especially being a German in the Mercedes team.

[mx_tifoso]

Huh. I expected the Ferrari red to go away and a little more German influence to his helmet. Especially being a German in the Mercedes team.

I doubt it's the final design.

Unless the red will remain as a tribute to Ferrari.

[DaveKillens]

Unless the red will remain as a tribute to Ferrari.

Or maybe... since he is displaying his seven stars (for each WDC), Monty might have tried to insist that Michael wasn't able to use 5 of them, since those 5 were earned while under Ferrari employ. Of course, Michael might have struck a compromise where he could use all 7 but only with the blessing of Ferrari if he did it in Marinello red. Just my theory.


Nice to see Michael back on track, even in a GP2 car painted in as generic a scheme as possible. Lap times don't mean squat in this situation, that will come later. What is important for Michael to work out a lot of things beforehand, such as the communications. Health-wise, my only concern is whether Michael's old body is up to sustaining strength and concentration for an entire race.

[Ray]

I figured it was an interim helmet design but figured that Mercedes wanted him to disassociate himself with Ferrari. And the very first thought I had seeing that helmet was what I posted. 'How could he have such a red helmet under a Mercedes contract?'. And as far as I can see Dave all seven are there and he might have just had that Mercedes emblem on there as a sticker and that maybe they don't have a final paint scheme for the car or sponsorship lined up completely and didn't want to give him some random paint job on his helmet. But your theory is probably closer.

Good to see him back in a car and pretty close on pace at a cold and damp track. Dude never lost the touch!

[ISLAMATRON]

looks more orange than red to me... ddnt he start his career with that type of orange?

[Mystery Steve]

Are the team owners allowed to restrict helmet designs? I was under the impression that the drivers were allowed to use whatever design they pleased, within reason of course.

Why would Ferrari be able to throw a tantrum over him putting stars on his helmet? Maybe MS just likes the color red?

[mx_tifoso]

Why would Ferrari be able to throw a tantrum over him putting stars on his helmet? Maybe MS just likes the color red?

They aren't, it was just Dave's theory.

looks more orange than red to me... ddnt he start his career with that type of orange?

It's been like that for some time now. I don't think he changed it to suit the new red Ferrari have been using since a few years back (mid 2007?).

[WhiteBlue]

A red helmet would be sensible as he would make sure people identify him easily in the car. I'm not convinced though that this is the final design. In the past he changed his helmet colors as a tribute to the team that brought him success. It rests to be seen if he will go away from red. I had expected to see his old helmet design with blue top and German colors at the side and rear.

http://www.motorsport-total.com/videos/f1/2322
A German language video interview with Michael after the GP2 test day1

[flynfrog]

some drivers are superstitious and wouldn't change a design that brought them 7 tittles no matter what the new teams colors are


Like driving a green car at indy

[Fil]

I'd like to see him return to an '01-style, but replacing the orangey-red top & bottom with silver.. for Mercedes, & obviously a white with black & teal sponsor stripe for Petronas.

[WhiteBlue]

I like the traditional design

[DaveKillens]

It was just a theory, and tenuous at best.

But one thing is true, that teams are very sensitive about image and how the public perceive them. And although right now Michael's helmet has a strong red to it, the people at Mercedes most likely aren't happy about it. They would rather see silver, which fans can associate to Mercedes, than red, which obviously makes any and all fans think Ferrari. I do expect that when the season starts, Michael's helmet will have more silver on it than red.

I wonder who supplied that GP2 car for Michael?

Where it started, Michael in his Jordan at the 1991 Belgian Grand Prix.

[WhiteBlue]

I wonder who supplied that GP2 car for Michael?

The car was provided by the GP2 organization and earlier speculation said it was a super nova team car.