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Interview-Ralf-Schumacher-071997.htm
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<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//IETF//DTD HTML//EN">
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<title>Interview with Ralf Schumacher - July 1997</title>
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<td><font face="Arial"><strong>Ralf Schumacher Interview</strong></font></td>
<td> </td>
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<td><p align="center"><font size="4" face="Arial"><b>Ralf
Schumacher... Modest, moi?</b></font></p>
<p align="center"><font size="2" face="Arial"><img
src="rsc97az.jpg" width="373" height="245"><br>
</font><font size="1" face="Arial">Ralf Schumacher</font></p>
<p align="center"><font size="1" face="Arial"></font> </p>
<p><font size="5" face="Arial"><b><i>O</i></b></font><font
size="4" face="Arial"><b><i>n the eve of the German Grand
Prix, we talk with Ralf Schumacher about his learning
curve in the first half of the season and ask him about
his reputation for arrogance..... </i></b></font></p>
<p> </p>
<p><font size="4" face="Arial"><b><i>Y</i></b></font><font
size="3" face="Arial"><b><i>ou kick off the second round
of the Formula 1 season in front of a home crowd in
Germany. How would you sum up your first Half-season in
F1?</i></b></font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="Arial">"To be honest I am
quite satisfied. I had some technical problems in the
first few races but things have since got better. I have
finished in the points several times <i>(Argentina,
France and Britain) </i>and I have been on the podium
once. I think these are good results for a new driver at
this level.</font></p>
<p><font size="4" face="Arial"><b><i>S</i></b></font><font
size="3" face="Arial"><b><i>tarting one's career with a
front running team like Jordan was difficult and risky
for a young inexperienced driver when one considers the
inevitable Pressures and responsibilities which fall on
the drivers' shoulders and the need for them to Score
good results?</i></b></font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="Arial">''Well to be honest no-one
at the start of the season knew that Jordan would be as
strong as it has been in some of the races. I thought
that it was a perfect opportunity for me and I never
really felt the weight of pressure. Frankly I am happy to
be here and not elsewhere "</font></p>
<p><font size="4" face="Arial"><b><i>C</i></b></font><font
size="3" face="Arial"><b><i>oming from Japanese Formula
3000 how did you cope with the responsibilities which are
part of one's arrival in F1?</i></b></font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="Arial">"You know that in F1
the main thing is the pressure which you put on your own
shoulders. Looking at the situation in an objective way,
one must Judge my resuIts and not lose sight of that
fact. Everything in F1 is new for me. There were the
circuits and the way in which the team operates. Although
I had met the people during the pre-season tests, it is a
question of gaining confidence "</font></p>
<p><font size="4" face="Arial"><b><i>O</i></b></font><font
size="3" face="Arial"><b><i>bservers reckon you have an
aggressive style both at wheel of the Jordan-Peugeot and
also when you are not in the cockpit is that necessary
for a young driver to win respect in F1?</i></b></font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="Arial">"Actually I do not
see myself as an aggressive driver to be honest, I simply
try to do the best job possible. For example on the race
track I do not to let an overtaking chance pass me by if
it presents itself. This is normal, it is simply a
question of getting 100% of its car's potential. The
style of a driver can also depend a lot on the handling
of his car. Look at Michael for example at the wheel of
the Ferrari. Last year and at the start of this season,
he adopted a style which seemed aggressive simply because
he had to drive the car at 110% in order to achieve
anything. In such a situation a driver is flirting with
the limits. Perhaps you can call it aggressive out
sometimes it is a necessary style of driving "</font></p>
<p><font size="4" face="Arial"><b><i>W</i></b></font><font
size="3" face="Arial"><b><i>hat do you think about your
reputation for arrogance in the F1 paddock? </i></b></font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="Arial">"I think that this
comes from the reputation I had when I was in Formula 3.
I do not know how it started. I do not think I am
arrogant but I am trying nonetheless to change a little
and adapt myself to the new world in F1. The only thing
is that It is very difficult to struggle against a
reputation once it is established whether that is
justified or not - and that would be a lot of energy
expended to achieve not very much."</font></p>
<p><font size="4" face="Arial"><b><i>T</i></b></font><font
size="3" face="Arial"><b><i>here is no question that you
have had problems at the start of this year with your
Jordan team mate Giancarlo Fisichella. What is the
situation between the two of you today ?</i></b></font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="Arial">"I think that the
principal problem was that the team is running two young
drivers who have everything to prove. Both want to beat
the other, both want to win and get the team behind them.
To gain respect and show that they are stronger than
their team mate, Giancarlo and I have, no doubt made
mistakes by being obsessed with each other's performance
but with the help and advice of <b>Eddie Jordan </b>we
have tried to calm things down a little and work together
for the good of the team. I think that we now have a
normal relationship. We are working together during race
weekends and we are exchanging information,"</font></p>
<p><font size="4" face="Arial"><b><i>W</i></b></font><font
size="3" face="Arial"><b><i>hat are the most difficult
problems to understand and solve when you are a young
driver discovering the complexities of Formula 1 racing?</i></b></font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="Arial">''Personally I am very
interested in the technical and mechanical aspects of F1.
I would say that the major problem facing a young driver
in F1 is in the paddock. In F1 there are lots of
Journalists and commercial interests. One has to be
available for things other than the car and the race and
it is not that easy to control or to accept.</font></p>
<p><font size="4" face="Arial"><b><i>I</i></b></font><font
size="3" face="Arial"><b><i>s it a problem or an
advantage to have the same name as the best driver in the
world?</i></b></font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="Arial">"listen, when the
results are there the name has no importance. Clearly I
am not able to escape the comparison with Michael but I
feel that I have the right to be a little slower than he
is for the moment.</font></p>
<p><font size="4" face="Arial"><b><i>H</i></b></font><font
size="3" face="Arial"><b><i>ave you had the chance to
discuss the racing with your big brother? Do you exchange
information?</i></b></font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="Arial">"No, not really even
if it happens between us. When we get the chance to talk
quietly with each other we prefer to talk about things of
everyday life rather than problems at ‘the
office’." </font></p>
<p><font size="4" face="Arial"><b><i>D</i></b></font><font
size="3" face="Arial"><b><i>id Michael help you get into
F1?</i></b></font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="Arial">"The name Schumacher
helped me, that is for sure but Michael did nothing
directly. He half-opened the door but I organised a way
though the door on my own. I was the one who spoke to
Eddie Jordan it wasn't Michael. "</font></p>
<p><font size="4" face="Arial"><b><i>H</i></b></font><font
size="3" face="Arial"><b><i>ave you beaten Michael in
Kart races?</i></b></font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="Arial">"I don't
remember."</font></p>
<p><font size="4" face="Arial"><b><i>W</i></b></font><font
size="3" face="Arial"><b><i>hat have you learned in this
first half- season in F1?</i></b></font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="Arial">''Hmm, nothing special ''</font></p>
<p> </p>
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