I'm still in the F1 title race - Schumacher

| Friday April 16, 2010 00:00

'If we have quick enough development speed there's no reason why we cannot fight for the championship,' said Schumacher.

'There is such a long season ahead, development is so important, we all know how quickly the rate of development is. I'm pretty sure we have potential to develop this car. It's far from thinking this season is over for Nico [Rosberg] and even for myself.'

Schumacher, who trails the championship leader Felipe Massa by 30 points, has been out-qualified and beaten in all three races by his compatriot and team-mate Rosberg.

An encouraging sixth place at the season-opener in Bahrain was followed by a disappointing 10th in Australia before a wheel nut problem meant he failed to finish in Malaysia two weeks ago.

The result has been a distinctly less adoring media than Schumacher experienced in the years when he dominated the sport with Benetton and Ferrari.

'I've been around long enough to know about what I call the wave of emotion,' said the 41-year-old. 'In winter everyone was very emotional and supportive, that was the wave, and then there is a natural falling off.

'Whether you're the reason for it or whether it's just a natural happening, is not important.

The results have not been as great as some people have expected, even myself, but the competition is high. So it is natural I don't have the same positive feeling from the media.

'I know exactly what I've been doing, I know what's going on and I have no reason to be disappointed. I still feel very happy, whether people like it or not.' (Guardian)