FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2019 16 Mick shocked by F1 performance Mick Schumacher drove for Ferrari and Alfa Romeo at the post-Bahrain Grand Prix test Auosport | Manama ick Schumacher says he did not expect Both teams were very Mthe performance he open and very good in Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton (C) celebrates after winning the showed in his debut Formula 1 teaching me the points Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix test this week, having found it I had to know. Over the “easy” to improve with Ferrari whole day I was able and Alfa Romeo. to improve and to find Hamilton relieved to win Schumacher drove for Fer- rari, the team his seven-time the limit world champion father Michael MICK SCHUMACHER on a difficult track won five F1 titles with, on Tues- RaceFans | Manama today to enable the opportu- day before switching to Alfa on “It seems like it worked well, nity to win. Wednesday. so I’m happy,” he said. ewis Hamilton says his “But honestly I was really The reigning European For- Schumacher’s first F1 test LBahrain Grand Prix victory happy with how I drove in the mula 3 champion and Formula 2 followed his F2 race debut in was especially satisfying as he race. We did struggle with the rookie was second-fastest in the Bahrain last weekend. considers it one of his weaker balance of our car throughout Ferrari and then sixth-quickest The Prema driver scored venues. and it kind of worsened as we in the Alfa, setting almost iden- points in both races and record- “This is a track that I strug- got more into the race.” tical lap times in both. ed a best finish of sixth in the gle probably one of the most of The world champion also Asked by Autosport if he ex- sprint race, which he started the lot of them,” said Hamilton admitted he was frustrated to pected this performance ahead from pole position. following his victory on Sun- lose a position to his team mate of the test, Schumacher admit- He said he did not know when day. “And so to come out ahead at the start for the second race ted: “To be honest, not. “But I his next F1 opportunity would of Valtteri [Bottas] who is real- in a row despite having con- guess because I had so much fun emerge, with fellow Ferrari pro- ly, really quick here always – so centrated on his getaways. it was easy the work on myself, tege Callum Ilott due to drive was Nico [Rosberg] – and to be “I can’t express to you how to work with the team. Mick Schumacher walks out of the garage after his first laps for Ferrari at the for Alfa in the Barcelona test. in the mix, I was really happy hard I’ve been working on my “Both teams were very open in-season test The next F2 race is in Azer- with that.” starts and then the start really and very good in teaching me baijan at the end of the month. Hamilton was running be- wasn’t good,” said Hamilton. the points I had to know. His Ferrari programme was hard to compare the two days, “[I do not know] what is going hind the two Ferraris as the fi- “I’m just going to keep work- “Over the whole day I was interrupted by the prolonged the cars in front were very to happen,” said Schumacher. nal stint began but was able to ing at it. Basically you stumble able to improve and to find the rain that halted the test for sev- quick. “I’m looking forward to being capitalise on Charles Leclerc’s and you fall and you get back limit.” eral hours on Tuesday and the “But we did a decent job and in F2 again. technical problems after over- up. I always keep pushing. Schumacher’s 1m29.998s on 20-year-old said although he we can be happy about it.” “Baku is a special track and taking Sebastian Vettel. “Fortunately I was still in the second day in the Alfa was had improved on his second Schumacher added he had it will be the first time for me. “Naturally you have to get the mix and got past Valtteri just 0.022 seconds slower than day, comparing the times was gained confidence by targeting “I’m going to do a lot of work yourself in a position to have which, I was happy with that he had managed in the Ferrari, difficult. “all the points of [Tuesday] that with Prema in the sim and pre- opportunities to open,” he said. manoeuvre. Then got that bat- which was the dominant car “[It was] very different con- maybe didn’t work, or where I pare for that. “I’ll try to use what “I’m sure that overtake with tle with Sebastian which was over the Bahrain Grand Prix ditions,” he had the feeling of being able to I’ve learned here and try to put Seb was quite a decisive point awesome.” weekend. said. “It is improve”. that onto the track in F2.” Barty to ride wave of success into clay season Klopp relaxed about AFP | Sydney first Australian woman since myself on that surface.” Mohamed Salah Salah’s Liverpool drought Sam Stosur in June 2013 to be With WTA Tour seeing an in- iami Open winner Ash ranked inside the top 10. credible 14 different winners AFP | London MBarty is confident she Now back on home soil, her from 14 events so far this can “do some damage” in the focus is on this month’s Fed season, Barty knows she iverpool manag- upcoming clay season, and has Cup semi-final in Brisbane has as good a chance as Ler Jurgen Klopp hooked up with seven-time against Belarus, although she anyone at second Grand is relaxed about world surfing champion Steph- is already thinking about the Slam of the year at Ro- Mohamed Sa- KNOW WHAT anie Gilmore to gain inspira- clay season leading up to the land Garros next month. lah’s goalscoring tion. French Open. “Yes it’s open but drought, saying The 22-year-old Australi- “I think I have the game on I also feel like it’s the Egyptian for- Mohamed Salah had scored 44 an cracked the world top 10 clay to be able to do some dam- stronger than ever ward remains a times in his maiden season at this week with her victory age, I just have to continue to before. It’s about who key part of the title over Czech fifth seed Karolina learn how to use it properly,” can execute best on the chasers’ attacking Anfield Pliskova in the Miami final on she told reporters on the Gold day,” she said. armoury. Saturday. Coast late Wednesday. “I think for me, I’m moving in Salah, who scored It was a breakthrough title for “This clay-court season in the right direction. I feel great, 44 times in his maid- opponents in the current campaign, often the former Wimbledon junior particular is an opportunity to and I feel like I’ve got an op- en season at Anfield, being double-marked. champion as she became the go out and learn more about portunity to achieve some of has gone eight matches It has had the effect, though, of bene- my dreams.” without finding the net fiting teammates, with Sadio Mane (20 She made the quarter-finals but still has 20 goals in goals) and Roberto Firmino (14) taking at the opening major of the 2018/19 and played a pivotal on some of the burden. season at Melbourne Park and part in the last-gasp winner “Sometimes you need a bit of time to this week spent time with fel- against Tottenham on Sunday. adapt to the new situations and I don’t low Australian Gilmore to learn “When everybody is talk- think he really needed that,” said Klopp from her incredible success. ing about ‘he didn’t score in I on Salah’s overall value to the side and Gilmore is also on the Gold don’t know how many games’, how he has coped with the close atten- Coast for the season-opening he doesn’t seem to be bothered tion. World Surf League event. about it. I’m not,” Klopp said on “He’s a threat. He helps us a lot. He “It’s an opportunity for me Wednesday. deals with all the new situations for him to learn from other elite ath- “For sure we didn’t really speak really well. letes, and Steph in particular. about it. I think if something is clear “If you have only one (goalscorer), What she has been able to do and obvious you do speak about it. you think maybe you rely a bit too much for women’s sport in Austral- How do you deal with a situation on that. This year we don’t rely on Mo’s ia is absolutely phenomenal,” when he scored 40 goals last year? goals, but he’s still in a very good position Barty said. “His career’s not over. It’s like if he in comparison to all the other players. “To see how she handles her- can score this year 20 goals then he’s “Seventeen (league) goals is a good self and goes about it is the big- scored 60 in the last two. Wow, that’s number, and there are still a lot of games gest thing.