Would Michael Schumacher make a good team boss?

While reading the headlines on Autosport about MS' upcoming decision on his future with Ferrari, I wanted to ask you all here your opinions on whether he would make a good team boos whether for Ferrari or another team. A few drivers have gone on to become team owners or bosses but do you all think that MS has the same skill to help a team win as a manager as he did as a driver?

 

Its like those formor NFL players becoming head coaches, I think he could do it with no problem and make some joker off the street the next Mario Andretti if he wanted to.

Kind of like Jack Del Rio of the Jaguars who was a formor linebacker or Herman Edwards of the Chiefs who was a strong safty, it doesn't matter where they go, the players in the postion will be better than most.

Thats just my 0.2$

 

NO

 

No...

 

I don't see how anyone can answer this question either way unless they personally know Michael Schumacher, know first hand his communications skills, and have first hand knowledge of his interaction on the Ferrari team.

Otherwise, all you can give is a personal very biased opinion.

I do know from friends living in Milan and Marenello, that Schumacher is highly respected by everyone at the factory, down to the guy that sweeps the floors.

And I do remember that at one point it was discussed that Luca would go completely to Fiat, Jean Todt would completely take over Luca's responsibilities at Ferrari, and Michael would take over Todt's position on the race team. I do not know where that stands today.

 

Probably better than most.

 

Most drivers don't really make good team bosses. It seems the better the driver was, the worse the team boss they make. I don't know about MS, i'm sure he'd be good if he wanted to be. I don't think he'd ever want to be a team boss anyway. The point of retiring is to get away from all the travelling and stuff, and spend time with his family.

 

If he is as rough as Michael Jordan was on the team when he was a Wizards's co-owner, than probably not. It depends on how he is with others, which I have no idea.

 

It's impossible to say.

How would you rate the job done by the likes of Jackie Stewart? Alain Prost? Granted, they both started their own operations, whereas Schumi could take the helm of the most established team in F1.

I think if he just surrounded himself with the right people, he could probably do very well. He knows the team inside and out.

 

Why would anyone think that a race car driver would make a good manager?
Or, put another way, what qualifications does a race car driver have that would lead someone to believe that they would make a good manager? Being immersed in the same field? No. That's why so many companies fail today. People who are experts in their respective fields yet have zero management experience try to manage a company. Now if, as another poster mentioned, Michael was to be some sort of "figurehead", and had people who actually knew what they were doing work around him, then I guess it could be feasible.

 

I think he would. He obviously can establish a strong long term relationship with other team members. He is driven and focused on winning. I also get the impression the he is very good at leading the team and motivating those around him to work that extra 10% that it takes to be the best.

None of this is to say he would want to, just that I think he has the faculties to do the job.

 

It's tough to say. I've had some phenomenal engineers work for me over the years that were just aweful when they tried to make the move to management. Many people that excell at something just can't keep their hands off when trying to get someone else to raise their performance. He might also prove to be to great a distraction on pit road and in the interview rooms. Ego plays a big part in this sport and it would be hard to shine in the glow of such a superstar, retired or not.

I think if he were away for a few years and came back he would stand a better chance.

DMAX

 

Michael has always defied convention... his determination, will to succeed and understanding of F1 is second to none...

Michael Schumacher would be the greatest team boss ever if he decided to take up such a position!

 

I definatly think so.

He's helped Ferrari ALOT in F1 racing and as a team boss I think he could do even more. But he belongs in a driver seat!

 

No.

I have yet to see a great driver who became a great team manager. Different skillsets.

 

I won't go Impy but I think that a driver who has been instrumental in bringing a team from mid pack up to world manufacturer's championship level and who by the way won 7 WDCs too, is not your average racing driver and defies comparison to anyone in previous history. I feel he has the brains, communications skills, political skills, is ruthless enough, technical enough and organized enough to be a great team manager.

 

It's easy to forget that Ross Brawn and Rory Byrne came over with Schumacher. He by no means did it alone, Ferrari bascially hired whoever would come from the title winning Benetton team. This being said it still took 4 years to win a title. Michael didn't help "build" anything, the key elements came with him from another team he had already won a title with. He did get everyone behind him as a top driver would. Whether or not he'd be a great team manager would be up to him and if he really wanted to do it. I doubt he'd ever buy a team and run it himself ala Prost. If he did i'm sure it would probably not go well. Now manage an exsisting team It's possible.

 

100% correct... Michael's understanding of the sport would be second to none and his skills as a leader would be transferred on to his job as a team manager.

 

MS is a great driver and determined, but running a team requires a very different skill set. You need to bring a business mindset to the game as well, which I'm not sure if Schmi is a strong business mind or not.

 

A great driver does not a good team boss make....necessarily.

 

I agree with that! Look at Alain Prost.

Some great team bosses have been failed racing drivers, like Bernie Ecclestone, Frank Williams, Ken Tyrell, Alfred Neubauer, or ... Enzo Ferrari.

 

You need to bring passion to the table... the most important thing is passion.

Michael is extremely passionate about Ferrari and the Ferrari fans!

F1 is a business of trading passion... that is what seperates Ferrari from the rest!

 

Passion is worthless if you don't have the required skills.

 

A point imperial83 appears intent on proving...

 

Yes and Roger Penske, Arie Luyendyk (sp?) the late Bob Akin, Dan Gurney, Chip Ganassi, ...?