Formula One: ‘Red Bull will face stiff challenge’

The gap between the leading teams will not be as big as it was last year, says Schumacher.

MELBOURNE: Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher of Mercedes predicted that Red Bull would face a stern challenge to their dominance of the track this season. While Schumacher conceded that Red Bull still have a slight edge, he felt that the competition would go up a notch with the presence of six ex-champions lining up on the grid. “We can see that the field will be very narrow this year,” said Schumacher. “The gap between the leading teams will not be as big as it was last year.” Schumacher also admitted that he was not expecting to make the podium at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. “Victory for me in Australia is unlikely, I see Red Bull in front.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 11^th, 2012.