Schumacher To Quit!

[Gadget110]

MICHAEL SCHUMACHER will almost certainly retire from Formula One when his recently extended contract with Ferrari runs out in 2006, his manager Willi Weber has said.

Weber says there is no truth in rumours that Schumacher will retire at the end of this season.

"You can put that rumour down as a fairy tale," Weber told German newspaper Die Welt. "There's no truth in it."

But Weber hinted Schumacher would probably be looking to retire in 2006.

"Ferrari has to think about what will happen after Michael's contract runs out in 2006 - that he will retire is quite certain," he added.

[LEO LION R]

and about time too

give these other guys a chance

It is a serous problem for Ferrari, but you can bet your bottom dollar he will still be involved in r&d / testing for them to keep the car as competative, they all know how easy it is to slip a few tenths a lap behind the competition.

[mark sheerin]

Schuey may retire from F1..but he won't give up racing altogether..its too much in the blood.

Strirling moss retired in 1959 or 1958 and yet I saw him racing MG Metros at Thruxton in 1980.

Expect Schuey to at least do the DTM series although it may be in an Audi....
Don't think Mercedes will want him back after he hammered McClaren...

[acf8181]

it still wouldn't suprise me if he quits at the end of this season - thats if he takes the title. apparantly corinna wants him to stop, but i think its quite likely he'll be seen in DTM (which he actually raced a couple of races in, in the early '90s).

[andyb]

he should quit at the end of the season IMHO, but he wont.

The only possibilty remains that Sauber havent officially announced Massa who Ferrari rate as Star of the future. However, replace Heidfeld with a driver who was wipped by the young germany two years ago seems an odd move to me in some ways. Dont know what happend to Nick. When I was at McLaren, he was the best thing since sliced bread was easily on the pace of David and Mika in testing and gave pretty good feedback. However this year it seems to have fallen to pieces a little. Now if Heidfeld exits F1, I actually see that as more dissapointing than JV as Heidfeld is good enough. Just seems to have lost his way a little, Sauber Management perhaps?

If Schuey did retire (like Stewart did on a high, and not like Piquet or that joke Mansell) then I expect he woul end up racing Alfas in the ETCC or something like that. Maybe he would end up at Mercedes at DTM but I think the link between FIAT group and Schuey is too strong (just like Stewart and Ford actually).

[andyb]

Its not just Shuey whoose contract ends then. Pretty sure Todt, Brawn and others finish then

Originally posted by andyb
he should quit at the end of the season IMHO, but he wont.

and not like Piquet or that joke Mansell) .

Thats the biggest pile of pish i have read on this forum.

Mansell was 2nd 3 times and was the world champion. Ans won US Indy Cart at his first attempt.

What the F%^£ have you done.

[acf8181]

what i think andy means, and rightly so, is that nige didn't know when to stop. he should have quit after the '94 aussie gp, but instead he embarrassed himself in '95 in the mclaren.

[mark sheerin]

I think anyone would have embarressed themselves in the 95 sh1tbox McClaren.

Took till 98 before Mika got McClaren winning again.

[LDoR]

Schuey to leave, hmmm what doi think of that, good bye to the man we love to hate? It has to be said with out a doubt that he is the current if not best ever racing driver we have ever seen and it would be sad to see him leave F1 for that fact alon. On the other hand it will even up the field alot more as the young blood can really start to take over. Micheal was just too perfect too damn good, almost inhumanin his abilities. However aftre he leaves there will be only mere mortals racing. It should help Ferraris image as a team as well as they will no longer be the all counqering moster with the ultimate driver. It should make things very interesting.

[andyb]

Originally posted by mark sheerin
I think anyone would have embarressed themselves in the 95 sh1tbox McClaren.

Took till 98 before Mika got McClaren winning again.

Yes, partly but as Andrew says, he should have quit at the top. He was useless in the 2nd year of IndyCar,a friend who worked at Newman Hass attributes that to the fact that he didnt know how to set the car up well, whereas the year before he was using the previous drivers data. Also coming back to do the odd Williams race and coming back to McLaren, which admnittedly was a dog. Distroyed his reputation worldwide really. He could have been remembered lie a Stewart for example. He certainly reduced his "worth". Thats what i'm getting at. (For example, hes the only recent WC I know that isnt used by a motor manufacure)

btw - pretty sure it was 97 when McLaren started winning (3 times IIRC)

[Dormouse]

IMHO I don't see why Schuchy should retire at the end of the season. He's still well up there in terms of ability and I can't see Ferrari going downhill quite yet. 2005-6 is about right (and I can see at least another world title).

My tip after that would be Raikonnen.

Dor.

[Tavia4x4]

Mansell: "I want people to know I was pushed"



I think we'll see schuey in another racing series - with contract work to ferrari for the development of the next enzo etc.

[Tavia4x4]

(actually, after watching schuey in the wet, I'd like to see him in ice racing or rallying)

[andyb]

As I said, I doubt he will retire, but I will be suprised if he see's out his contract.

If Montoya can tame his "emotions" in the car, which make him a little more interesting out of the car, he's probably the best hope along with Kimi of course.

As for the others, well Alonso seems pretty special, but 2nd year is always the making or breaking of drivers (many guys come in, do well in the first year, often living off previous drivers set ups etc, come second yr, they go off the boil a little - I wont mention our Nige and IndyCar at this point )

Alonso does seem very natural. Not really sure who else. Cant say i've been impressed with Massa really. Wilson looked promising in Minardi but hasnt had the time in Jaguar. Webber is quick, but its often a hit or miss. Dont know anyone at Jag's so no idea if its certain tracks, team probs or just set up

Someone who I think will be great in F1 in a few years, Lewis Hamilton. Followed him since Karts. So naturally talented and seems to have taken to wings and slicks easily as well. Add to that Piquet Jr who has been good in F3 this year (only seen him this year but so far...)

[mark sheerin]

I think its a bit unfair to compair Jacky Stewarts retirement with either Nigel Mansell or for that matter Damon Hill.

JS did leave on a high after a world championship year but you must remember that in the seventies drivers were dying in cars on a near monthly basis...some races even had the deaths of two drivers in them.
The sort of thing we saw in 94 when Senna was killed along with Roland Ratzenburger and Rubens Barricello and Karl Wedlinger had serious accidents was only partly what it was like in the seventies when drivers never knew if they would be alive or dead at the end of the day.
I personally remember the names of Giles Villeneuve,Piers Courage,Jacky Iccx,Jean Paul Beltoise,Jochen Rindt(my favourite driver),Francois Cevert etc etc because I used to watch those races as a kid.
If racing was safer and had the same money as today then make no mistake about it JYS would have continued to race till he went off the boil like everybidy else.
He only makes this big thing now about how Schuey should retire at the top because he was forced into it himself by his conscience his fears and his wife who had to console all her friends when their husbands were killed.
Its probably a bit of jealousy in a way and who could blame him.

[acf8181]

Originally posted by mark sheerin
I think its a bit unfair to compair Jacky Stewarts retirement with either Nigel Mansell or for that matter Damon Hill.

JS did leave on a high after a world championship year but you must remember that in the seventies drivers were dying in cars on a near monthly basis...some races even had the deaths of two drivers in them.
The sort of thing we saw in 94 when Senna was killed along with Roland Ratzenburger and Rubens Barricello and Karl Wedlinger had serious accidents was only partly what it was like in the seventies when drivers never knew if they would be alive or dead at the end of the day.
I personally remember the names of Giles Villeneuve,Piers Courage,Jacky Iccx,Jean Paul Beltoise,Jochen Rindt(my favourite driver),Francois Cevert etc etc because I used to watch those races as a kid.
If racing was safer and had the same money as today then make no mistake about it JYS would have continued to race till he went off the boil like everybidy else.
He only makes this big thing now about how Schuey should retire at the top because he was forced into it himself by his conscience his fears and his wife who had to console all her friends when their husbands were killed.
Its probably a bit of jealousy in a way and who could blame him.

very true stuff

[acf8181]

Originally posted by andyb
If Montoya can tame his "emotions" in the car, which make him a little more interesting out of the car, he's probably the best hope along with Kimi of course.

As for the others, well Alonso seems pretty special, but 2nd year is always the making or breaking of drivers (many guys come in, do well in the first year, often living off previous drivers set ups etc, come second yr, they go off the boil a little - I wont mention our Nige and IndyCar at this point )

Alonso does seem very natural. Not really sure who else. Cant say i've been impressed with Massa really. Wilson looked promising in Minardi but hasnt had the time in Jaguar. Webber is quick, but its often a hit or miss. Dont know anyone at Jag's so no idea if its certain tracks, team probs or just set up

Someone who I think will be great in F1 in a few years, Lewis Hamilton. Followed him since Karts. So naturally talented and seems to have taken to wings and slicks easily as well. Add to that Piquet Jr who has been good in F3 this year (only seen him this year but so far...)

even if monty can't control himself, he's still fun to watch...so should be in F1.
kimi and alonso both do seem to be very gifted.
i like webber, think he's pretty good..but he also has a great attitude (i actually saw him when he was racin in ffords in '96).
i think wilson's good, but if you go on what pizzonia said in autosport a few weeks back (about jag only concentrating on webbers car - ferrari like) then his talent will end up bein wasted.
and as for massa...he takes everything they teach you at race schools (smoothness) and throw it out the window, how he does decent lap times, i'll never know!
hamilton and piquet will both be in f1 before too long, wonder whether onewill appear in '05 (piquet at williams or hamilton at mclaren)

[andyb]

yes, it does look that way with the 2nd Jaguar. Pizzonia was OK in F3000, few stupid errors, but generally OK, but Williams love the Pizza Boy, hence why they've taken them on.

I suspect Hamilton will be loaned out to another team b4 McLaren TBH. Maybe Jordan-Mercedes or as I read on a forum today Jordan-Smart

As for Piquet, well maybe. I noticed he was wearing his Williams HP shirt at Brands


We need more drivers like Montoya with a bit of character, however sometimes that does loose them the odd race.


BIG Monty fan btw

[andyb]

Originally posted by acf8181
very true stuff

very very true, but I was using Jackie as an example of how his name and the person is still very highly respected.

If you can forget the nightmare that was Prost GP, then Prost's reputation before that was very high and he did have a good career sorted in futute motorsport activities. Unforutnatley he couldnt managed his way out of a paper bag.

I didnt mention Mr Hill, but alas, theres a perfect example