What confuses me are people who think that being a Ferrari fan is synonymous with being a Michael Schumacher fan.
ROTFL In his prime Schumi was the greatest F1 driver that ever lived IMVHO. Alonshole let's his Latin blood rule his brain too much. A very good driver, yes. But not in the same category as Schumi. I believe he will have to learn to control his emotions both on and off the track if he is going to live up to his potential. Like most of us, we are our own worst enemy. Maybe he will mature and grow, maybe he won't. Will someboy please explain why Alonshole left Renault in the first place? Was it money? I never really understood why he would leave a team he just won the WDC with 2x. Forza Ferrari Forza Michael Schumacher
Because Michael Schumacher has done more for the Ferrari F1 racing program than any other driver. That's why.
Fernando made a personal decision that his future lies outside the Renault team when his current contract expired at the end of 2006. "He contacted and negotiated with McLaren at his own instigation." for more money no doubt. He will end up back there IMO there are sponser with bucks wanting him back..
+1 I just stumbled across this thread. Glad I stayed out of it. So much nonsens in one place it is hard to believe. I could help you guys argue, but then again why even bother.
Parker is right with every point he makes in that statement. Schumacher was stripped of all his points from the 97 season. Something people tend to forget, but that was the first time in F1's history and showed the public what the FIA thought of MS' behavior.
As a moderator I'm not so happy about that simply because it is borderline profanity (it is also not very clever or funny). I call him Unfairnando (based on his unexcusable acts at Hungary qualifying), which I think gets the point across without using foul language. I don't mind you guys knocking him, but I wish you wouldn't be using this particular expression.
Maybe not now, that's going to take some time to get over, but he was the public face of the team for a very long time, like it or not, to most people, Michael is Ferrari.
Oh, really? I seem to recall Niki Lauda winning championships for Ferrari, he is not considered to be synonymous with Ferrari, neither is Jody Scheckter nor any of the other champions on the team before Schumacher. Schumacher was an employee of the team, that's it. Just because I am a Ferrari fan does not in any way impose upon me the obligation to be a fan of Schumacher.
I did not speak english until 12 years ago but apparently you are the one having trouble understanding it. So I'll try to clear it a little bit for you. If you go to Tajikistan, Iran, Namibia or any godforsaken country in the world and say Michael Schumacher to any one there from a 10 year old to a 60 year old, all of them would immediately have a big bright red light bulb with a prancing horse shine on top of their heads. And if you go to Indianapolis and ask about Alonshole nobody would even notice that you said his name wrong.
No question that MS is widely known. Although probably more by name than by looks as he can still get away with vacationing in the States. However making Schumacher synonym with Ferrari is not just wrong, it doesn't really happen. Point in case: Go to any Ferrari owners event and see how many F1 fans you'll find. Then ask around whether they think Schumacher = Ferrari. You'll be disappointed. Most Ferrari owners don't give a hoot about F1. Personally I don't understand that and find it troubling, but that's the reality. To young F1 fans Schumacher and Ferrari were synonyms, but that will pass.
Try and convince me that that program would be anywhere near where it is today without him? Not saying they wouldn't be sucessful, but he's put a hell of a lot into that program as far a RnD time as well as his skill. Anyone that argues that he's not one of the most, if not the most skillfull driver of all times is crazy. I'm not talking about his incidents he's had. Alonso too has had a few questionable moves in his career, with many more I'm sure to come.
+1 20 years from now, Schumacher will be just another in a list of great Ferrari champions. Some of the younger folks here seem to forget that Ferrari had a long and distinguished history well before Schumacher was even born. To think that Schumacher is synonymous with Ferrari is a joke. Ferrari is much, much bigger than a single driver, even one with the achievements of Schumacher.
Interestingly that concept however was one of the key reasons for why Montezemolo got rid of MS: The Schumacher image got way too big for Ferrari. It was no longer Ferrari that was winning the races, but Michael.
