‘Schumacher could have been disqualified’

BUDAPEST: Being penalised 10 places for the Bulgarian Grand Prix was the better deal for Michael Schumacher, after steward Derek Warwick claimed that the Mercedes driver could have been disqualified from the Hungarian race altogether.

Schumacher had almost rammed his former Ferrari teammate and Williams driver Rubens Barrichello at 180 mph into the pit wall when Sunday’s race was drawing to an end. The seven-time world champion apologised to Barrichello, although he had initially defended his move.

“Throwing a black flag would have shown a better example to our young drivers. But by the time we got the video evidence we ran out of time and we had to do it retrospectively,” said former driver Warwick.

After the Hungarian Grand Prix, the stewards had interviewed Schumacher and Barrichello, and according to Warwick the German’s attitude gave them no option but to penalise him for 10 places on the grid.

“If we had enough laps [we could have disqualified him] but you have to have video evidence and make sure all four stewards are in agreement.”

“But we felt a 10-place penalty is a big penalty to carry for Spa. It kind of puts him out of the race at Spa, and hopefully he will learn from that and remember that the new stewards will not tolerate that driving.”

Critics have said that Schumacher’s move on Barrichello on Sunday has tainted his legacy as a champion in the sport. But Warwick still maintained, “He is a great champion, a legend, and is up there with the greatest and we need to give him time.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 4^th, 2010.