So what has seemed increasingly likely over the past weeks and months has finally been confimed: Michael Schumacher is to retire from Formula One at the end of this season.
Normally I try not to post news stories as there’s not really anything I can add to them, and as far as I know there aren’t many people who turn to Spatho.com to keep current on world issues (if you are one of these people, then I apologise for not keeping you properly informed and may I point you to the BBC). However, like Jenson’s win a few weeks back, I felt I couldn’t really let this one slip without making some comment.
While not exactly a surprise (a phrase one can band about freely once safe in the knowledge that something is certain), this is still a disappointment for many, and I include myself there. It’s not what I wanted to hear - I was still hoping to see Michael vs. Kimi at Ferrari next year.
Consensus from the F1 paddock seems to be that he’s made the right decision. I think he probably has, especially after all the fuss and will he/won’t he speculation that’s been made over his future this season. He needs to quit while he’s still at the top, and if he can go out with the 2006 Championship on the back of today’s strong win at Monza, then all the better.
He’s going to leave a big hole in the sport, and he will be missed. That’s not to say that he won’t be replaced with fast, exciting drivers - Raikkonen and Alonso are there already and I hope Button will join them, with Kubica looking promising and maybe Lewis Hamilton in the next year or two. But Schumacher has this fantastic record that surely won’t be equalled anytime soon - maybe not ever. Sure, he did bad things, but he’s also been the best at what he does. (And perhaps almost as important, he’s been someone many people have loved to hate!) I just get the feeling that winning a race because Michael Schumacher’s not in it and not because you’ve beaten him fair and square to the flag is not quite the same and it will be strange watching the races next year I’m sure.
That said, I look forward to Kimi beating Alonso to the 2007 World Championship and getting the results that he’s long been due. I’ll also be rooting for Michael Schumacher to win the title this year. There’s not been many times I’ve said that, but it’s true.
How old is he in that picture?!
I’m not sure - it’ll be from his karting or early single-seater days I reckon, making him mid-to-late teens perhaps.
Well I thought you were an “I support anyone but Schumacher” guy. I couldn’t believe it when I read your piece which says something good about him.
Hmm, maybe it does come across a bit pro-Schumacher - more than I intended, but the only really surprising thing I think I said about him was that I want him to beat Alonso to the title this year (I guess that’s what you’re referring to). Part of the problem this year has been that I don’t really like Alonso either, and an “anyone but Schumacher or Alonso” attitude doesn’t really work when no-one else is in with a chance. But I’m still definitely not a Schumi fan.
I guess that with Schumacher, there’s the feeling that this enormous success won’t be seen again, and part of me is disappointed to draw a line under that, even if I don’t like him winning on a race-to-race basis. Add to this a strange sort of sentimentality coming from years of cheering against him, enjoying making him the bad guy.
I also think somehow that this season will be a bit more memorable if he wins on his way out. That, and we’ll see the Ferraris race with numbers 0 and 2 next year, which will provide some sort of novelty!
Hey Chris, who is the girl in the photo with Jess on her “about me” page? I’ve got a funny feeling I -
went to school with her brother
was served by her in a pub recently.
and
she went to school with my sister.
Alex - that’s her housemate and friend from uni - but I can’t remember where she lives, so I don’t know if you’d have been served by her in a pub or not. I’ll ask Jess.
Hello Alex
Her name is Ruth Cosway, shes my best friend from uni. Her bro is called David. They live near Monmoth and she works in a pub near there. Shes pretty innit
Your story/funny feeling sounds pretty credible then Alex! I assume you still live in Llangrove? Oh no, wait - you moved out from your parents’ house. Still nearby though?
I have moved out, but anyway it is who I thought. Small world!