• F1 Comeback

GP2 test not huge advantage for Schumacher

ESPNF1 Staff
January 12, 2010 « Haug defends increased F1 involvement | »
Michael Schumacher prepares for his first outing the GP2 Series car © GP2 Series
Enlarge

Michael Schumacher was back on track on Tuesday at the wheel of a GP2 car, and although it is thought to be part of preparations for his return to Formula One, Norbert Haug has played down the significance.

After news broke that 41-year-old Schumacher would circumnavigate the F1 testing ban with the three-day GP2 session, the sport's feeder series reacted by officially saying he is conducting development work for the new 2011 GP2 car.

Although Mercedes' competition boss Norbert Haug initially said this week's track activity was a "warm-up", he has since claimed that it wouldn't give Schumacher an unfair advantage over his team-mate Nico Rosberg or other F1 competitors.

"I don't see it that way," he insisted. "And whoever does, can rent a GP2 car for themselves. The GP2 organisation was smart enough to use the situation in their favour. Because of the test, a great number of pictures of GP2 cars will be on the television, in newspapers, magazines and websites."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
ESPN Staff Close