Formula One: Schumacher happy with rare lead

Oct 09, 2011 |

Suzuka (Japan)

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German seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher said he was 'very happy' on Sunday after leading a grand prix for the first time since his return from retirement.

The 42-year-old Mercedes driver, who has yet to finish in the top three after coming back to the sport following three seasons away from 2007-09, led the Japanese Grand Prix for three laps from lap 38.

Schumacher, a six-time winner in Japan who last led a race at Suzuka in 2006 for Ferrari, felt he couldn’t have extracted any more from his Mercedes over Sunday’s 53-lap race, which he finished sixth.

"I think there was not more to expect and achieve (so) I’m very happy with what we achieved," he said.

"We maximised our potential of the car, and the team did a great job the whole weekend finding performance and transforming it into the race."

Schumacher ran a longer third stint than the drivers from Red Bull, McLaren and Ferrari, making his third and final pit stop on lap 41.

He emerged ahead of Brazilian Felipe Massa of Ferrari in sixth place and kept the place until the chequered flag, finishing just two seconds adrift of second-placed McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton.

Schumacher’s team-mate and compatriot Nico Rosberg finished just in the points in 10th after a fighting drive from 23rd on the grid.

"This is definitely one of the toughest tracks for overtaking, so starting from the back of the grid meant that I had a pretty tough job," Rosberg said.

"Before the race, I hoped to achieve between eighth and 10th (so) it’s still a decent result."

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