Monday, January 31, 2011

Schumacher plays down simulator sickness struggles


Michael Schumacher says that he is not the only driver on the grid to suffer from motion sickness as a result of driving Formula One simulators.

Reports last week linked Schumacher's struggles in keeping pace with Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg last year to his limited time in the team's Brackley simulator before the start of the season.

But the seven-time world champion played down the connection between his motion sickness and his disappointing return to the sport.

"I think almost all the drivers that I know have had it [motion sickness]," Schumacher told Telegraph Sport. "When we had our first simulator at Ferrari I had exactly this feeling already so it's nothing to do with age. People get used to it by going through certain processes."

Although the majority of teams use simulators to help drivers to get to grips with new circuits, Schumacher also cast doubts about the usefulness of the technology.

"As far as I understand there are some other top teams that have a simulator but make very little use of it. For us drivers the main benefit of them would be to get used to a track. But for me personally that has never been an issue. I don't see the big advantage of them."

Source: ESPNF1

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