Michael Schumacher to Retire?

trj911 · trj911's Garage

F1i.com has heard from good sources that Michael Schumacher will be announcing his retirement at tomorrow's Monza press conference...

Can it be true? Will Ferrari's dominance remain without Michael?

I hope so and I hope not!

trj911 · trj911's Garage

Hang on, not so fast. Pit Pass.com is saying the Monza press conference is just to talk about his 7th world championship. Bummer!

techweenie · techweenie's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by trj911

I hope so and I hope not!

Agree with that, completely.

I love to watch the guy drive from in-car cams of all the other teams, but enough is enough.

What's the guy earned to date as World Champion? $500 million?

motion · 08-31-2004, 08:21 AM

Jean Todt was just speaking yesterday about how much Schu still loves what he's doing. Basically its just a big love-fest at Ferrari. No one is going anywhere anytime soon...

"Fear spreads through the F1 paddock as Ferrari unveils their latest challenger" .... lol, I just love that one

http://f1.racing-live.com/en/index.html?http://f1.racing-live.com/en/headlines/news/detail/040830123626.shtml

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

um...he couldn't beat Kimi last Sunday.

trj911 · trj911's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by nostatic
um...he couldn't beat Kimi last Sunday.

What was up with that? Wrong tire choice? Just being sporting and letting someone else win? I can't imagine the McLaren set-up was that much better.

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

I don't think Michael lets people win. He might not have pushed quite as hard as he could have, but it looks like the new McLaren chassis is very good. And Kimi (as he showed last year) is a very good driver. But a damn boring interview in the press room.

btw, JPM was in fine form. He executed a brilliant pass on Michael, then later spun Trulli while trying to barge past him. The best and worst in one race...

}{arlequin · }{arlequin's Garage

Quote:

But a damn boring interview in the press room.

Yeah, Kimi actually makes Mika look and sound exciting. Maybe it's a Finnish thing...

I'm so pissed that Comcast over here does not carry Speed. Missing out on all the fun. Are any of you TiVo crowd able to put the best races on a disk and share?

Zeke · 08-31-2004, 01:45 PM

I love Kimi. To be that understated would be a great asset to a mouth like me. MS is barely humble, but you can tell what hes' thinking. Hell, I'd think I was God if I were he.

JPM has a personality that I can't do. I'd rather talk to tony Stewart.

Some of those guys are awesome in that they are one of just a handful that can do F1 and they are multi millionaires. You know what a total jerk that would make out of most, probably including me.

Kimi is wonderful that he is so quiet about it all. CART could use someone like him, tear everyone a new one each race and say nothing. We'll never see it.

Hats off to Kimi. He's not boring to me.

motion · 08-31-2004, 01:53 PM

I'm with you on all points, Milt. If Kimi was in the Ferrari.... now THAT would be a robotic combination!

Adam · Adam's Garage

I'm personally getting sick of the whole MS/Ferrari cavalcade.

I think he's become pretty smug (and with reason), but a true sportsman would know when to retire and be remembered as a popular champion.

Being as lingual as he is, the networks would by dying to offer him a steady gig as an F1 TV presenter with Martin Brundle and kick that idiot, James Allen, out of the ITV commentary box.

araine901 · araine901's Garage

I think MS had a set up that was better suited for the rain ie Qualifiing and Kimi had a better race set up ie: 10th on the grid vs. MS 2nd on the grid. Plus I think McLeren may have pulled thier heads out of thier arse. I think MS has two years left on a three year contract he signed last year.

Adam, your are right a true champion will know when to retire. When he is done kicking everyone elses A$$. That is not done yet so you may not want to hold your breath. Until then you may just want to enjoy the gravity of what is happening and recogocnize that one of the greatist drivers ever is on his game and you are alive to watch it. I wish I could have seen more Senna and I was way to young to see Clark and Fangio, So I am making sure I enjoy the present for all its worth. Can you think of any other drivers in the field who could win 7 championships? It may be a very long time before it ever happens again.

araine901 · araine901's Garage

I hated it when Kimi shouved the course martial in Mylasia. I lost a little respect for him that day. However, I belive he is the real deal and the next best driver in the field. I can understand his frusrtation with as many MB motors that blew this year but he should have shoved Norbert not the martial.

Reg · 08-31-2004, 06:50 PM

I think the ITV duo does a fair job. Sure beats the Canadian coverage of the Montreal race and those fellows over on Speed. You should be so lucky to view them Adam!

Mark Blundell sat in a couple weeks ago for Martin and was OK I thought. I liked the Murray Walker days but his time was overdue. I personally think Allen will get better in time.

Reg · 08-31-2004, 06:53 PM

.... and as for Michael, I would not be surprised if he retired but also not be surprised if he signed an extension for another year. We'll see. It sure is a facinating sport to follow.

sammyg2 · 09-03-2004, 01:45 PM

Yup, I too think that ferrari missed the set up due to weather, and they tried a fuel stategy that "almost" worked but came up short.
Funny thing was, RB's ferrari was actually faster than Michael's, after they put the new wing on it. Could it be that Michael didn't have enough down force to catch Kimi?