Unarguably F1’s most successful driver, Michael Schumacher, has announced his second retirement from the sport, ahead of this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix. The German veteran returned from his initial retirement in 2010 to race for Mercedes, however he will make way for Lewis Hamilton within the team for next season.
Although Michael Schumacher’s return to the sport has been less-than-successful in comparison to his dominant Ferrari days, many within the paddock regard the German as the greatest Formula 1 driver of all time. His career started way back in 1991 with Jordan, before he immediately switched to Benetton for the next race. From their, the German stormed to his first two World Championships in 1994 and 1995, before making his move to Ferrari, and building what would become an almost impenetrable fortress around himself at the Scuderia.
Throughout his career with Ferrari, Michael Schumacher took a mesmerizing five World Championship titles, 72 race victories and 116 podiums. In 2002 and 2004 in particular, the German looked unstoppable with Ferrari’s masterful management team consisting of Jean Todt and Ross Brawn amongst others. However, after Fernando Alonso’s triumph over the German in 2005 and 2006, he retired from the sport. Some say his decision was forced by Ferrari, and that Schumacher retired before he wanted to.
In 2010, Schumacher returned to Formula 1 with Mercedes with clear intentions of adding to his tally of race victories. However, in the first two seasons these victories failed to materialize as Schumacher even struggled to step onto the podium. As the 2012 season dawned, and Nico Rosberg took victory at China, expectations rose of a potential victory for Schumacher. However, such a victory has yet to arrive, as the F1 veteran begins his final six races as a Formula 1 driver.
“I have decided to retire from Formula One at the end of the season, although I am still able to compete with the best drivers of the world.” Explained Michael Schumacher, as preparations began for this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix. “This is something that makes me proud, and this is part of why I never regretted my comeback. I can be happy with my performance and the fact that I was continuously raising my game during the last three years. But then, at some point it is time to say goodbye.
“Already during the past weeks and months I was not sure if I would still have the motivation and energy which is necessary to go on; and it is not my style to do anything which I am not 100% convinced about. With today’s decision I feel released from those doubts. In the end, it is not my ambition to just drive around but to fight for victories; and the pleasure of driving is nourished by competitiveness.
“I said at the end of 2009 that I want to be measured by my success, and this is why I had a lot of criticism in the past three years which partly was justified.” Continued the seven-time World Champion. “It is without doubt that we did not achieve our goal to develop a World Championship fighting car within those years. It is also without doubt that I cannot provide a long-term perspective to anyone. But then it is also clear that I can still be very happy about my overall achievements in Formula One.”
Michael Schumacher had been linked with a potential move back to Sauber, a team the German started his career with during Sportscar racing back in 1990. However, the German legend decided to call time on his illustrious 21-year Formula 1 career, which has included some of the sport’s most iconic and controversial moments.
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