Editing Michael Schumacher (section)

====2010: Return from retirement====
After having impressed in the free practices, Schumacher finished sixth in the first race of the season at the {{F1 GP|2010|Bahrain}},<ref>{{Cite news|last=Hamilton|first=Maurice|date=14 March 2010|title=Michael Schumacher remains steely about his F1 season prospects|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/mar/14/michael-schumacher-f1-bahrain|access-date=6 February 2024|work=The Guardian|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=28 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240628023735/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/mar/14/michael-schumacher-f1-bahrain|url-status=live}}</ref> 1,239 days after his previous Formula One race.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Gayle|first=Everton|date=23 December 2009|title=Michael Schumacher agrees to Formula One return with Mercedes|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/dec/23/michael-schumacher-f1-return-mercedes|access-date=10 February 2024|work=The Guardian|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=28 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240628023801/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/dec/23/michael-schumacher-f1-return-mercedes|url-status=live}}</ref> He finished behind teammate Nico Rosberg in each of the first four qualifying sessions and races; former driver [[Stirling Moss]] suggested that Schumacher might be "past it".<ref>{{Cite news|date=27 April 2010|title=Schumacher is 'past it' – Moss|work=ESPN F1|url=http://en.espnf1.com/mercedes/motorsport/story/15453.html|access-date=25 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928093553/http://en.espnf1.com/mercedes/motorsport/story/15453.html|archive-date=28 September 2012}}</ref> Several other former Formula One drivers thought otherwise, including former rival Damon Hill, who warned "you should never write Schumacher off".<ref>{{Cite news|date=8 July 2010|title=Damon Hill: Never, Ever, Ever, Ever Write Off Schumacher|work=The Black Stuff|publisher=The Media Halls|url=http://theblackstuff.co.uk/?p=1438|access-date=25 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331062909/http://theblackstuff.co.uk/?p=1438|archive-date=31 March 2012}}</ref> GrandPrix.com identified the inherent [[Understeer and oversteer|understeer]] of the Mercedes car, exacerbated by the narrower front tyres introduced for the 2010 season, as contributing to Schumacher's difficulties.<ref>{{Cite web|date=3 May 2010|title=Will chassis upgrade solve Schumacher woes?|url=http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns22213.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100603062851/http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns22213.html|archive-date=3 June 2010|access-date=27 May 2010|publisher=Inside F1, inc}}</ref> [[Jenson Button]] would later claim that Mercedes's car was designed for him, as he would initially drive for the team, and that their differing driving styles may have contributed to Schumacher's difficulties.<ref>{{Cite news|date=28 July 2010|title=Schumacher's car designed for me – Button|work=WorldCarFans|publisher=Black Falcon Media Group|url=http://www.worldcarfans.com/110072827638/schumachers-car-designed-for-me---button|access-date=13 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101009005847/http://www.worldcarfans.com/110072827638/schumachers-car-designed-for-me---button#ixzz17z1I3vRO|archive-date=9 October 2010}}</ref>

Mercedes upgraded their car for the {{F1 GP|2010|Spanish}} where Schumacher finished fourth.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Collantine|first=Keith|date=9 May 2010|title=Progress or favouritism at Mercedes? (Spanish Grand Prix team-by-team)|url=https://www.racefans.net/2010/05/09/progress-or-favouritism-at-mercedes-spanish-grand-prix-team-by-team/|access-date=6 February 2024|website=RaceFans|archive-date=6 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240206051345/https://www.racefans.net/2010/05/09/progress-or-favouritism-at-mercedes-spanish-grand-prix-team-by-team/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Foster|first=Ed|date=9 May 2010|title=2010 Spanish Grand Prix report|url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/2010-spanish-grand-prix-report/|access-date=6 February 2024|website=Motor Sport}}</ref> At the {{F1 GP|2010|Monaco}}, Schumacher finished sixth after passing Ferrari's Fernando Alonso on the final corner before the finish line when the safety car returned to the pits. Mercedes held that "the combination of the race control messages 'Safety Car in this lap' and 'Track Clear' and the green flags and lights shown by the marshals after safety car line one indicated that the race was not finishing under the safety car and all drivers were free to race."<ref>{{Cite news|date=18 May 2010|title=Mercedes rule out appeal against Schumacher penalty|publisher=BBC Sport|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8690323.stm|access-date=27 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100521073942/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8690323.stm|archive-date=21 May 2010}}</ref> An FIA investigation found Schumacher guilty of breaching safety car regulations and awarded him a 20-seconds penalty, dropping him to 12th.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8685542.stm Michael Schumacher penalised for late-race pass] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100519131141/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8685542.stm|date=19 May 2010}} [[BBC Sport]] – F1</ref> In doing so, the FIA sought to clarify the regulations post-race, as the new and old rules appeared to be in conflict.<ref name="Gibson 2016"/>

At the {{F1 GP|2010|Turkish}}, Schumacher qualified fifth and finished fourth in the race, both his best results since his return.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Spurgeon|first=Brad|date=10 November 2010|title=Michael Schumacher: Return of the Racing King Failed to Dazzle|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/27/sports/autoracing/27iht-SRSCHUMACHER.html|access-date=6 February 2024|work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=28 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240628024246/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/27/sports/autoracing/27iht-SRSCHUMACHER.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Hill 2010">{{cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/534308-michael-schumacher-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-of-his-2010-season|title=Michael Schumacher: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of His 2010 Season|last=Hill|first=Matt|date=4 December 2010|website=[[Bleacher Report]]|access-date=10 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510102624/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/534308-michael-schumacher-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-of-his-2010-season|archive-date=10 May 2011}}</ref> At the {{F1 GP|2010|European}} in Valencia, Schumacher finished 15th, the lowest recorded finish in his career.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Young|first=Byron|date=27 June 2010|title=Michael Schumacher blasts Valencia Grand Prix stewards|work=Daily Mirror|location=UK|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/motorsport/2010/06/27/michael-schumacher-blasts-valencia-grand-prix-stewards-115875-22365702/|access-date=15 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101118145048/http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/motorsport/2010/06/27/michael-schumacher-blasts-valencia-grand-prix-stewards-115875-22365702/|archive-date=18 November 2010}}</ref> At the {{F1 GP|2010|Hungarian}}, Rubens Barrichello attempted to pass Schumacher down the inside on the main straight. Schumacher closed the inside line to force Barrichello onto the outside; Barrichello persisted on the inside at {{convert|180|mph|0|abbr=on}} despite the close proximity of a concrete wall and Schumacher leaving him only inches to spare.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Rae|first=Richard|date=1 August 2010|title=Schumacher punished for dangerous move on Barrichello|publisher=BBC Sport|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8875370.stm|access-date=2 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728214251/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8875370.stm|archive-date=28 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2 August 2010|title=Michael Schumacher defended by Ross Brawn after Rubens Barrichello near-miss|work=The Daily Telegraph|location=UK|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motorsport/formulaone/michael-schumacher/7922228/Michael-Schumacher-defended-by-Ross-Brawn-after-Rubens-Barrichello-near-miss.html|access-date=27 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110123164255/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motorsport/formulaone/michael-schumacher/7922228/Michael-Schumacher-defended-by-Ross-Brawn-after-Rubens-Barrichello-near-miss.html|archive-date=23 January 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Collantine|first=Keith|date=3 August 2010|title=2010 Hungarian Grand Prix – the complete F1 Fanatic race weekend review|url=https://www.racefans.net/2010/08/03/2010-hungarian-gp-the-complete-f1-fanatic-race-weekend-review/|access-date=6 February 2024|website=RaceFans|archive-date=28 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240628024247/https://www.racefans.net/2010/08/03/2010-hungarian-gp-the-complete-f1-fanatic-race-weekend-review/|url-status=live}}</ref> Schumacher, who finished 12th,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Collantine|first=Keith|date=1 August 2010|title=Webber grabs Hungary win after Vettel blunder|url=https://www.racefans.net/2010/08/01/webber-grabs-hungary-win-after-vettel-blunder-hungarian-grand-prix-review/|access-date=6 February 2024|website=RaceFans|archive-date=6 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240206051354/https://www.racefans.net/2010/08/01/webber-grabs-hungary-win-after-vettel-blunder-hungarian-grand-prix-review/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last1=Elizalde|first1=Pablo|last2=O'Leary|first2=Jamie|date=1 August 2010|title=The complete 2010 Hungarian GP review|url=https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/the-complete-2010-hungarian-gp-review-5081086/5081086/|access-date=6 February 2024|website=Autosport|archive-date=6 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240206051352/https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/the-complete-2010-hungarian-gp-review-5081086/5081086/|url-status=live}}</ref> was found guilty of dangerous driving and was demoted ten places on the grid for the following race, the {{F1 GP|2010|Belgian}},<ref>{{Cite news|last=Owen|first=Oliver|date=1 August 2010|title=Michael Schumacher hit with grid penalty after 'dangerous manoeuvre'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/aug/01/michael-schumacher-penalty-hungarian-grand-prix|access-date=6 February 2024|work=The Guardian|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=28 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240628024247/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/aug/01/michael-schumacher-penalty-hungarian-grand-prix|url-status=live}}</ref> where he finished seventh despite starting 21st after his grid penalty.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Roebuck|first=Nigel|date=30 August 2010|title=2010 Belgian Grand Prix report|url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/2010-belgian-grand-prix-report/|access-date=6 February 2024|website=Motor Sport|archive-date=6 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240206051339/https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/2010-belgian-grand-prix-report/|url-status=live}}</ref> At the {{F1 GP|2010|Abu Dhabi}}, Schumacher was involved in a major accident on the first lap, after [[Vitantonio Liuzzi]]'s car collided with Schumacher's, barely missing his head.<ref>{{Cite news|date=14 November 2010|title=Schumacher escapes unhurt from crash at Abu Dhabi|work=USA Today|publisher=David Hunke; [[Gannett Company]]|agency=Associated Press|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor/2010-11-14-3633796092_x.htm|access-date=20 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101117173616/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor/2010-11-14-3633796092_x.htm|archive-date=17 November 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=14 November 2010|title=Lucky escape for Michael Schumacher after crash with Vitantonio Liuzzi|work=The Daily Telegraph|location=UK|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motorsport/formulaone/michael-schumacher/8132363/F1-Abu-Dhabi-Grand-Prix-2010-lucky-escape-for-Michael-Schumacher-after-crash-with-Vitantonio-Liuzzi.html|access-date=20 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101117081845/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motorsport/formulaone/michael-schumacher/8132363/F1-Abu-Dhabi-Grand-Prix-2010-lucky-escape-for-Michael-Schumacher-after-crash-with-Vitantonio-Liuzzi.html|archive-date=17 November 2010}}</ref> Schumacher finished the season in ninth place with 72 points.<ref>{{Cite news|date=13 January 2011|title=Alonso wary of Schumacher threat|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/9360338.stm|access-date=9 February 2024|publisher=BBC Sport|archive-date=28 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240628024330/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/9360338.stm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=2010 F1 World Championship {{!}} Motorsport Database|url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/championships/2010-f1-world-championship/|access-date=9 February 2024|website=Motor Sport|archive-date=13 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240213100327/https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/championships/2010-f1-world-championship/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Cooper|first=Adam|date=7 July 2014|title=Michael Schumacher's F1 comeback: 'People think I can only be happy when I win races'|url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/february-2011/50/people-think-i-can-only-be-happy-when-i-win-races/|access-date=6 February 2024|website=Motor Sport|archive-date=6 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240206051340/https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/february-2011/50/people-think-i-can-only-be-happy-when-i-win-races/|url-status=live}}</ref> For the first time since 1991, Schumacher finished a year without a win, pole position, podium, or fastest lap.<ref name="Hill 2010"/>