Deflated Schumacher and Button admit it’s a two-horse race
While Schumacher has written off his chances of a fourth German Grand Prix win, Button has gone one step further by claiming a long-overdue maiden Formula One victory will not happen this year.
Schumacher and his Ferrari team are now so far off the boil, the German’s response was distinctly tepid when asked of his chances of another victory on home soil on Sunday.
As for Button, despite finally scoring his first points of the year for BAR in the last two grands prix, the Briton reckons gaining the maximum 10 at any stage over the remainder of this campaign is a forlorn hope.
Button, still to stand on top of the winners’ podium after 93 races, said: “I have to say my confidence is higher now than it has been all season.
“But the fact I now know where we are in relation to the Renaults and McLarens makes it very frustrating because we are just not competitive enough, and not as quick as we would like to be.
“We realise we’ve a long way to go in terms of being closer to them, but I honestly do not think a win will happen this year because we are so far behind, which is a gap we’re not going to make up overnight.
Button concedes his frustration is made worse by the fact when he adds: “There’s no way of getting over it.
“The only way that will happen is when the car improves. I can push the team as much as I want and I can ask about improvements and when they will come, but I am not an engineer or an aerodynamicist.
“It means all I can do is to keep improving and to hopefully get closer to the Renaults and McLarens.”
As for Schumacher, he is adamant his legion of fans will have nothing to cheer this weekend as he is feeling “pessimistic” about his chances.
Schumacher, who trails championship leader Alonso by 34 points, said: “I don’t feel like promising big things to my fans.
“I’m not thinking about victory at all. I’ll do my best to get on the podium at least, although I must admit I feel fairly pessimistic.”
Schumacher’s only win this year came at the much-maligned United States Grand Prix, now notoriously remembered for the withdrawal of the seven teams supplied by Michelin.
At least Schumacher looked strong before that as he qualified on pole, suggesting he and Ferrari were back on track, only for confidence to since rapidly evaporate.
“After Indianapolis I felt very optimistic, but once we were back in Europe, whatever good there was suddenly disappeared,” he said.
Schumacher and Button had salt rubbed in their wounds after seeing the speed of Raikkonen in the opening day’s practice, with the Finn fastest of the race drivers and almost a second quicker than Alonso.
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