The Retirement of Michael Schumacher

motion · 11-21-2006, 07:48 AM

http://www.luke-hamilton.com/temp/MSCretirementBF1.pdf

Interesting twists and turns here, although I don't want to read too much into them... a lot of info in this article that seems too private for public knowledge. But, fascinating and probably true about MS's resistence towards fast teammates, such as Kimi and Mika. But then again, I have to remind myself that F1 is a team sport, and a team cannot have 2 equal, ego-centric drivers both fighting for the title. Seems that Valentino Rossi was indeed the fulcrum of the F1 driver swap and MS's retirement. Fascinating...

911teo · 11-21-2006, 08:35 AM

Thanks for the article. Very interesting and entertaining. I think it is plausible that those things actually took place.

Or it could all be made up.

The only thing we know is that there was tension between Montezemolo and Schumacher/Todd.

The story that MS never wanted a competitive co-driver is also true as the one where MS had #1 driver ranking wherever he went.

The rest (like Montezemolo talking to MS' daughter) seems a little far fetched... But hey it makes for a colorful story.

One question though... why wouldn't MS come back with say Mercedes or Renault if he really didnt want to retire?
Or why would he rather retire than drive alongside Raikkonen?

I realize he's a calculative man, where the risk of failing at another team or being beaten by KM was big... but if it is true that he loves the sport and every challenge retiring like this seems a little out of carachter.

Plus if RB, JT and MS were close friends I don't think MS would have had to worry much abt KR. Kimi has always been unlucky and people would have automatically thought he had brought his bad luck with him at Ferrari.. NO?

kang · 11-21-2006, 08:52 AM

Sad that political power plays within the company seemed to force Michael's hand. F1 loses, F1 fans lose, Michael loses, all so someone can win a political battle within the team.

artplumber · 11-21-2006, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by kang
... Michael loses, all so someone can win a political battle within the team.

Or preparing for the future.

Aging stars can't last forever, and sometimes, it is time to move on.

Noah930 · Noah930's Garage

I would hardly dismiss a guy who drove like MS did at the last race of the season as an "aging star."

motion · 11-21-2006, 01:45 PM

I agree... at age 37 he was characterized as the most fit driver on the grid. Could you imagine being the most celebrated F1 driver of all time and being forced out at the top of your game due to politics? Man, I really feel for the guy. But in the end, he put a brave face on and managed to go out and win the race at Monza, unbelievably. What a load he must have had on his mind during the race, thinking about what would happen afterwards. Despite his hard feelings towards Monty and the fact that his team was falling apart, he bowed out with grace and humility. I can't wait to read the unauthorized biography

Dottore · 11-21-2006, 03:32 PM

Great article. Thanks for posting!

Jims5543 · 04:42 PM

If the article is true it really makes out Ferrari to be a villan in a way.

I agree, out with the old, time to look to the future but, Ferrari would not be where they are if it were not for MS and to turn your back on that is sad.

It would be poetic for MS to go back to Benneton (Renault) and go back to Flavio and beat Ferrari.

I want to root for Kimi next year but this article makes it hard to do.

Go Red Bull!!

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

I am shocked that egos ruled the day rather than reason.

Ron Dennis seems like a particularly vindictive guy...

Doug E · 11-21-2006, 06:22 PM

Wow, great read ... thanks for the link.

Rodeo · 11-21-2006, 06:25 PM

Fact or fiction, that was a good read! Thanks!

911teo · 11-21-2006, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jim Cesiro
If the article is true it really makes out Ferrari to be a villan in a way.

I agree, out with the old, time to look to the future but, Ferrari would not be where they are if it were not for MS and to turn your back on that is sad.

Jim I agree with you to a certain extent. Why wouldn't MS accept Kimi as a teammate. It seems as if Ferrari gave MS the option to choose and MS decided to retire rather than racing without being the clear #1 in the team.

I just don't get it. You just need to watch the last race to realize that MS still has it.

I think the article is BS though. Apparently MS has been offered a job inside Fiat and Ferrari... If what's written above is true them MS will never accept it...

Aerkuld · Aerkuld's Garage

I don't know how much FACT is behind the article or how much of it is SPECULATION. However, I do think that, no matter how the situation arose, Michael did NOT want Kimi as a team mate. Why? - Only Michael himself has that answer, but I would think that he was concerned about his #1 driver status and the possibility of being out raced by a faster driver.
My guess at the end of the season was simply that Ferrari wouldn't guarantee Michael #1 status, Michael knew Ross Brawn was leaving, he wanted to be more of a family man, and wanted to get out at the top of his game. Basically, Michael decided that it was his time to hang up the gloves. I also thought that we would see Michael back with Ferrari in a 'Team Advisor' type of role, maybe even a similar role to Brawn's.
Perhaps that was just wishful thinking, and this article is closer to the truth, in which case I would think that Michael will steer well clear of Ferrari in the future. I guess we'll see in time, but hope that isn't the case.

As for politics coming into play and possibly causing things to make a turn for the worst - I'm quite sure everyone on this board is all too familiar with things like that happening in their own companies, so why would you think F1 would be any different?
Essentially, when you break it down to the basics, F1 is a business just like any other. Look through the glamour and dollars and you'll see just the same things that you see everywhere else. In my mind Ferrari had the ideal model of 'Customer Satisfaction', in that they, Ferrari, had an close relationship with their customer, Michael, listened to his suggestions and made thier product meet his demands. Just look at the success it bought them, what else could you ask for? Unfortunately, at some point ego's get in the way and ego's generally always trump good business sense.

JSDSKI · 11-22-2006, 04:20 PM

It's all about being an undisputed number one on a team. It's all about undiluted resources and points. You can't win a WDC unless you get all the resources. Doesn't make sense to have two really fast guys going up against each other on the same team. Too disruptive.

I think the article is spot on. Montezemolo did not want Ferrari to be caught on the back foot when MS started to lose his edge. He considers Todt too close to MS to make the decision. He wants someone else to win WDC in a Ferrari - after all they sell Ferrari's not Schumachers. Ferrari did not want to be without Alonso or KR.

2007 should be really interesting.

motion · 11-22-2006, 04:28 PM

Since "the play" for Michael's retirement started a couple years ago, I can't help but wonder if LdM assumed that Michael would have lost his speed by 2006 as he got older. Especially after the 2005 disaster season. Then, to see him still dominating the latter half of the 2006 season... but the wheels are already in motion and must be played out. Makes for a tough situation all around - especially for Michael, who knows that he isn't ready to go yet.

StevoRocket · StevoRocket's Garage

Page is unobtainable.
http://www.luke-hamilton.com/temp/MSCretirementBF1.pdf

SCOTITUDE · 11-26-2006, 04:17 PM

Schumi's next job

http://www.filecabi.net/video/schmec30.html

nota · 11-26-2006, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by StevoRocket
Page is unobtainable.
http://www.luke-hamilton.com/temp/MSCretirementBF1.pdf

it worked for me

artplumber · 11-26-2006, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by motion
Since "the play" for Michael's retirement started a couple years ago, I can't help but wonder if LdM assumed that Michael would have lost his speed by 2006 as he got older. Especially after the 2005 disaster season.

That's the point of the article, if true. Sometime MS was going to not be able to be the fastest, and his attitude towards another fast teammate was not advantageous to get someone fast now (rather MS favored Rossi who would have taken some development).

MFAFF · 12-05-2006, 01:07 AM

The article is much pretty spot on...

MS has historically taken the line that a team can only have a single top line driver...and he is that driver.

So Ferrari being Ferrari his replacement was always going to be a real problem as his #2 was going to be a second tier driver (albeit one in a great car).

So Ferrari wanted either Alonso or Kimi....on the team with Ms to have an over lap...MS having spent his entire career being #1 was not about to change his spots...

LdM was adamant.. our way or the high way...which sensibly MS chose to take.

He leaves as a 'winnig driver'...his fall off in pace and grace never revealled....

Whether or not MS's attitude is correct is debatable...ask Frank Willimas or Ron Dennis and they would disagree...which is why MS did not get a seat there...they were not going to have his #1 status in their team...afterall having Prost and Senna as Champioship contenders in your team (and still lose the Drivers Championship) is a object lesson in being top dog...or having Mansell and Piquet....

But the MS way and the others do exist side by side and it works for some but not for others...

I think the sport will benefit from MS's departure...becuase his antics over tha last decade have cast a veil of favouritism which demeans the sport overall....regardless of whether its right or wrong.

Bring on the new season...