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Button takes blame for Schumacher form

Jenson Button says Michael Schumacher is struggling to adapt to a car designed for him © Sutton Images

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Jenson Button has accepted a portion of the responsibility for Michael Schumacher's testing return to Formula One this season.

Schumacher's Mercedes car is based on the Brawn GP 2010 car, designed to accommodate the world champion's preference for understeer.

Button's switch to McLaren, however, meant that Schumacher had to adapt to a car with characteristics not entirely to the seven-time world champion's liking.

"Michael likes a very pointy car," Button told Germany's Sport Bild. "But the Mercedes understeers pretty strongly. I was always happy with it that way."

Despite the German's struggles this season, Button does not think that people should write Schumacher off until his performance in the 2011 car can be seen.

"He will have more influence on the development of the next car. This year [the 2010 car] was quite late for him -- the fundamental characteristics were in place long before his signature."

© ESPN EMEA Ltd.

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