I suspect this is just wishful thinking on Ralf's part!: Some pictures of Ralf! Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
I think I prefer Pipass' take on this story. http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=24811
Ralf's comments are somewhat insightful, but i tend to think he maybe talking about his own career. As far as MS's career goes i wouldn't be surprised if he retired tomorrow or he retired 5 years from now. He's done everything a driver can do and has nothing left to prove at this point. He can race for the pure love of it and will hang around as long as he has the stomach for it. No one can really predict that.
If this same "I am not having fun so I'll quit theory" applied to Ralph he would have been out of F1 by what......................say the second season of his career. I bet if Minardi offered Ralph more money he jump ship in a minute from Toyota. Regards, Jon P. Kofod www.flatoutracing.net
Quit when you are winning springs to mind. Go out with a bang (not literally ) and be remembered. Though in Michael's case he won't ever be forgotten.
"He'll stay as long as he's having fun with it" Gee isn't that what MS has been saying for years now ? Nothing new out of Ralph's mouth there. If anything MS (i would think) would be bored and not having fun if he were winning by miles like in the past. This year is probably stirring up his competive racing blood ala the pass on RB and the attempted pass of Ralf at the end in Monaco.
at least Ferrari had a zenith, Ralfie poo has only had deeper nadirs. he truly is a poor driver and only made F1 becuase he was lucky to be born the brother of MS. what a buffoon
Couldn't care less about Ralf and his career, just wondering about the statement itself: It is pretty obvious that Ralf is very close to the source and I'm wondering whether this isn't Michael's way of telling his fans about his intentions. I found it also remarkable, that Ralf didn't give a clear time horizon. He just called it soon. Which of course leaves a lot of wiggle room. So the question for me is more are we talking end of 2005 or end of 2006? Assuming the rest is true of course.
I don't think Michael himself knows what he is going to do, therefore anyone who claims they know is simply talking out of their ass.
It does seem a little surprising that Ralf would blurt this out. He was also recently talking about Michael not being right in the head with his driving style during the Spanish Grand Prix I think it was. Is this some kind of PR ploy or is there a little bad blood? If it is bad blood I would think that Michael would be able to shut him up so I wonder if it's not a PR thing and Michael in fact setting the stage a bit. IOW, if things don't improve(to his level of satisfaction) maybe he will be out of there.
While this is purely a guess, I think that unless he wins this year, or has a strong feeling that the V8 next year will be extremely competitive, he will call it quits. Either way, Bridgestone better get their act together or all teams will be on Michelin in 2006. The most interesting story this year has to be the tire rule change. How a team like Ferrari can go from absolute domination to struugling for points just shows how critical tires are to the performance of the cars.
Let us not forget! Michael races for the team. He absolutely loves everyone at Ferrari. If Jean todt asks him tostay a few years to help them out he will gladly do so! The man is the best racer ever to walk on the face of this planet. He is clearly still hungry for wins. Michael is not leaving any time soon!
I wouldn't say that. In F3 he did okay + he won the F3000 title in 1996. I find he did good since joining F1 . 6 wins + 5 poles + 22 podiums People were expecting him to be as good as his brother but he isn't. He is what he his. Ralf is not the best driver out there but deserves to be in F1. Ralf needs to find the same sort of consistency and he will be even better. RS saying Michael is done.... Him, Willi Weber and Jean Todt, they all know more about MS's future than we do. Remember Cavallino Motors (f-chat member) said he knows someone who's a very close to Michael and told him he is in fact retiring next season. I'm getting worried,.. I HOPE he is not retiring!!
Today during an interview at Indy on pit-walk day, Michael was asked that question based on Ralf's comment, and Michael said "NO".
see http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=24827, Michael is asked the question.
