• United States Grand Prix - FP2

Tyre issues limit Schumacher in FP2

ESPN Staff
November 16, 2012 « Second on the grid 'will be a joke' - Webber | Vettel shrugs off Red Bull problem »
Michael Schumacher ended FP2 in 10th place © Sutton Images
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Michael Schumacher's Friday practice for the US Grand Prix was compromised by tyre issues in the second session that limited his useful running.

Each driver had an extra set of prime compound tyres available during Friday practice on top of the usual allocation of two primes and one set of options. However, when it came to second practice, Schumacher revealed that issues with two sets meant he had to go back to using his extra set of tyres from first practice.

"We had a bit of a difficulty because we lost both sets of tyres for us; one delaminated and one had a puncture," he said. "So we only had the tyres that we finally ran on from this morning. Obviously that compromised as well our session to work the car so we will have to see what it means."

He said the new circuit had been a bit of a "shock" in first practice as he approached some of the blind corners.

"The track is pretty much a challenge, a nice layout and very interesting. It's very different sitting in a Formula One car compared to when you walk around or go with scooter, simply for the fact that you are sitting low in an F1 car and the vision is compromised. That was a bit of a shock the first lap out, but once you get into the track and you know where the corners are and how they are it's better, but still it remains a challenge."

And Schumacher believes all drivers were struggling with a snappy balance on the slippery surface.

"It's a very odd balance that you get from the track because you have understeer on the way in and suddenly it snaps and goes to oversteer. Everybody seems to struggle with this or just pure understeer and it's easy to overdo. Going just a little bit off line means no grip and going off line."

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