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 boxing, cricket or golf the time old question remains; who was the best driver? You can’t compare because there are so many different variables that make each generation unique.
A seven-time Formula One world champion and possibly on the verge of number eight, he is widely regarded as the greatest Formula One driver ever. Schumie holds many Formula One records, including those for most drivers’ championships, race victories, fastest laps, pole positions, and most races won in a single season. Schumacher is the only German to have won the drivers championship. Schumacher won the World Championship with Benetton in 1994 and 1995 before moving over to the very uncompetitive Ferrari outfit in 1996. Whether it was the car, driver, team or a combination of all three, the German won the 2000 championship, Ferrari’s first since 1979. Possibly his biggest controversial incident came in the 1997 season when he drove into Jacques Villeneuve, a fellow title competitor, attempting to take the Canadian out of the Grand Prix ensuring a championship victory.
Unfortunately or fortunately (whichever way you look at it), he failed and the damage caused in the “accident” caused him to retire and Villeneuve went on to win. Schumacher finished the championship in second place behind the Canadian but the FIA stripped Schumacher of second place due to the incident. Jacques Villeneuve had won his first and only championship.
Whatever people thought of Schumacher, he will be missed.
Just to correct you on a fact mate. Schumi actually tried to take out Villeneuve but took himself out of the race leaving Villeneuve to drive on and take the championship! Schumi was stripped of his second place in the championship.
Thanks Mark, I’ve updated the article now. Many thanks.
You men this is tall poppy syndrome you always have to shoot them down. I am a Schumacher fan always was always will be but you tell me one race where someone hasnt complained about someone else. Schumacher has done things wrong but so has every other team whether its driver faults or team orders they all do it. Dont be so one eyed watch and enjoy how boring would it be if they all played fair all of the time you would probably complain about that to. I may be a female but i love it there is no better sport.
Overall, a villain. Just about every major F1 scandal in the last 15 years has involved Michael Schumacher. I admire his talent, but it was flawed genius. I also believe he intentionally drove into Damon Hill during the Adelaide decided in 1994 to save his world title. So, when adding this to the Jerez 1997 and Monaco Qualifying 2006 efforts, it tarnishes his reputation big time. I have had this argument with friends who are Schumacher fans and they know I am a Senna fan; the difference between Senna & Schu is that when Senna ran Prost off the road in 1990, he told Prost in advance that he would….as opposed to Schu who did it and then lied about it.
Michael is not a bad person so stop calling him a villan he is a great genius and he is a great hero, and schumacher thats michael never lies he is more loyal than any other racing driver dead or alive, leave him alone you JEALOUS people.