Have we seen the last of Michael Schumacher?
Last Sunday October 22nd, Michael Schumacher retired after 16 years from Formula 1. Looking at his track record (7 Championship titles) and other great records he is certainly the best of all times, although sometimes criticized because Michael was always pushing to the limit and even beyond. Up till the very last laps of his final Grand Prix in Brazil he was pushing to get as far in front as possible. An 8th Championship title would have been certainly his, if not for the technical problems he had to deal with in the last two races.
What will next year be like? I think there are at least three candidates for the 2007 title: Fernando Alonso (reigning and already 2-time World Champion), Kimi Raikkonen or maybe Felippe Massa. Alonso and Raikkonen have to get used to a new car and a new team, which is probably a disadvantage. Massa has shown in Brazil to be an excellent driver and more importantly he stays with Ferrari. However, will he be able (together with Kimi) to help developing the car the way Schumacher could. It was Michael's input that brought Ferrari back to the front row of Formula 1. Well, it won't surprise me if Schumacher will be around some time to give some advice. Maybe, a team manager in the future?
It's hard to imagine that a man who lived for racing for so many years will simply withdraw to live in privacy on his very own island. Rumour has it that Audi has offered him a 24 Le Mans drive for 12 Million Euro. I don't think money will be a key driver here for Michael, he has enough of it. However, his motivation to drive will bring him back on the track again some day, if not in Le Mans then on some other track. It was a great pleasure watching Formula 1 with Schumacher behind the wheel. There was always competition and spectacular driving action. Hopefully 2007 will be interesting again, looking at the three youngsters I already mentioned. They all have the talent to achieve one or more championship titles, but will they also be able to be competitive for so many years as Michael Schumacher did?
What will next year be like? I think there are at least three candidates for the 2007 title: Fernando Alonso (reigning and already 2-time World Champion), Kimi Raikkonen or maybe Felippe Massa. Alonso and Raikkonen have to get used to a new car and a new team, which is probably a disadvantage. Massa has shown in Brazil to be an excellent driver and more importantly he stays with Ferrari. However, will he be able (together with Kimi) to help developing the car the way Schumacher could. It was Michael's input that brought Ferrari back to the front row of Formula 1. Well, it won't surprise me if Schumacher will be around some time to give some advice. Maybe, a team manager in the future?
It's hard to imagine that a man who lived for racing for so many years will simply withdraw to live in privacy on his very own island. Rumour has it that Audi has offered him a 24 Le Mans drive for 12 Million Euro. I don't think money will be a key driver here for Michael, he has enough of it. However, his motivation to drive will bring him back on the track again some day, if not in Le Mans then on some other track. It was a great pleasure watching Formula 1 with Schumacher behind the wheel. There was always competition and spectacular driving action. Hopefully 2007 will be interesting again, looking at the three youngsters I already mentioned. They all have the talent to achieve one or more championship titles, but will they also be able to be competitive for so many years as Michael Schumacher did?
posted by Stanley Portier at
7:14 AM
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