MS Retires!

A great driver that gave a great interview, end of era for sure. Hopefully he will remain in F1 and finish the remainder of the three races at the top of his game and in good health.

 

http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns17437.html

To read it in his words

 

see it in his words.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2274498465616045077&q=Michael+schumacher

 

While it is unquestionably the end of an era, Schumacher is going to have the blackmark. None of the other top drivers in history feared who was going to be their teammate. Schumacher is alone in being the only great driver to have avoided competition in an equal car.

He isn't retiring, he is saving face. If he were half the driver that Senna or Clark was, he would finish his career by whipping Kimi's ass in the Ferrari...assuming, of course, that he could...

 

Schumacher will have no blackmark, that is ridiculous. To suggest that no other driver has ever called the shots as to their teammate is wrong. That happens all of the time, nothing new. F1 consists of two drivers, #1 and #2, not #1 and #1. How many teams today have two equal drivers of Schumacher's skill? Not Alonso, not Raikkonen. Sorry, but I do not consider Ralf or Jarno at that level.

The last time two super drivers were paired, Prost and Senna, the friction in the team affected the team as a whole. I doubt if you find another team manager that would let that happen again. Neither Prost or Senna wanted any part of this in their future.

Michael discussed retirement before the season started, not after Kimi was under contract.

 

He could review cars... like Tiff.



Anyway, even though this is such a HUGE story in the world of Motorsport... I was still suprised to see an article on it in American news:

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor/formula1/2006-09-10-italy-schumacher_x.htm

 

Thank you for all the winning seasons Michael. Motorsport will not be the same without you!

Hopefully he'll return to the F1 team in some other department.

 

How about replace an also-retiring Flavio as team manager at Renault ? (LOL)

 

I have never been so excited or emotional over the outcome of any race or sporting event as much as during Monza today. First tears of joy, followed by tears of sadness upon his anouncment. What a day. But in the end, I am exuberant that Michael won. MS is my hero.

Now I have to change my plans. I'll be off to Brazil to cheer you on, spending money I don't have to get there, and taking vacation days I don't have to stay for the race. Even if it means my job, it is worth this once in a lifetime opportunity to see your last race, and to see you come from behind and win the championship.

Win the championship, Michael! Win!!!

 

Here is a picture I took of him at Indy, right after he won. I love this picture. He said during the interviews today that he made up his mind to retire at Indy. Now I am intrigued, what was he thinking while he took his victory lap?

It was my first F1 race, and he got pole and the win. It couldn't have been better.


just noticed - the nose of the car in my picture from Indy has the Cavallino on it, but I could have sworn that the nose said "FIAT" today at Monza. Do they change this?
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

common. don't be a spoilsport here. he deserve some respect after all that achievements. i've seen so many ppl here on the board that aren't schumi fan, yet they still showed him some respect. whats wrong with u?

 

I guess you were not watching the race today....

Great race MS, and nice exit also. Best of luck, you brought great passion to tifosi everywhere.

 

MS 106 points
KR 57 points

Kimi's ass has been whipped so bad I'm surprised he can still sit down!

 

where's impy when we need him??!!

 

I am just happy that I was able to see him at INDY last year and this year. I was deeply saddened when I heard his announcement that I almost fell to tears. I am happy for him and that he is doing what he needs to do. I hope he returns in some fasion to give us some more excitement whether it be at a Historic race or as ???? I really can't help but wonder though if Mr. Montezemolo did force him out. If so, OH WELL! We have 3 more exciting races to watch and see if he takes the cake. MS YOU WILL DEFINATELY BE MISSED!

 

ALI, PELE, JORDAN, SCHUMACHER !!!

There will not be any F1 driver ever comming even close to SCHUMACHER. He made Scuderia Ferrari what it is today.

 

You beat me to it!

 

Your negative comments on a positive thread are most definitely unwelcome as witnessed by many of the regular "known" posters in the racing section here on FChat including myself. If you can't saying something positive then please keep your comments to yourself or take them to RenaultChat.com and share them with those folks. The vast majority of all your posts tend to be all negative, anti-Ferrari, anti-MS and some most "distasteful".

Troll of the year award is coming soon....

- - - - -

For myself yesterday was a very sad day but life goes on and memories remain. I 've been fortunate to witness live many of your record setting wins which will remain unequaled. Thank you so much Michael Schumacher for your presence for one of the best days of my life which I will remember forever and always - F1 Test Day at Fiorano on 13 April 2005. "Bonjouro to you too Michael." Hope to see you in Maranello in April.

Cheers,
Carol

 

Here, for that "unwelcome" negative poster, is Michael's list of records, copied from the ITV F1 website:


Most world titles: 7 (1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004)

Most consecutive titles: 5 (2000-2004)

Most wins: 90

Most wins in a single season: 13 (2004)

Most consecutive wins in single season: 7 (2004)

Most wins at the same race: 8 (French GP)

Most wins from pole: 40

Most wins with one team: 71

Most pole positions: 68

Most front-row starts: 114

Most second place finishes: 43

Most podium finishes: 153

Most points scored: 1,354

Most points finishes: 188

Most points in a single season: 148 (from a maximum of 180, in 2004)

Most fastest laps: 75

Most races led: 139

Most consecutive podiums: 19 (USA 2001 – Japan 2002)

Most consecutive points finishes: 24 (Hungary 2001 – Malaysia 2003)

Most consecutive seasons with a win: 15

Most ‘clean sweeps’ (pole, win, fastest lap): 22

Largest points gap between champion and runner-up: 67 (2002)

Earliest title winner: 2002 (in July, with 6 races remaining)

Longest spell with one team: 11 seasons (Ferrari – 1996-2006)

Most time between first and last race wins: 13 years, 11 months and 3 days

Never outqualified in 1992, 1993 or 1994

Only driver to have finished every race on the podium: 2002

 

Now that Schumacher is out and Kimi is in, I can finally become a true F1 Ferrari fan.

 

Thank you for the memories Michael! You are the greatest F1 racer ever!

Thank you for the memories Ferrari!

 

Don't waste your time on someone who has nothing positive to say. This is a time to reflect on...

The greatest F1 racer ever who drove the greatest F1 red car ever for the greatest F1 team ever...

Thank you for the memories Michael!

Thank you for the memories Ferrari!

 

Dinodan:

They left out:

Most $$$$$$$$$$$$ earned.

 

I have mixed feelings. I'm privileged to have seen a legend in his entire career. I was an unqualified fan throughout, which was not always an easy task. He is a brilliant driver who at times let his determination get the better of him. He has given me many moments of excitement and joy over the years, as well as fueled many great debates, which I have also enjoyed.

I was choked up as he greeted JT and Corinna after the race yesterday. His post race comments were pure class.

BUT

I'm glad to see him go. I'm looking forward to F1 without him. He was in many ways bigger than the sport and I hope to see a different F1 is his absence, one with a more even playing field.

His records are so impressive as to be ridiculous, and in a way an embarrassment to himself and the sport. It misrepresent what he was as a driver and is a disrespect to those that were also great but in different eras.

So the madness of the Schumacher era ends. The King is dead, long live the King.