Schumacher not expecting race progress
Michael Schumacher sees little chance of his Chinese Grand Prix weekend improving in tomorrow's race, as he expects to continue to struggle with the handling of his Mercedes
The seven times champion managed only ninth on the grid in qualifying at Shanghai, having found it hard to get a balance that suited him this weekend.
"We're struggling a little bit on that all weekend, and due to the fact that we can't change set-ups between now and the race, it's going to be difficult and I'm just going to have to live with it," said Schumacher.
"Next race is a different story, so we have to analyse why this is the case and see what are the steps needed.
"Basically it's mostly at the exit of slow corners. I just can't get out of those all weekend long. We're looking at all the data to try to understand that."
Schumacher was 0.7 seconds slower than team-mate Nico Rosberg, who qualified fourth, and admitted that the younger German was simply doing a better job at present.
"The fact is that Nico has been doing a great job all weekend," said Schumacher. "Quite honestly our set-ups are pretty much identical. That's why we're looking at why I'm struggling with what I'm struggling with."
He added that his only hope of a good result tomorrow might be for rain to disrupt the race.
"It's natural from the position that I am in, because overtaking is very difficult in normal situations, you wish for a different circumstances," Schumacher said. "And rain would definitely be one that could help. Overtaking can work quite well [in the wet].
"I hope to make a good start and then see how the race develops - and rain at the right moment could be welcome."
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