Some New Insights into Michael's Retirement

If you have it on tape, I recommend you watch it. It is way more than just a facial expression: Todt and MS were actively evading Montezemolo. The whole scene was somewhere between embarrassing and hilarious.

 

Yep, I remember it perfectly, but hey, maybe they just had a discussion about
the colour of the bathroom, who knows. We must think that their number one driver was going to announce his retirement. It was his last Italian GP. In any case it was not a happy moment for them.

 

This is what tends to add credence to that story. It was very obvious, at the end of the race that Luca did not belong out there and that MS, Brawn and Todt did not want him. I do not think they would have acted that way over a disagreement on dinner plans.

 

+2

 

i actually think the truth will be revealed a few years down the road.

 

That is most likely true, once all the players are retired and out of the Ferrari organization, someone will set the record straight.

 

The more I read the article the more it makes sense. Everything, down to the 1999 Irvine season.

Didn't know though that Rossi already had an option for 07. We got very close to a driver even worse than Massa.

 

It seems to fit with all the known facts. I don't believe for a second that Schumacher wanted to retire nor do I believe for a second that he was willing to accept Kimi as a teammate.

 

Very interesting thanks for posting it.

 

Rossi has more talent in his little toe than Massa.

 

WOW! A lot to contemplate in that article and the comments here on Fchat. If there is truth to what was reported about his forced retirement, then Michael Schumacher, will be back, on his own terms. The conflict within Ferrari? Every Family has it, at times.

Ciao...Paolo.

 

Yes I believe that article has it right. I personally give Luca credit for very un-Ferrari like thinking, ie. the future. Todt had his head up his backside thinking that MS would just drive and dominate forever.

This also confirms that Massa, as so obvious, is just a field filler. I so wish MS would have driven alongside Kimi ... how good Kimi could have become, and also we all needed some more proof of how good MS was ... it had been too many years since Mika pushed him hard in on track races.

Not worse than Massa but it would not have been right ... and could have hurt Rossi's reputation IMO.

Pete

 

That would have been the first Italian to race for Ferrari in 15 years I believe. According to my research Ivan Capelli was the last Italian to race for the Scuderia in 1992 season.

 

Larini raced in a few G.G.P.P. in 1994.

 

The Video at Monza 06 does show Schumacher and Monte being a bit stand offish... who knows perhaps Monte was not Schumi's favorite all along.. I remember the launch in 2000, when Monetzemolo did a lot of talking, Schumacher was kinda bored... I dont think the video confirms all this back room gossip... lets be frank... Ferrari is in Italy, where since the 50's the Italian press has been on Ferrari like a cheap suit... even when they were winning in the 70's ... then all of a sudden after 40 years of the heaviest scrutiny ... suddenly they win a championship in 2000 and the press is gone??? then champion again in 01, 02, 03, 04... if there was the slightest bit of controversy in Ferrari the Italian press would have been all over it... Ferrari leaks like a sive... so to me that an Englishman... of dubious record is the guy that brings all this up dirty laundry???? why has it not been all over the world before... I just can't beleive that Ferrari is tighter than the CIA... and even they leak info.... thats why I think its crap!

Schumacher retired, probbably after seeing that Ferrari were thinking about life after him... and seeing that some of the younger kids are going faster ... its time to get out... he has all the money, cars, fame ... what else is there to do... not to mention 2 young kids, wife etc... lots of reasons to walk away!!! he does not have to prove anything to anybody.

As for Ferrari pushing him out.. you cant blame Montezemolo for thinking for the future... thats his job! if this was in the 80's or mid 90's then Schumacher could be competitive for an other 5-6 seasons... maybe... but in todays arena ... no matter how fit you are folks like Hamilton are chasing you down... its a fact youth does not have to work as hard physically or mentally for the same performance.....

this is my opinion and I'm sticking with it!

TOM

 

martin brundle and james allen made a comment on live itv commentary like ' dont you think montezemelo wants to hug schu more than the other way round' it wasnt a throwaway comment those two are very well informed, i dont think ANYONE in the pitlane knows more about formula one than brundle.

 

I know, but it was only for 2 races.