The Top Dog for Belgium is...
- Published on Aug 28th, 2011 by Craig Normansell"Hot Rod or Hot Dog" is our regular post-grand prix column where we review all of the driver performances in that race. As part of the process, one driver is declared as Badger's "Top Dog"; it's not necessarily the winner and, to be honest, it could be for anything..."
It has to be...Michael Schumacher
We'll admit at Badger, the German great is a divisive figure in the Sett, but today we saw flashes of the old magic in the Ardennes forest. Starting at the back of the grid, and getting the harder Prime tyre out of the way, he shot through the field like only he could!
While his young whippersnapper of a teammate Nico Rosberg inexplicably led the field in the early stages, Michael made his way up to 14th place on the first lap alone - aided by several greener drivers making contact into La Source - and steadily picked cars off one by one. The safety car period, brought on by both Lewis Hamilton's coming together with Kobayashi and Daniel Ricciardo's HRT breaking down in sympathy, meant that he could close the gap on cars in front while switching to the faster Option tyre.
The moves later in the race, first on Adrian Sutil, later on a struggling Rosberg, were the icing on the proverbial cake. There have been other good drives from back of the grid this season, from the likes of Webber, Kobayashi and Buemi, but this was the most convincing one yet.
He may be a tad controversial and the wrong end of 40, but there's life in the old dog yet. Michael Schumacher, we doff our hats to you!
Comments and Discussion
I think it's 50/50 between him and Button today. I would have liked to have seen a bit more of Michael's overtakes though. Obviously hard for the director with such an eventful race, but I think they missed showing a few things that could have been shown live. Might as well have still had on ITV where we see everything after the event when an ad break is finished.
But yeah, quality drive from Michael starting last yet finishing ahead of someone who was leading at the end of the first lap - in identical machinery - and using an extra stop.
Craig! I have found a wireless connection. Honestly, I leave you babysitting the column for ONE race and you choose Schumacher. Can't take you anywhere!
Thoroughly disagree. Who did he overtake that was actually a challenge? He was behind sutil for ages and rosberg was fuel saving. So much button.
Schumacher all the way. Make up 19 places and to only lose to 2x Red Bull, McLaren and Ferrari, Great Achievement.
Well, you know what this means Ben, no more jaunts for you!
Trust me, typing every word hurt me more than you'll ever know. But, he did drive extremely well and it's the best drive out of a Q3 position all year.
Michael can now add oldest recipient of the Top Dog award to his many records. To be honest, I think he'll treasure this one most.
how about his team m8 who started the race 19 places ahead of him?
I love the new Schumacher! Chilled, entertaining to watch, honest and frankly funny...
People are slating him for his return but lets think about this for a minute, what does an ex-F1 driver want to do more than anything else?
Race F1 cars! If he can find someone willing to pay him to take it back up as a bit of a hobby then why wouldn't he? He is there because he wants to be there and I feel the racing at times is all the better for it! Sure he isn't taking wins, podiums and championships but, and this is crucial, neither is Rosberg, yeah Nico has the better Saturdays, but that's not when they give out the points..