Michael Schumacher: suffering from motion sickness? © Getty Images Enlarge Related Links Drivers:

Nico Rosberg

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Michael Schumacher Teams:

Mercedes

Michael Schumacher's inability to work in a driver simulator hindered his preparation for grands prix in 2010, according to a source close to the former champion. He added Schumacher does not spend time in simulators because ever since a motorcycle fall in 2009 they have caused him to suffer from motion sickness.

On the other hand, his Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg - who scored 70 more points than he managed last season - is reportedly renowned for the time he has spent in simulators during his career.

"Nico spends a lot of time in the simulator preparing the car for the grand prix weekends," said the source, adding that while Rosberg's set-up work is "largely done" by the time of the first session on Friday morning, "Michael begins with a basic setting … [it is] is one of quite a few very good reasons why Schumacher was sometimes at a disadvantage to Rosberg".

The comments seems to contradict Mercedes team boss Ross Brawn who said in December he thought Schumacher would have been more competitive in 2010 if Mercedes had a truly "top" driver simulator. He added a new simulator was under construction at Brackley, but would not be fully operational before 2012.