Cause Behind Schumacher Disappointing Performance in 2010

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Mercedes accepted last week that seven-time world champion, Michael Schumacher, had suffered from motion sickness and it was the cause behind his disappointing performances in the 2010 season, after three years in retirement.

With the ban on in-season testing, drivers increasingly rely on hi-tech simulators — cockpits raise on hydraulic arms with screens all around — to familiarise themselves with tracks and to test different car set-ups.
“I think almost all the drivers that I know have had it [motion sickness],” said schumi. “When we had our first simulator at Ferrari I had exactly this feeling already so it’s nothing to do with age. People get used to it by going through certain processes.”

Schumacher, also claimed that his team-mate, Nico Rosberg, had similar issues last year.
Schumacher believes the effectiveness of simulators has been amplified by commentators and says you must have the latest specification, such as the one owned by McLaren.
“As far as I understand there are some other top teams that have a simulator but make very little use of it,” he said. “They don’t use it to the extent that maybe McLaren or some other teams do.
“I think it’s very limited what you can do with it and, anyway, you have to have the right one. There are not too many teams that have the right simulator.
“For us drivers the main benefit of them would be to get used to a track. But for me personally that has never been an issue. I don’t see the big advantage of them.”

Motion sickness or kinetosis, also known as Travel Sickness, is a condition in which a disagreement exists between visually perceived movement and the vestibular system's sense of movement. Dizziness, fatigue, and nausea are the most common symptoms of motion sickness.