Michael Schumacher: “We just dialled the car into perfection”

A bouyant Michael Schumacher says he’s ready to fight for a win in Monaco on Sunday despite being demoted to sixth after qualifying on pole.

The Mercedes ace stunned the pitlane by taking top spot for the first time since his comeback, but his Barcelona crash penalty has pushed him back five places. Despite the obvious frustration he was in a good mood after the session.

“I mentioned before the weekend that here and probably Canada are tracks that are probably going to suit us,” said Michael. “We shouldn’t look too bad. I said the plan is to be pole here, start the race from sixth and do whatever is possible – may even win – and here we are. It is not a complete surprise that we are able to fight for the front position.

“But after Thursday free practice and even this morning I wasn’t at all confident to be able to fight for pole position. Then everything seemed to work together. We just dialled the car in to perfection and it’s… yeah… it’s just a result. It’s a result of team effort and team work and getting everything sorted and being ready for it.”

Schumacher says it is possible to make progress: “I’ve finished fifth from being last; I won from I don’t know what positions. I will do as good as I can. It’s most likely to be a one-stop strategy here, that’s what you have to live with so in terms of strategy, there’s only a very small window to play with. Overtaking we know is tough, but we have DRS and KERS, so you might as well try – and be sure I will.”

He didn’t want to be drawn into making a comparison between this pole and any others he’s earned in the past.

“May I just say that you have to see two different chapters of life and this is the second one, which stands by itself, because in this Silver Arrow time, in terms of qualifying is the best position I have been in and luckily I’m able to give back, in that way, all the trust that has been shown in me over the last two and a half years.

“It’s just sweet and a good feeling after you have come back and have hoped for better results in all circumstances at the end of the day, after why and what has happened, but to finally get it together and being able to prove it – that’s much more important and therefore I’m certainly delighted.”