So one of the worst-kept secrets in Formula-one is confirmed, and Michael Schumacher is to retire at the end of the season. OK, so it was quite well kept - nobody quite knew for sure, but all the runes were pointing in that direction with Mr Personality himself, Kimi Raikkonen, moving to take his seat at Ferrari, Schumacher in a mean mood most of the weakend, and an inevitability about it.
At first, when it seemed more likely than not, I thought ‘good’. The guy has won seven, perhaps soon even eight, world titles, and yesterday was his 90th career victory. By any statistical measure he is simply the best driver F1 has ever had, but since his complete dominance in Ferrari I’ve just found that he’s not a driver I can get too excited about. A machine behind the wheel, in a sense. But lack of excitement is not to say I don’t have a lot of respect for the guy, and what he’s achieved.
However, and here’s the rub. At his tearful walk around the winners enclosure (reluctantly hugging the Fiat president who seemed to be making a nuisance of himself), and then the announcement everybody was expecting at the winners press ‘conference’ (one guy asking questions doesn’t seem a conference, but it’s good anyway). I suddenly found myself thinking that it’s going to be a great shame not to have the “M Schumacher” on the race list (I suppose it’ll just be “Schumacher”, as Ralf will be the only one, and we won’t strictly need his initial any more), and setting a standard that others try to match. I then got to thinking something I’ve not thought since he drove in a Benetton, which was (deep breath) “I hope this guy wins the title this season”.
As much as Alonso is an excellent and interesting driver, his tantrum at a marginal call going against him about “F1 not being a sport anymore” paints an image of him I don’t much like, but I suppose it’s a romantic idea that Schumacher leaving with his record 8th title would be a great achievement. Perhaps even a snub, even, to Ferrari. Whilst it makes sense - he is 37 after all, and with a young family - I still can’t help but think if he’s winning and one of the tougher races of the year, he’s still got something in him, and he might perhaps be wishing he’d played his cards differently.
I don’t know, it’s a real mix of emotions and opinion all over I suppose. He’s a great driver, but so focused I found it hard to empathise. Suddenly he’s off, and you realise what you’re losing, and kinda wish he’d hang on a bit more. But that said it should be good to see how the Tifosi take to their new lead driver (They weren’t so keen on Schumacher initially, if I recall correctly), and how McLaren and Renault cope with their ‘best’ drivers moving about even when they have great form. Maybe F1 isn’t quite the bore fest. But maybe if the races themselves were a as intriguing as the paddock talk, I for one would be a lot happier 
September 11th, 2006 at 9:38 pm
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