Germany slams 'clumsy Schumi' as contract expires

Just as the Mercedes board is set to meet on Tuesday, Michael Schumacher is the unhappy subject of an intense round of bad press in his native Germany. Some publications have nicknamed the seven time world champion 'Schussel-(clumsy) Schumi' after his latest mistake in Singapore; the crash with Jean-Eric Vergne that has cost him ten places on the Suzuka grid.

And that's not all. The German media is making a meal of the 43-year-old's entire Singapore weekend, deriding him for incorrectly calling Frenchman Vergne "Jean-Marc" in an interview. And Schumacher also reportedly told German journalists ahead of the race weekend that there are 20 points for finishing a grand prix second (there are actually 18), and he also got the timezone difference between Singapore and Europe fundamentally wrong.

"What on earth is going on with Michael Schumacher?" wondered the Hamburger Abendblatt, noting that the great German's Singapore crash was his third under the floodlights in as many years. Der Spiegel magazine pointed out that, with Schumacher's contract expiring, the Mercedes board is scheduled to meet on Tuesday. "The timing is certainly not beneficial," admitted Swiss commentator Marc Surer.

Another Schumacher gaffe in Singapore was his admission to being in the toilet when the rest of the F1 world was paying silent tribute to Prof. Sid Watkins on the grid. "The whole formula one is there with great respect," said commentator Christian Danner on RTL television. "Drivers, team managers, even the prime minister of Singapore." Danner said Schumacher's absence was "embarrassing". (GMM)

Replies (0)

Login to reply

AZ Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

AZAzerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

Test calendar

See full test schedule

World Championship standings 2026

Show full world champion standings

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2026

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Spain
-
Bahrain
-
Bahrain
6 - Mar 8
Australia
13 - Mar 15
China
27 - Mar 29
Japan
10 - Apr 12
Bahrain
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia
1 - May 3
United States of America
22 - May 24
Canada
5 - Jun 7
Monaco
12 - Jun 14
Spain
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2026

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
6 - Mar 8
Australia Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
27 - Mar 29
10 - Apr 12
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
1 - May 3
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
5 - Jun 7
Monaco Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
See full schedule

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar