• Indian Grand Prix

KERS strategy works for Schumacher

ESPNF1 Staff
October 30, 2011 « 'I don't understand the penalty ' - Massa | Rosberg praises 'good team result' »
Michael Schumacher attributed a strong start to his successful race © Getty Images
Enlarge

Michael Schumacher said that a specific KERS strategy at the start of the Indian Grand Prix helped him to fifth place in the race.

Schumacher started in 11th place, but was up to eighth behind team-mate Nico Rosberg by the end of the first lap. With Felipe Massa retiring and Lewis Hamilton dropping back after a collision with the Ferrari, Schumacher then jumped Rosberg as the pair finished fifth and sixth. Schumacher said he was pleased to secure the result for the team, and that saving his KERS off the line had helped him gain a number of positions.

"I am obviously happy about the race today," Schumacher said. "We achieved the maximum that we could hope for, and as a team we maximised our potential. Fifth and sixth places are a great result for us. On top of that, my car was very nicely sorted for the race and very stable.

"At the start, everything worked out according to my strategy as I deliberately didn't want to use KERS in the first two corners and save it for the long straight where I knew that I could make up some positions. In the second stint, I managed to maintain my tyres so I could stay out longer and that was enough for fifth place."

Schumacher also said that it was good to see progress at Mercedes, and that the first Indian Grand Prix had been a success.

"What's really important at the moment is that we keep pushing and trying to improve, and that is what we achieved today. To the organisers of the first Indian Grand Prix, I would like to send a big compliment; I'm sure that I am not the only one to say that this was a very positive debut."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
ESPN Staff Close