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Michael Schumacher; Retiring
Topic Started: Oct 4 2012, 08:14 AM (509 Views)
ELUSIVEJIM
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Not suprised. <no>
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Norbert
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Well, it's not really unexpected. At the outset of his comeback he signed for two years with an option of a third. He's done those, and clearly he still has the raw to compete, but the team is a little lacking, he's not getting any younger, and tootling about for relatively minor points positions is not befitting a seven time champion. The fact that he could have signed for Mercedes much earlier in the season but did not was a suggestion that he was either unhappy with his or the team's current performance, or has once more reached a point where he has had enough of the demands of being in F1 and wants to have a bit of a rest. Realistically, despite the ego and Prima Donna nature, if you potentially have a spare seat and Lewis Hamilton comes knocking, you aren't going to wait for a driver approaching his mid 40s to make his mind up, even if that driver is statistically the greatest ever in the sport. That Sauber would welcome him with open arms should he agree terms with them, yet he has chosen to retire suggests again that he's simply had enough (unless he wanted an outrageous wage), and if you've had enough, there is little point in going on.

Will there ever be a driver quite like him again? I don't think so. Certainly, Vettel has the speed in the right car to be prolific in pole positions and race wins, and so does Hamilton. Alonso has the talent to produce consistent high scoring finishes and occasional wins in a car that does not deserve a podium place at times, and also to a larger extent the ability to focus the team around himself to get the right results. However, what about the ability to be all of those in one? A driver who can score a relentless series of poles, fast laps, wins and championships. Focus a team around himself and develop the car to such an extent that for almost half a decade, last year's car piddles over the opposition's new ones for the first few races, before their new one piddles over their old one and the opposition look silly. A car that goes 24 races without a single retirement, during which time only once is it not on the podium, and also manages two and a half years between having engine failures despite at that time the engines not being the ultra reliable homologated units of today.

It is unlikely we will ever see the dominance of the Schumacher/Ferrari days happen again, and that's largely due it happening in the first place and the regs being fiddled with to try and end it.
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Pasta
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A lot of people think it was a mistake for Shumi to come back. He didn't get the results. All of his fans hoped for more.

For me, however, it was a joy to have him back and I am planning to hope he does well in the last three races.
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ELUSIVEJIM
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Norbert,Oct 4 2012
09:19 AM
Well, it's not really unexpected. At the outset of his comeback he signed for two years with an option of a third. He's done those, and clearly he still has the raw to compete, but the team is a little lacking, he's not getting any younger, and tootling about for relatively minor points positions is not befitting a seven time champion. The fact that he could have signed for Mercedes much earlier in the season but did not was a suggestion that he was either unhappy with his or the team's current performance, or has once more reached a point where he has had enough of the demands of being in F1 and wants to have a bit of a rest. Realistically, despite the ego and Prima Donna nature, if you potentially have a spare seat and Lewis Hamilton comes knocking, you aren't going to wait for a driver approaching his mid 40s to make his mind up, even if that driver is statistically the greatest ever in the sport. That Sauber would welcome him with open arms should he agree terms with them, yet he has chosen to retire suggests again that he's simply had enough (unless he wanted an outrageous wage), and if you've had enough, there is little point in going on.

Will there ever be a driver quite like him again? I don't think so. Certainly, Vettel has the speed in the right car to be prolific in pole positions and race wins, and so does Hamilton. Alonso has the talent to produce consistent high scoring finishes and occasional wins in a car that does not deserve a podium place at times, and also to a larger extent the ability to focus the team around himself to get the right results. However, what about the ability to be all of those in one? A driver who can score a relentless series of poles, fast laps, wins and championships. Focus a team around himself and develop the car to such an extent that for almost half a decade, last year's car piddles over the opposition's new ones for the first few races, before their new one piddles over their old one and the opposition look silly. A car that goes 24 races without a single retirement, during which time only once is it not on the podium, and also manages two and a half years between having engine failures despite at that time the engines not being the ultra reliable homologated units of today.

It is unlikely we will ever see the dominance of the Schumacher/Ferrari days happen again, and that's largely due it happening in the first place and the regs being fiddled with to try and end it.

<clap>

Great post Norbert.

What will Schumacher do now?

Top team in Le Man racing?

I have heard he prefers open wheel racing but what will give him the same kick as F1?

I am sure the DTM and other areas of motorsport will try and get him involved.
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ELUSIVEJIM
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Pasta,Oct 4 2012
09:29 AM
A lot of people think it was a mistake for Shumi to come back. He didn't get the results. All of his fans hoped for more.

For me, however, it was a joy to have him back and I am planning to hope he does well in the last three races.

This is the problem with motorsport in general.

If you do not have the car you have no chance.

In am sure Mercedes themselves will be pretty upset that they have not had the car to fight for Championships.

I thought after Rosberg won this year the car was starting to perform but alas even at tracks the Mercedes should shine it has been poor.

Monaco qualifying was amazing by Schumacher but again a penalty lost him that honour.

If he gets a podium in the next three races it would be great but again his penalty for the Japanese Gp will put pay to that unless is very wet.
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John
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At least this time he is ready to retire... He can look back with pride and satisfaction on years well lived and look forward to all the things he has yet to enjoy! Dies ist nicht das Ende, es ist ein neuer Anfang.

Personally, I will miss him but I am more than ready to accept it and I will always have the last 20 years, 7 Championships, 91 wins to look back on.

No other driver currently racing is likly to give me the same.

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Lord Tau
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John,Oct 4 2012
11:09 AM
Personally, I will miss him but I am more than ready to accept it and I will always have the last 20 years, 7 Championships, 91 wins to look back on.


There's still time. A fluke race and that 91 wins could become 92.
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Norbert
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I think to be fair considering the recent performances of the top teams, you'd be more likely to see a Not-Really-A-Lotus-Renault being the next non RB/McL/Ferrari winner....
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John
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Lord Tau,Oct 4 2012
01:31 PM
John,Oct 4 2012
11:09 AM
Personally, I will miss him but I am more than ready to accept it and I will always have the last 20 years, 7 Championships, 91 wins to look back on.


There's still time. A fluke race and that 91 wins could become 92.

I am more than happy to be wrong in this instance... <thumbsup>
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Rob
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I bit sad, but it's the right decision.
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ELUSIVEJIM
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/19834309

So Schumacher should not have come back to F1.

He is too old and should have retired before now.

But then Jackie goes on to say:

Juan Manuel Fangio didn't come to Europe to race until he was 39, yet won five world championships.

Please retire your tongue Jackie <grrr>
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John
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Oh dear John Young, what a wit you. are... well half of one anyway.
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H16 BRM
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ELUSIVEJIM,Oct 4 2012
06:27 PM
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/19834309

So Schumacher should not have come back to F1.

He is too old and should have retired before now.

But then Jackie goes on to say:

Juan Manuel Fangio didn't come to Europe to race until he was 39, yet won five world championships.

Please retire your tongue Jackie <grrr>

Personally, I can't stand Jackie Stewart....or is it his silly hat?
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TheCompleteGuitarist
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H16 BRM,Oct 4 2012
08:43 PM
ELUSIVEJIM,Oct 4 2012
06:27 PM
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/19834309

So Schumacher should not have come back to F1.

He is too old and should have retired before now.

But then Jackie goes on to say:

Juan Manuel Fangio didn't come to Europe to race until he was 39, yet won five world championships.

Please retire your tongue Jackie  <grrr>

Personally, I can't stand Jackie Stewart....or is it his silly hat?

Or his silly suits ;)

It's neither, he's just a (deservedly so considering what he achieved) arrogant git. Didn't he recently offer to mentor Grosjean?
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Lex
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I mentioned a few weeks back on another thread that I'd read an interview with Schumi where he said it'd be doubtful if he would drive next year as he wanted to take his private pilots license (PPL) and concentrate on acrobatic flying..
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