Schumacher Suffers Two Devastating Punctures


By DCX
May 9 2005

Even though it seemed that Michael Schumacher and Ferrari were back on track, both suffered an overwhelming defeat in Spain. Michael was on track for a podium finish when he suffered two tyre failures, knocking him out of the race. Badoer Prepares Ferrari

Schumacher Suffers Two Devastating Punctures

DCX
Despite an Imola-like start to the weekend and his race, Michael was not able to achieve a similar result to the one he enjoyed two weeks ago. Two Bridgestone tyre blowouts cost Michael a definite podium finish and fueled criticisms about the inferior tyres.

Michael's practice sessions resulted in mid field finishes except for a second place in the third session. This was expected as the F2005 doesn't seem to be very fast during shorter stints.

This was once again evident during both qualifying sessions as Schumacher could only manage a seventh and an ninth during the two sessions.

Michael had a reasonably decent start as he battled with Juan Pablo Montoya for a few laps, eventually Michael settled in and lapped at a constant pace. Then the leaders began to pit and just like he did in Imola, Michael set fast lap after fast lap to move up the field. This excellent strategy would have put Michael on the podium, likely on the third place step, but then his tyres destroyed any chance of that. Michael suffered a left rear tyre blowout on lap 44 and had to pit to change it, sending him backwards trough the field. Then, only two laps later, his left front tyre blew out as well, right after the pit lane exit. Schumacher was forced to limp around the circuit and then when he arrived at the pits, there was no point in continuing. Michael ran a rather decent race and the F2005 preformed well, it was certainly the Bridgestone tyres that let he and the team down. More on how Bridgestone let Ferrari down soon. This is what Michael had to say about his rather unfortunate result.

“I think a third place would have been a realistic target seeing how the race was going. So it was very disappointing that I had those two problems. Already on the lap before, I felt the car becoming unbalanced, then suddenly the tyre pressure was gone. Then, after the rear tyre was changed, the same thing happened again. It is strange that both were on the same side and the other tyres were fine. We have a lot of work to do across the entire package, before Monaco.”

Michael ran a rather decent race and the F2005 preformed well, it was certainly the Bridgestone tyres that let he and the team down. More on how Bridgestone let Ferrari down soon.

May 8, 2005

Think Think the Bridgestone tyres are the problem? Then make your feelings known on the Ferrari 1 Message Board

Bookmark or share this story with:

 

Ferrari F1 latest threads