Michael Schumacher insists that his struggle to get up to speed in his formula one comeback season is due to Mercedes' 2010 car.
The seven time world champion is just ninth in the drivers' championship after 12 races, 56 points behind his teammate Nico Rosberg and yet to stand on the podium.
"Looking at the points table then of course we cannot be satisfied," German Schumacher, 41, told his sponsor DVAG in an interview.
"But there are reasons why the deficit is so great," he explained.
Brackley based Mercedes GP was purchased by the German marque from 2009 drivers' and constructors' champions Brawn, and according to Schumacher it is for this reason that the W01 is not performing well.
Jenson Button said recently that the car, with a tendency to understeer rather than provide Schumacher with the 'pointy' front that he desires, was designed for him before he decided to switch to McLaren.
Schumacher confirmed: "This is the car that was put into our hands.
"It is a remnant of what was created last year," he explained. "As a result there are many compromises that the driver has to deal with.
"The car is not at all in harmony with the tyres, or also with us as the drivers," said the record winner of 91 grands prix.
Mercedes has now effectively turned its development attention to the 2011 car.
"We have to ensure that the (new) car blends correctly with the drivers, and we are on the right track to be competitive in 2011," Schumacher continued.
"We are working harder than ever so that we can go for the titles."
