Raikkonen to replace legend in 2007 at Ferrari
Seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher will retire at the end of the 2006 season, bring an end to his record-setting Formula One career.
Schumacher made his announcement to millions of TV viewers around the world shortly after driving his Ferrari to an emotional victory Sept. 10 in the Italian Grand Prix at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza.
“There’s been a lot of discussion for a long time concerning my future,” he said, “and I think all the fans, all the people interested in motorsport, they have a right to have explained to them what’s going to happen.
“I’m sorry it may have taken longer than some of you wanted, but you have to savor a moment, and you have to find the right moment, and we feel this is the right moment.
“At the end of this year, I’ve decided, together with the team, that I’m going to retire from racing.”
Schumacher’s F1 career began 15 years ago in the 1991 Belgian Grand Prix. This year’s Italian Grand Prix was his 247th F1 race. Only Riccardo Patrese, with 256 starts, has participated in more races.
Schumacher holds virtually every F1 record including: victories: 90; poles: 68; podiums: 153; fastest race laps: 75; and career points: 1,354. He has won seven Drivers World Championships and helped his teams win seven Constructors Championships.
“I should thank my family, starting, obviously, with my Dad, my passed-away Mum and obviously my wife (Corinna) and my kids (Gina and Mick) who, at all times, supported what I was doing,” Schumacher said. “Without their support, without their strengths, to survive in this business and this sport, and to perform, I think would have been impossible.”
Schumacher thanked his many friends in the Benetton (now Renault) and Ferrari teams. With the exception of his debut Grand Prix with Jordan, he spent his entire career driving for just these two teams.
As Schumacher has shown with four victories in the last six races, including the United States Grand Prix on July 2 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, he has lost none of his motivation or competitiveness.
But it was just after this year’s United States Grand Prix that he decided this would be his final season in F1. With that victory, he became the first driver to win five major races at IMS in the 97-year history of the fabled facility.
“It has obviously, naturally, been difficult in a way,” he said of the decision to retire, “but at one moment I simply knew that all the effort, all the energy, all the motivation you need in order to be competitive – and that’s the only reason I want to be here – I can’t see I’m going to have that for further years.”
Ferrari already had Kimi Raikkonen basically signed up for the 2007 season, and the team told Schumacher he could remain in the other seat. But if Schumacher decided to retire, his seat would be offered to his current teammate, Felipe Massa. Schumacher decided to give Massa the chance to continue with Ferrari.
“It has been such a good time for all this time,” Schumacher said of his F1 career, “and there’s no point just to hang in there and maybe take away the future of a very young talented driver like Felipe … obviously my replacement … I was aware of this for quite a long time.
“But with Felipe it was obviously around Indianapolis that his future had to be decided, and I didn’t see a reason to just hang in there and maybe take away his opportunity. I believe he’s a very talented and great person.”
Ferrari has officially announced the Massa will drive for the team through 2008, and Raikkonen has a contract for 2007 through 2009.
“Ferrari existed before, and Ferrari will exist after (me),” Schumacher said, “and I think Ferrari has taken a very good decision with their driver lineup to make sure that the success can continue.”
As for his immediate future, Schumacher wants to concentrate on the last three races. He trails Fernando Alonso by just two points in the Drivers Championship and wants to close his career with a record eighth title.
Schumacher has created an unforgettable era in the history of Grand Prix racing, Ferrari Managing Director Jean Todt said.
“Michael has been the author of a unique chapter in this history of F1,” Todt said, “and of Ferrari, in particular. It has yet to reach its conclusion, and what he has achieved extends over and above the results obtained. He is an exceptional man and will become a legend as a driver.”
Of all his rivals over the years, Schumacher most enjoyed his battles with two-time World Champion and 2001 United States Grand Prix winner Mika Hakkinen.
“I think the nicest battles I had were with Mika,” he said, “always at a very high level without any animosities, pure racing.”
As for life after F1, Schumacher plans to take it easy for a while.
“I always said that the day I will retire,” he said, “I will just do nothing for a while, and then I will see what I’m doing, what is my mood and what’s going to happen. But I will always be part of that Ferrari family. I will have to find out how, but I will always stick with my friends there.”
Can Schumacher imagine his life without F1?
“I don’t need to do that right now,” he said. “We shall see afterward. It is difficult to answer that now.”
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