Silver Arrows should celebrate and enjoy their edge: Bernd Schneider

NEW DELHI: Bernd Schneider has a long history with the Mercedes-AMG team, having driven for them for over a decade in DTM (German Touring Car Championship). But even he hasn't seen anything like the unprecedented success that Mercedes have had in the last couple of years in Formula One.
The German outfit has been miles ahead of all competition in Formula One, wrapping up both the constructors and driver's championship well before the season-ending race which takes place in Abu Dhabi this weekend.The 2015 season has been even more dominant than the last with Lewis Hamilton trotting to his second world title in a row without any competition.
The knives are already out claiming lack of interest in the sport in the second half of the season. "It might be disappointing for some fans but for a Mercedes fan it is a time to celebrate. You must remember that before the Mercedes run, Sebastian Vettel won with Red Bull for four years in a row and before that Michael Schumacher had his unprecedented run of success with Ferrari. No one was complaining then. Silver Arrows should celebrate these times because times will get harder I am sure. If you have the advantage, then you have to celebrate and enjoy this," Schneider, who was in the Capital to launch the AMG GT S car, told TOI on Tuesday.
"Ferrari have shown this year that they are getting closer to Mercedes with Vettel pushing both Hamilton and (Nico) Rosberg. Success comes around in cycles in F1," he added.
Formula One is getting more expensive every year and with only 20 seats on offer, it's getting harder for aspiring drivers. "It is becoming increasingly difficult to become a professional driver. Youngsters have to learn about working with sponsors from the start. Even in F1 only about 10 drivers get paid while others have to buy their seats," the 51-year-old AMG Driving Academy instructor said.
Sportscar circuit is one of the pastures that the drivers are approaching with former F1 driver Mark Webber getting recently crowned the World Endurance Racing champion. "Lot of the drivers like (Nico) Hulkenberg and (Fernando) Alonso are not very old, at least not old enough to get pension, Webber when he finished in F1 he was still young and sportscar was a great opportunity," Schneider, who drove for Zakspeed and Arrows F1 team between 1988 and 1990, said.
The German, though, is concerned about the state of F1 circuits, especially in Europe. "The money that the racetracks spend it's very hard to earn back. Like Hockenheim cut short the circuit and spent too much money in doing so. It's difficult for a circuit to survive without government help. Hockenheim and Nurburgring are booked throughout the year but if you owe too much money to banks then you are in trouble. Also dealing with Bernie (Ecclestone) is always very difficult - then you don't make any money at all," Schneider said with a smile.