F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Former Ferrari boss isn't buying the Schumacher hype

Former Scuderia Ferrari boss Cesare Fiorio played down the hype surrounding Mick Schumacher after the Ferrari junior's impressive F1 baptism of fire in Bahrain.

Fiorio - who was the Scuderia's acting sporting director from 1989 to 1991 - says too much has been made of the young German who still has a lot to prove.

"In Formula 2 he's driving for Prema, a very competitive team," said the 79-year-old Fiorio, speaking to Italian website Tuttomotoriweb.

"Yet he was eighth and sixth in Bahrain, after starting from pole on the reverse grid."

Fiorio was also unconvinced by Schumacher's merits in this week's in-season test at Sakhir, where the young German finished runner-up to Red Bull's Max Verstappen on the first day of testing.

"It's true he finished second in testing, but no one was really pushing," argues Fiorio.

"Verstappen was faster than Schumacher with tyres that were two steps harder than his.

"I think he's just being hyped and there is a lot of attention on him, nothing more."

Some people will need a bit more time before they see the light…

Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Michael Delaney

Recent Posts

Red Bull F1 junior Iwasa completes Barcelona FP1 rookie line-up

Friday’s opening practice session at Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix will deliver yet another reshuffle of the…

10 minutes ago

Alpine reserve Aron set for Barcelona FP1 with Audi

Paul Aron's Formula 1 journey is set to gather further momentum this weekend after Audi…

1 hour ago

Lawson and Lindblad praise RB's big turnaround’ in Monaco

Racing Bulls emerged as one of the biggest winners from last weekend’s chaotic Monaco Grand…

3 hours ago

Hamilton in no doubt Ferrari is ‘going to get there’

Lewis Hamilton believes Ferrari are edging ever closer to returning to the top step of…

4 hours ago

McLaren reserve Fornaroli to take part in FP1 in Barcelona

After years of climbing the junior racing ladder and a championship-winning Formula 2 campaign that…

20 hours ago

Williams hands Browning FP1 outings in Barcelona and Austria

Williams has confirmed that its reserve driver Luke Browning will take part in not one…

21 hours ago