From Crash.net Michael Schumacher has ruled out a return to the cockpit of a Formula One car following his retirement, despite many in the sport believing that he won't be able to stay away for long. The suspicion that he was pushed into retirement by Ferrari's decision to hire Kimi Raikkonen for 2007 has convinced insiders that Schumacher will take a sabbatical rather than a full-blown retirement, but the seven-time world champion has told Germany's Sueddeutsche Zeitung that the pace of development would preclude any thought of a return in the future. "Formula One is always changing," he said in an interview with the newspaper's SZ magazine, "The technology, the engines, the rules, the circuits - they are always changing. Once you're out of Formula One, you're out for good." The 37-year old has been appointed as 'super assistant' to Ferrari CEO Jean Todt, and is widely believed to have the option to drive the team's F1 cars in testing, especially at its Fiorano facility. That would at least allow him to keep abreast of the advances in technology, but Schumacher insists that his priority now lies with his family, claiming that a recent part in the latest Asterix film will be the last time he 'goes to a race'.
This decision only cheats MS, who had many good years left and was (is) one of the top three F1 drivers in the world today. What a waste. I guess when your on top there is only one way to go and his ego wont lethim take that chance.
Very sad. I almost wish I could go back 10 years to watch him race all over again. It least I can download all the races, but it's not the same... Oh well, all good things come to an end. He's still had one of the longest F1 careers. Now, what is he gonna do with the USD $600MM?
trully, it's a shame. but hey, imagine if one of the scuderia drivers got injured next season, have to miss a couple of races...i wonder who the scuderia will turn too wow, imagine if he replaces the injured driver and wins the 8th title
That makes no sense. If he wanted to come back, he would come back in the same way any new driver would - into a new environment - but he would have the added advantage of being able to judge what has been improved, and what has not.
There's the issue, I don't think he wants to go through the whole new driver thing again. As talented as he is he's not a spring chicken in F1 years and Ferrari is no longer Michael's team.I don't think he'd want to rebuild another team either, so I guess he's thinking he would have no options at this poin even if he did want to un-retiret. How would he able able to judge anything, it isn't even clear if he'll test next year's car, he's an assistant to Todt but i doubt he'll go to the races much if at all at first. I really think he plans on staying retired, in my view. I was secretly hoping he'd sign with McLaren alongside Alonso..........
I was hoping like Luis he would line up at McLaren alongside Alonso. That would have been incredible to watch. Even so I am sad that he didn't stay one more season at Ferrari alongside Kimi. I think had he would have beaten Kimi to the title but over the season Kimi (young) would have been faster. In his prime Michael would have beaten any of them hands down, that is the shame that he never had a true top driver next to him (apologies to the Irvine, RB, and Massa fans).
