What are peoples opinion of Michael Schumacher retiring?

[lexoto]

Will he quit or go on?
I think he will say that he will quit at the end of the season........

[Malik]

retirement?

[toddy05]

Another 5 year contract?
He will be deMontezemola's 2IC or replacement?
Retirement?
Me as his teammate?
He knows I guess....

[Malik]

maybe he's changing teams?

[ratbag-racing]

maybe he's changing teams?

I thought he liked the ladies :D ...not that there is anything wrong with that !

[beast]

I thought he liked the ladies :D ...not that there is anything wrong with that !

Hes married to Corinna or something close to that. Nice looking girl too.

[Dingo]

Hes married to Corinna or something close to that. Nice looking girl too.
And Frentzen's ex :D

[ratbag-racing]

Schumie calls it quits, job well done in the tough world of F1.Maybe the best ever.

[brchi17]

Schumie calls it quits, job well done in the tough world of F1.Maybe the best ever.

very sad but true......I liked his comment in the media interviews after the race, we have 3 wins left until I retire !!!

I hope he does this & take his 8th drivers world championship into retirement with him, what a star :D !!!

[BB]

Schumie calls it quits, job well done in the tough world of F1.Maybe the best ever.

1 year is a long time in F1 let alone 15 and to be at the top with Benetton for 2 years, change to a "struggling" Ferrari and get them to the top. Slip in 2005 and be back to 2 points off the World Championship lead with 4 races to go is an amazing effort.

[beast]

He is going out when he is still the best.

Takes a lot of guts to announce retirement before the last race of the season, i could not do it.

[Nick Short]

It sounds awful, but I won't be sorry to see him go. There have been too many incidents over the past decade or so that have left a nasty taste, and not just on his part - the FIA seemed to apply the rules differently to him, as suggested last night for political/business reasons. Once he's gone we might see young talented drivers racing hard, with perhaps not the same foregone conclusion to races that we've had so many times in the past.

[malscar]

So, the question to ask now is, Did Webber sign too early with Red Bull?

[brchi17]

So, the question to ask now is, Did Webber sign too early with Red Bull?

I don't think so, Ferrari would want either Kimi or Alonso to replace Michael, so I doubt he would have ever been considered.....

[malscar]

I don't think so, Ferrari would want either Kimi or Alonso to replace Michael, so I doubt he would have ever been considered.....

Yes I agree however think of the seats that Kimi or Alonso will leave if either of them go to Ferrari.

[Richard Poole]

Kimi is confirmed at Ferrari for 3 years. Alonso announced he was going to McLaren months ago. I think the Red Bull drive was the best option for Webber. Renault have confirmed Heikki Kovalainen to partner Fisichella for next year so there is nowhere else for Webber to go.

[VXfan]

It sounds awful, but I won't be sorry to see him go. There have been too many incidents over the past decade or so that have left a nasty taste, and not just on his part - the FIA seemed to apply the rules differently to him, as suggested last night for political/business reasons. Once he's gone we might see young talented drivers racing hard, with perhaps not the same foregone conclusion to races that we've had so many times in the past.
Not awful at all Nick,I agree with u though it's no secret that I'm not a fan of Schuey at all.Great driver but as far as humility and sportsmanship goes,he's greatly lacking.

[Pug205]

Not a fan at all but actually sad right now to see him go.

I would have loved to have him and Kimi together next year as his send off year. It would of been a Senna/Prost style contest I believe. Also a chance for the world to say gooodbye as he is pushed to his best.

In my opinion if Kimi wasnt signed he would be staying and is going not because he is 100% ready to go but because he doesnt want to share equal status with a team mate and risk being beaten. Which would reflect his attitude to sporstmanship and fair competition. I could be wrong but its the feeling I got last night and from the last 6 months

[Rudy]

Whith the announcement that MS is retiring from F1 and his bad boy, cheating image, what are peoples thoughts?

[daveZ27]

I never thought of him as a bad boy or cheating. He bootstrapped Ferrari and has dominated the scene ever since. What can you say, he is arguably the best driver in F1 in the modern era.
I think F1 with be less for him not being in it, but I suspect he will continue in one form or another.
Cheers,
Dave.

[Holden2003]

Whith the announcement that MS is retiring from F1 and his bad boy, cheating image, what are peoples thoughts?

If you look at all the great athletes of any sport, none seem to dominate their sport as much as Michael. He looks like he could go on for a couple more years in the form he is in. He is an exceptional talent, that stands above the rest. We will miss Michael Schumacher.

[Leigh]

Isn't this already being discussed Here (http://forums.biante.com.au/showthread.php?t=8302 )?

[brchi17]

It's been interesting to read the many comments & opinions about this announcement & not just the ones on this forum.

Regardless of what people think of him, you have to admire what he as achieved. Sure some of his antics will cast a shadow over somethings, but who can honestly name one single athlete that has a squeaky clean career, I can't seem to think of any straight off the top of my head.

To walk away from Benetton when he did on the idea of reviving the struggling Ferrari was something that polarised the F1 community at the time, but now it was a masterstroke move. Michael has been able to revive one of the glory names of F1 & he's been able to build the structures required to win & win well. I just hope a lot of them hang around & support Kimi, as the last thing I'd like to see is all Michael's hard work undone by key personnel retiring/moving on....

I must admit, I shed a tear as the announcement of his retirement was made. I remember saying when I first saw him race that Jordan all those years ago "this kid is something special" & I for one will miss the guy. Love him or hate him, for purely selfish reasons I'd like him to continue, but what better way would it to be than to go out on your own terms when on top.

[daveZ27]

Two many threads hey :o

[brchi17]

Isn't this already being discussed Here (http://forums.biante.com.au/showthread.php?t=8302 )?

maybe it's time to merge the two threads ???

[daveZ27]

I am no big fan either, but I respect the guy enormously - just like Prost when he was around. Schumacher treated it like the business it was, "whatever it takes". If the other drivers and teams were not as good, that was their fault.
I found F1 pretty boring at times, but again that's the fault of FIA not Michael's. I think now is a good a time as any - when you are on top.
Cheers,
Dave.

[jediholden]

It will be nice to hear another driver's name as a winner in future. He is one of a kind though, but he's going at the right time.

[brchi17]

I like this comment that was made by David Coultard in the RBR post-race press release

DAVID COULTHARD, (Finish Position 12th, Start Position: 14th)
"Very little to say other than disappointing. Regarding Michael's retirement - it was a fitting way for him to announce it with a victory. Irrespective of whether people are believers in Michael's race ethics or not, you have to recognise he's been a great champion and it's the end of an era."

cheers,

[Nick Short]

I could never shake the feeling that although he was a great driver, immensely skilled and focused, if he won championships by punting other drivers, if rules were applied differently (or not at all) to him, if he was willing to cheat to gain advantage, then no matter how good he was at other times I didn't want to know. Ben Johnson was the world's fastest sprinter but the fact he took drugs to go even faster made him persona non grata to me. I would rather see someone a tiny bit slower, doing it 100% by the book. It was the FIA's handling of Schumacher over the years that exposed the fact it was more business than sport, with results and decisions looking dubious and more likely to be to keep things going down to the wire. I for one will be glad to see the back of races won in pit lane or championships decided with a crash.

[james]

Not before time. Should have got out 3 years ago,domination is one thing but he and Ferrari +the control body have ruined the F1 as agood spectator sport,he was without doubt the greatest driver of his era,but did little to promote the sport above and beyond himself and his team.(Let the flames begin).

[Chev_350]

I don't like Michael, I think he is a touch on the arrogant side, his race tatics are extremely questionable and he tries to play everyone for a fool.....but his driving talent is second to no-one his records will be unmatched a very very long while, some one of his status deserves a season long farwell tour, not just three races

[spoonster05]

I was expecting Michael to retire but as others have pointed out he didn't seem too happy to be announcing his retirement

Still there's some solid new talent coming through so the 'new' generation of F1 looks to have some promise to it..

[xa351gt]

I'm Bummed, I guess I'll have alot more time on Sunday mornings to do things as F1 will not be worth watching for me. I love that he brought true joy to his wins . Genuinely excited to win . Kimi has the personality of a dead fish. This guy has to be the most boring person to listen to. Someone said he (MS) didn't promote the sport beyond himself and Ferrari. Well can you imagine Kimi trying to? You better hope they have cases of No-Doz available. Kimi is a great talent don't get me wrong but he won't carry the sport. Alonzo might ,But who else id out there with any personality to go with outstanding talent? If MS doesn't win any more races this year he will end with 90 wins in 250 starts which is a incredidible win % . I think when he goes the thrill will be gone.

[Nick Short]

I didn't see it, as I think they ended coverage before it, but on the UK television coverage they interviewed Schumacher's engineer Chris Dyer and he was holding a clipboard that read "Farewell PB". A nice gesture to remember on a day when everyone else was thinking more about Schumacher.