• Mercedes news

Jury's out on Schumacher comeback - Jackie Stewart

Jackie Stewart has some advice for Michael Schumacher at the 1995 Australian Grand Prix © Sutton Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News:
• Haug denies Schumacher may sever contract
  

• Drivers:
• Michael Schumacher
• |
• Jackie Stewart

• Teams:
• Mercedes

As the debate over the wisdom of Michael Schumacher rumbles on, former world champion Jackie Stewart has told the Observer that the jury is still out on whether Schumacher will still be able to challenge for a world title.

"It's very clear that Michael has not lost any of his skills," Stewart told the newspaper. "You don't just check out from the experience and knowledge that made him champion seven times.

"I remember that five and 10 years after I retired, when I was 39 and 44, I came back to drive all the cars in the championship on behalf of Elf and I didn't feel that I had lost anything. But Michael has not been able to deliver on the pace yet and the fact that he has been beaten in qualifying and in the races by his team-mate will trouble him more than he has shown."

Stewart said some of the difficulty for Schumacher is the depth of quality drivers in the field this season. "Outside the main teams you've got drivers as good and as experienced as Rubens Barrichello and Robert Kubica. It's the best group of top drivers that I can remember."

"Michael retired too early. He shouldn't have quit because he hadn't finished with it. I knew I wouldn't race again when I retired and so did Gerhard Berger. When Niki Lauda finally retired - after a successful comeback, mark you - he even left his helmet on the seat of the car. He knew, we all knew, that he just wasn't going back there. But Michael always had unfinished business."

But Stewart is aware the financial side of Schumacher's return has already been a great success. "The sponsors are getting their delivery because Michael will be good news at every race this season. Wherever he goes he is making a comeback and the cameras are rolling."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.