A truly magnificent career is about to come to an end, brought even closer following his emphatic Grand Prix win at Monza yesterday. During the regular press conference for the podium finishing drivers, Michael Schumacher or Schumie to his friends announced that he would be retiring at the end of the season, three races down the line. I have to admit I was never a Schumacher fan for the first five years of his Ferrari career but something changed (and no I can’t remember why) and I have been a fan ever since. Not one of these crazy fanatical fans I add, simply a fan of great driving and tactical know how.
Schumie will be missed there’s no doubt not only for his driving but the knowledge he brings to Ferrari and the drivers as a whole, keen to look after everyone’s interest and safety. Sure he’s had his faults, no more so than when he decided to block Alonso on his final qualifying lap at Monaco. I looked at the tv screen stunned at what I saw and in real time I made allowances for the German telling myself, he didn’t do that on purpose did he ? If you were watching the qualifying session live or indeed the news bulletins for the next couple of days, it was filled with allegations of cheating from all and sundry and not least Renault boss Flavio Briatore. It was a mistake and a mistake that tarnished his reputation..
Along with Ayrton Senna, Schumacher is the best driver I have ever seen in Formula 1. I can’t compare him with Stirling Moss or any of the other older drivers; I simply didn’t follow their career because I wasn’t around! It’s always the same old case, doesn’t matter what the sport, could be …
