Jenson Button has accepted a portion of the responsibility for Michael Schumacher’s lacklustre return to formula one this season.
The reigning world champion said Brawn GP, now Mercedes GP, developed the Brackley based team’s 2010 car according to his preference for understeer.
But at the last minute, Button switched to McLaren, while Mercedes made plans to host Schumacher’s comeback at the wheel of the W01 — a car whose basic characteristics the seven-time world champion dislikes.
"Michael likes a very pointy car," the 30-year-old Briton is quoted by Germany’s Sport Bild.
"But the Mercedes understeers pretty strongly," said Button. "I was always happy with it that way."
But he is not overly apologetic, given that his McLaren move "made it possible for Michael to come back".
Button thinks the F1 world should not write Schumacher off until his performance in the 2011 car can be seen.
"He will have more influence on the development of the next car. This year (the 2010 car) was quite late for him — the fundamental characteristics were in place long before his signature," he said.