Brawn sure of Michael’s pace

Ross Brawn

Ross Brawn has no doubt whether Michael Schumacher will be at the front of the grid even after returning to Formula 1 after three years of retirement. After Schumacher clinched his first win for Benetton at the 1992 Belgian Grand Prix, Technical Director Brawn followed in the footsteps of the then double Champion by joining Ferrari at the end of 1996, and knows Schumacher as well as anyone, and is confident that he is still at the top of the sport's list of the best.

"I have no doubts that the talent and the ability are still there…You see little flashes of it when he takes part in competitions like the Race of Champions and karting races; they are not an absolute measure but always the same guys win in them that win in F1. The guys that Schumacher beat in those events says a lot."

"We saw last year, when he had the opportunity to drive for Ferrari, that it re-lit the passion; I asked him whether he really wanted to do it and he said that he did."