Not strong enough for podium finish: Michael Schumacher

Two weeks after his near-miss in Montreal, Michael Schumacher yesterday dismissed suggestions that he could finally register a podium finish again in this weekend's European Grand Prix.



Schumacher, 42, winner of seven drivers' world titles, set the fourth-best time in his Mercedes in Friday's opening practice sessions for Sunday's race. But afterwards he was quick to play down any hopes of improving to take a top-three finish in Sunday's race around the Mediterranean port of this Spanish east-coast city.

"Forget the podium, we are not strong enough for that," he told reporters. "The Ferraris are very strong and we are behind the McLarens and the Red Bulls. If we are lucky, we might catch one of those teams, but we must be lucky. That's too far away from the podium. I don't think that the pace is good enough." ufffd