Too many mistakes for Michael

Sir Jackie Stewart is the latest to add his opinion about Michael Schumacher's performance so far this year, saying that the champion makes too many mistakes. Stewart does not think Schumacher is starting to lose his skills but he is surprised by ...

Sir Jackie Stewart is the latest to add his opinion about Michael Schumacher's performance so far this year, saying that the champion makes too many mistakes. Stewart does not think Schumacher is starting to lose his skills but he is surprised by the amount of errors he's compiling. Michael has been renowned for virtually never making mistakes but this year he's not living up to that reputation so far.

Michael Schumacher.

Photo by Brousseau Photo.

"There is no evidence that Michael is starting any sort of downward spiral," Stewart told the UK's Guardian newspaper. "I am a huge admirer of his talent, but, that said, I would have to say I am surprised at the number of minor errors he makes over a Grand Prix weekend. I cannot remember any driver who was regarded as the natural leader of his day -- whether we're talking Fangio, Clark, Prost or Senna -- being off the track as often as Michael has been."

"His errors are certainly too many in my view. In a wider context I think his mistake in Australia was the mildest of errors. He was just letting the car have its head and allowed it to run out wide over the kerb. His accident on the first lap in Malaysia, on the other hand, was just an unadulterated error. He makes too many of them, no question."

Some are saying Schumacher is cracking under pressure after not scoring a podium finish in the first two races although, naturally, he denies that is the case. However, the German had to settle for a lowly seventh on the grid in qualifying for the Brazilian Grand Prix yesterday. "I did not manage a perfect lap, having made a small mistake in the first corner," he admitted.