Hamilton claims pole position for Brazilian GP

English Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton has snagged pole position for Sunday's Brazilian Grand Prix, while German teammate Nico Rosberg will start alongside him on the front row.

Hamilton covered the 4.31-kilometer (2.68-mile) Jose Carlos Pace Autodrome in Sao Paulo in 1:10.736, one-tenth of a second ahead of Rosberg's fastest lap, in the third and final round of qualifying on Saturday.

The Williams drivers have now claimed pole position for 19 of this season's 20 races, with Australian Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo being the only rival to start first on the grid (Monaco Grand Prix).

Hamilton claimed pole position for the 60th time in his Formula One career, leaving him just eight short of the record held by German racing legend Michael Schumacher.

Finland's Kimi Raikkonen, who drives for Ferrari, will start third on the grid alongside Dutch Red Bull driver Max Verstappen.

With just two races remaining in the F1 season, Rosberg leads the Drivers' Championship with 349 points, 19 more than Hamilton, the two-time defending champion.

Ricciardo, who will start sixth on Sunday, is a distant third.

The final race of the season will take place on Nov. 27 in Abu Dhabi.

More games: friv

Michael Schumacher Health Update: F1 Champ Still Not Fully Recovered As Family Sues Publication For False News

Michael Schumacher's family lawyer Felix Damm recently revealed the current health condition of the ex-Formula 1 world champion. According to Damm's statement, Schumacher is still unable to walk and that his health has not recovered fully.

This testimonial was made by the lawyer at the beginning of a court case against a German publication Bunte in order to shun the false claims made about the 47-year-old athlete, reported HNGN. According to the reports, the magazine had earlier claimed in December 2015 that Schumacher's health has improved and that he was able to raise an arm and take some steps with the help of his physiotherapists.

Even though the official statement about Schumacher's health was made recently, the Formula 1 driver's manager Sabine Kehm had earlier stated that all the claims made by the celebrity magazine were false.

"Unfortunately, we are forced by a recent press report to clarify that the assertion that Michael could move again is not true," said Kehm, as reported by NBC Sports. "Such speculation is irresponsible, because, given the seriousness of his injuries, his privacy is very important for Michael. Unfortunately, they also give false hopes to many involved people."

As reports have it, Schumacher suffered a severe brain injury in a skiing accident in December 2013, after which he was in a medically-induced coma.

Meanwhile, as far as the legal court drama details are concerned, Morning News USAreported that Michael Schumacher's family has reportedly sued the German publication for $44,000 and $111,000 for publishing the false report about the champion's health condition and an attack on his privacy, respectively.

Reports claimed that the verdict on the legal case against the German publication is expected to be announced next month. Stay tuned in here for more updates on  former Formula 1 world champion Michael Schumacher's current health condition.

Michael Schumacher: What Did The Formula 1 Star Mean When He Said He Will Disappear?

Michael Schumacher, Formula 1’s great has reached the peak of success and fame. His name was synonymous with speed, victory, fame, and wealth. Wherever he goes, the media follows him.

On his retirement, all Michael Schumacher dreamed of was to retreat to the private life. He got tired of being in the limelight. Days before his unfortunate accident, he said to his manager, Sabine Kehm that she does not need to call him for the following year because he will be disappearing.

True enough, Michael Schumacher disappeared from everyone’s sight. Even his closest supporters cannot get near him; they cannot even inquire about his condition.

Michael and Corinna Schumacher have been very private people. Very little information was known about their private lives.

Australia Network News reported that the Ferrari star seems to have prophesied his accident when he said that he will disappear. Although he did not mean it literally, fate cannot be understood sometimes.

Kehm honored his desire to be in private. In fact, she was very discreet about his condition. His family’s decision to keep everything away from the public has been followed all throughout his rehabilitation.

At present, Schumacher is still in a state of immobility. He is unable to communicate. Michael Schumacher is mentally awake and is aware of his environment. There are times when he would cry at the voices of his wife, children, and dogs.

His family keeps their hopes high and are confident that his condition will improve. Despite the fact that he can no longer return to his old self, his family prays that he can at least live long. Corinna Schumacher has accepted that he can no longer become active in life again. In fact, she decided to sell his jet and holiday pad before and lately his Mercedes wagon. She believes he can no longer use them in the future.

Michael Schumacher is surely wishing a recovery for himself. He has dreams of disappearing to live a private life but probably he dreams now of appearing again in public alive and well.

Michael Schumacher 2016 Health Update: Health, Privacy and Cars

Not much has been revealed about everyone’s favorite Formula 1 Grand Prix racer Michael Schumacher. After his freak skiing accident in 2013, all the news that we can obtain of the driver comes from either pieces that have been put together. Sabine Kehm was his manager and all the latest Schumacher health updates come from her. What else do we know about the Michael Schumacher 2016 health update?

We know that the Michael Schumacher recovery is ongoing even if it’s slow. The racer is under the care of a team of medical professionals who can attend to his every need at any moment of the day.

Michael Schumacher 2016 Health Update

The Michael Schumacher recovery effort is well funded. He has a $14 million medical suite in his home that makes sure that he has a comfortable hospital. His team of 15 medical professionals are paid $140,000 weekly in order to help his efforts and he has family who are standing by him.

Schumacher Privacy Concerns

The Schumacher family has been a very a private one from the beginning. Schumi himself has valued his privacy so much even before the accident and his family is going to great lengths to ensure it.

Some reports have said that there is security and steps in place to prevent people from gaining access or footage to the recovering racer. Their great lengths in ensuring privacy have probably helped in his recovery as he is not harassed or bombarded by a lot of people.

In fact, Sabine Kehm found out about the incident through the press. This is a further reiteration of the lengths that they go to lead private lives.

The Simplicity of Schumi

The Michael Schumacher net worth is a staggering $800 million by some estimates but he has never been one to flaunt. Never have we seen anything lavish from the race car driver, although he does live on a beautiful piece of property.

He has led a very philanthropic life and even his known cars aren’t a scream of boastfulness to the world. The known cars in his collection are a Ferrari FXX – which was a gift to him in his retirement, and two small and nifty Fiats.

Michael Schumacher Health Status News and Rumors: Former Ferrari President Confident For F1 Champion's Recovery

German-born and F1 racing champion Michael Shumacher is reportedly on the path of gradual medical recovery from the severe injuries he sustained from skiing accident while on a winter holiday in the Swiss Alps. For quite some time, fans have scarce access to trustworthy update regarding his health. However, former Ferrari President Luca Di Montezemolo has broken the silence and expressed confidence in Shumacher's recovery.

The former Ferrari exec has recently given hopeful Schumacher fans a comforting albeit limited update regarding the racing champ's current heath condition. He said that the F1 superstar has been reacting although di Montezemolo did not elaborate what 'reacting' exactly meant.

The family of the seven-time Formula One champion has been extremely private over Shumacher's real condition as manifested by media blackout to prevent any leaks from getting out without the family's overt permission.

"I'm very pleased to know that he is reacting. I know how strong he is. I'm sure that thanks to his determination - which will be crucial - he will come out from this very, very difficult situation... And I really hope," the former F1 boss said as quoted by CNN in a recent interview.

Due to scarcity of reliable information, a plethora of rumors and plenty of hearsays cannot be ignored although fans should still take everything with a grain of salt. Meanwhile, an update from Sports Rageous seems to coincide di Montezemolo's recent statement on the champ's progress. The report suggests that the world renowned car racer has already come out from medically-induced coma and is currently in a wheelchair with his recovery still hanging in the balance.

Despite being fearful of Shumacher's condition, avid fans continue to express their moral support by launching a social media campaign such as the now viral hashtag #KeepFightingMichael

As of this time, Schumacher is reportedly continuing his extensive and costly medical rehabilitation at a custom-built and state-of-the-art suite in his Geneva home in Switzerland with 24/7 care by 15 medical experts under Professor Jean-Francois Payen's charge, Parent Herald reported. 

Michael Schumacher Update: Skier Dies In Same Resort Where Schumi Gets Injured

Reports have surfaced that two years after German Formula One racer Michael Schumacher fell and suffered severe head injuries at the French Alps resort of Meribel, a teenager also crashed and died there.

According to the Mirror United Kingdom, a boy named Louis Ross was having a winter holiday with his best friend George Legget and his family at the same resort. The inquest revealed that he fractured his skull and there is a possibility that his throat was hit by his own ski. Also, reports are saying that despite extensive efforts by medics, they were not able to revive Ross. This incident happened in December 2015.

It can be recalled that Schumacher also crashed in the same resort in December but two years earlier in 2013. But unlike the teenager, Schumacher is continuing to recover from the accident, albeit slowly. Despite reports of a slow recovery, former Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo stated that there is still hope for the seven-time Formula One world champion to regain his health.

“I’m very pleased to know that he is reacting,” said Di Montezemolo in an interview with CNN. Although he did not spill any additional information regarding Schumacher’s current condition, he shared that the legendary Formula One driver’s strength and determination will help him recover. “I know how strong he is,” he added.

Aside from Di Montezemolo, FIA president Jean Todt also recalled how great Schumacher was during his racing career. “He was very talented, very hard-working and humble,” he told the outlet. “I remember every new year before the championship started he was always asking me to do private testing alone to make sure he was still a good driver. This is a demonstration of how he was,” Todt added.

All these statements from Schumacher’s close friends just prove how a great man he is, and how many people are hoping for his speedy recovery. Share your thoughts in comment section below.

Michael Schumacher snubbed in Formula 1 drivers rankings

A BRITISH university study claims to have uncovered the answer to a question that preoccupies the minds of petrol heads — who is the greatest Formula 1 driver of all time?

After pouring over the stats the University of Sheffield’s Methods Institute has produced a drivers’ Top 100 chart with Juan Manuel Fangio on top of the all-time podium.

The study crucially removed the impact of a driver’s team, concentrating instead on their talent, rather than their success because they have a good car, explained the Institute’s Andrew Bell.

Using this approach Fangio was followed in the list by Alain Prost with Fernando Alonso, the two-time champion, in third.

While many F1 fans will endorse the five-time Argentinian world champion’s standing as the greatest the treatment dished out to some of the sport’s other legends will prove more controversial.

With the impact of his team removed from the equation seven-time champion Michael Schumacher only comes in ninth.

The driver many regard as the best of them all is dragged down by his post-retirement performances in 2010-2012 when he was generally outperformed by his Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg.

Greatest of all time.Source:News Corp Australia

If his pre-retirement career is considered on its own, he ranks in third position.

And what of Bell and his boffins’s assessment of former Austrian great Niki Lauda, missing altogether from the chart?

Bell comments: “Our statistical model allows us to find a ranking and assess the relative importance of team and driver effects, and there are some surprising results.

“For example the relatively unknown Christian Fittipaldi is in the top 20, whilst three-time champion Niki Lauda doesn’t even make the top 100.

“Had these drivers raced for different teams, their legacies might have been rather different.” Bell suggests the statistical model used for ‘Formula for success: Multilevel modelling of Formula One Driver and Constructor performance, 1950-2014”, could have uses far beyond the world of Formula One.

“A similar model could be used to answer a variety of questions in society - for example, how much do individuals, teams and companies affect worker productivity or how much classes, schools and neighbourhoods affect educational attainment,” he said.

Way back.Source:Getty Images

The study, published in the Journal of Quantitative Analysis in Sports, found that “teams matter about six times more than drivers when it comes to success in F1”.

It also determined that “team effects have increased over time, but appear to be smaller on street circuits, where the driver’s skill plays a greater role”.

With Sunday’s Chinese Grand Prix fast approaching, the University’s conclusions, which puts Alonso and Sebastian Vettel above reigning champion Lewis Hamilton, are sure to add fuel rather than douse the all-time best drivers’ debate.

Bell said: “The question ‘who is the greatest F1 driver of all time’ is a difficult one to answer, because we don’t know the extent to which drivers do well because of their talent or because they are driving a good car.

“The question has fascinated fans for years and I’m sure will continue to do so.”

Michael Schumacher's camp remains silent on F1 legend

Don't expect any news about legendary driver's condition

Michael Schumacher's manager has defended the ongoing secrecy about the condition of the most successful F1 driver of all time.

 

Now more than two years after his skiing crash in the French Alps, almost nothing is known about the former Ferrari and Mercedes driver's health -- even whether he can walk or talk.

 

Still, manager Sabine Kehm defends the family's right to say nothing.

 

"At the moment I see no alternative," she told Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper.

 

Kehm said that if some information about Schumacher is given, it would simply open the floodgates to more requests for additional news.

 

"Each word would be the catalyst for new demands, a beacon for further information. It would never end," she insisted.

 

Kehm said it would be impossible to "answer in a few sentences" all the questions posed more than two years after Schumacher suffered his brain injuries, as his recovery is "a continuous process."

 

And she is certain her 47-year-old boss would have wanted his privacy to be respected.

 

"Michael's private life was sacred to him even before the accident," said Kehm, "and everyone accepted it."

Niki Lauda understands Michael Schumacher information blackout

Niki Lauda has backed the decision of Michael Schumacher's family to safeguard the privacy of the Formula 1 great.

Lauda, the Mercedes team chairman and triple world champion, admits that the total lack of information about Schumacher's condition has led to wild tabloid speculation, which is "not good".

"The family protects him and I understand that completely," Lauda told German broadcaster Sky. "But it means that all those who would like to know something, do not.

"I often think of him, but unfortunately I have no contact. We all just hope, hope, hope."

Lauda admitted the total information blackout has led to unhelpful media speculation about Schumacher, so "the question is whether some kind of middle ground in terms of communication" can be found.