De facto o Schumacher surpeendeu muita gente na altura ao ir para a Ferrari em 1996, para uma equipa que não ganhava um título de pilotos desde Jody Scheckter em 1979 e não ganhava um título de construtores desde 1983.
Nem as contratações pela Ferrari de Nigel Mansll e Alain Prost resolveram a questão.
O engenheiro-chefe da Ferrari Luca Baldisseri diz que Schumacher é muito importante para a Ferrari ele tem "feeling" único para o desenvolvimento dos carros e ajudou a construir carros vitoriosos, tem um relacionamento incrivel com a equipa e Luca Baldisseri quer que Schumacher fique na Ferrari para testar os carros.
(a tradução para inglês não está perfeita, mas dá para entender):
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Luca Baldisseri is first, which expresses, which in the meantime many think with the red ones.
The chief engineer of Ferrari knows: Without Schumis unique feeling for the car, which feels, what a Rennbolide needs for triumphing, it with difficulty, a new car will develop.
Baldisseri: #8222;It will a large problem, without continuing Michael Schumacher on the same level. #8220;
The Italians in #8222;the Gazzetta dello sport #8220;: #8222;He contributed to build victorious cars while it is now because of us to give to the driver a car which is victoryable. #8220;
With Schumi successor Kimi Räikkönen has Baldisseri its doubts: #8222;I do not know Räikkönen well. We have only information from engineers, who worked at clean with it. If it rises in the car, it makes its job very good, it is very fast. But Schumacher knew also, as one makes other things, developed an unbelievable relationship with the team. #8220;
Its clear demand: Schumi must remain with Ferrari. Baldisseri: #8222;I already asked Jean Todt to convince Schumacher to test our cars. #8220;
Schumi as test guru for its ex competitor Kimi Räikkönen - are waiting times whether that becomes reality. Beside the chief engineer also chief mechanic Nigel Stepney goes into the offensive.
The Britisher: #8222;We lose what for us in all the years the center was, therefore legend I that the preparation tests could become difficult in the winter, because we must develop the same measure of mutual confidence to Kimi only once. #8220;