Sam Bird on working with Michael Schumacher...

      In Lucas Stewart's vlog, Sam Bird recalled his experience working with Michael Schumacher at the Mercedes team, where in 2010 he was a reserve driver and Michael was the main driver...

      Sam Bird: "From Michael, I learned not so much about driving, but about working with people. I admired his ability to unite the team, interact with the staff, and be polite yet firm when necessary. That’s the main thing I took away from working with him. He was very, very good at creating a positive atmosphere in the team.

      Nico Rosberg was his teammate at the time, and he really understood the setups, knowing all the numbers he wanted to get from the car. Michael was also very good at that, but he was even better at managing people. You could see how he was loved at Ferrari – it was the same at Mercedes. There was a special aura when he walked into a room. When he said something, everyone listened. His word carried weight.

      The press, especially the English press, sometimes portrayed him in a less than favorable light, but if you got to know him better, entered his circle, he was a great guy. Fortunately, I got into that circle and saw him as someone completely different from how the press viewed and perceived him. I’m happy that I had the opportunity to communicate with him, to have dinner in his company. It’s a real privilege!"