Jul.8 (GMM) The Mercedes car is the reason for Michael Schumacher's performance struggle in 2010.

That is the belief of F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone, when assessing the first half of the seven time world champion's return season to F1 this year.

"He has found a much more difficult situation than he would have counted on," the 79-year-old said in an interview with Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"It's not a question of him, but of the car. If Michael was sitting in the Red Bull, he would immediately be as he was before," added the Briton.

Schumacher's teammate Nico Rosberg told the German-language TV Movie: "The car is currently not fast enough.

"There are some things in the development that have not quite gone to plan."

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