Berger: “Schumacher's maneuver on Barrichello was very common in the past”

Gerhard Berger said Michael Schumacher's defensive maneuver against Rubens Barrichello in Hungary was very common in past F1 races.

The Austrian, who has won 10 of his more than 200 Grands Prix, said Schumacher's tactic, which pinned the Brazilian against the pit wall at high speed, was in common use in decades past.

“We drove more roughly and brutally,” said the 50-year-old, Ayrton Senna's former teammate. “Three times in one round we pushed each other into the walls without complaining. It was part of the game. I wouldn't have thought of anything wrong with an action like Michael's against Barrichello” we read in the Tiroler Tageszeitung.

But Berger doubts Schumacher can get his eighth title.

“Before the season I would have answered this question with a yes. Today I have to say no. His Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg is clearly ahead of him. Michael is trying to exploit Nico's young age by pulling tricks from his wealth of experience, but it's not working. His teammate is faster, and he has to learn to accept that,” added Berger.