Finally it’s been confirmed. Lewis Hamilton will move to Mercedes next year, taking the seat of the most successful Formula 1 driver of all time – Michael Schumacher.
Replacing Lewis Hamilton at McLaren will be Mexican Sergio Perez, who has impressed in his first two years in F1. The move may be a surprise to some, but with Vodafone possibly leaving McLaren and the team having to pay for its engines from 2013, Perez’s Mexican dollars will no doubt help proceedings. That’s not to take away from his skill behind the wheel, though. He came close to winning the Malaysian Grand Prix this year and most importantly, McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh thinks very highly of him.
“We’ve been monitoring his progress carefully for some months,” he said, “and now that he’s become part of the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team, our task will be to refine and develop his abilities as his career progresses over the coming years.” It will be good news for Jenson Button as now he can put his stamp on the McLaren and push development in his direction rather than Lewis’.
So what does this mean for Schumacher? After his mistake in the Singapore Grand Prix, when he ploughed into the back of Jean Eric Vergne after misjudging his braking point, the cries for him to retire were turned up 10 decibels. However, he simply isn’t ready to walk away, again. His management was in long talks with Sauber at the last race and what’s more, he has a great relationship with Peter Sauber from the Group C days.
It would be a huge boost for the Sauber team – increased interest from the general public and media, and one of the most experienced drivers of all time.
So what do we all think? Schumacher to Sauber? It’s not beyond the realms of possibility…
I would prefer Schumi retires, so that a younger driver like Alguersuari gets a chance.
There are too many young drivers who can’t get into F1 at the expense of those who are too old and don’t know when to stop.
Would be great if MSC gets to keep going, but I doubt it’ll happen…
On the other hand, thank goodness LH has made the right decision, Norbert and Ross over Martin and Sam any day of the week…
Now I can get some sleep, I have been lying in bed worrying about him, what will the poor lad he do, where will he go if he leaves McLaren. The pressure on him, must have been terrible, but now every thing is ok now he can concentrate on the thing he loves most in the world, his own refection!
Interesting move for Lewis if it goes to plan for 2014.
What else can we expect – Vettel to Ferrari? Grosjean to Red Bull? And what will become of Di Resta?
I think Schumi will find it hard to leave the sport entirely and will stay on with Mercedes in a consultation role, but I think this is his last season as a driver.
Honestly I think it will be a shame if Schumacher does sign for Sauber as it would be a great seat for a younger driver to move into (such as Alguesuari as Gavin says). Schumi would bring huge sponsorship potential with him which could go some way to plugging the gap left from the Telmex dollars , but I feel that the results just wouldn’t be there.
Schumi is a spent force at best, at worst he’s undoing his own legend race by race….
I don’t think professional sportsmen should retire out of pressure.
I can think of great footballers and golfers who carry on because they love the sport and I think Schumacher has that same drive, pardon the pun. If he gets offered a place at Sauber, he has every right to take it, on merit. Good luck top him, he’s had some bad luck this year, probably tried to over compensate to get results, I think a season with a lesser team would take the pressure off him, yeh, he probably won’t, but he’s still a hell of a driver.
Daniel Bevis,
No other changes in the top teams for the moment. Vettel and Webber are both secure at Red Bull. As for di Resta – yes, I’d be a bit ‘miffed’ if I was him. However, if he keeps his current level of performance up he’ll be in a top seat sooner rather than later.
EF
Purely in terms of ‘silly season’ I like the idea of Schumi going back to Ferrari with Massa going back to Sauber .
Why ?
I think Ferrari could harvest some interesting info from Schumacher , he would happily keep the seat warm for Vettel in ’14 and , well , he has streets named after him at Maranello !
I also think that Massa still deserves a place in F1 but probably not at Ferrari . He was well liked and looked after at Sauber and I believe he could potentially get better results there than he is currently getting .
Where all this leaves the likes of Hulkenberg and Di Resta is anyone’s guess . Status Quo I should think but there are some undeserved dark clouds forming over the Force India team . Time maybe for David Richards to have a look at F1 again ? I hope so .
A Schumacher-Sauber deal would be the resurrection of a very important relationship from the late 1980′s and early 1990′s. The Sauber F1 Team, arguably with one of the quickest and most beautifully built cars in 2012, could truly benefit from having Schumacher racing alongside Gutierrez next year and could provide a vital bridge over the 2013-2014 regulation change period.
For all of his shortcomings, more clearly evident in the past three years, Schumacher remains one of the greatest drivers of all time and his many positives would surely elevate Sauber into one of the top five teams. We used to talk about the Big 4, Benetton, Ferrari, McLaren and Williams, but now we’re talking about the Big 5 (or maybe 6). The field is so tight these days, but that doesn’t mean that Schumacher cannot still deliver.
As a side note, if Keke Rosberg was worried about his son’s F1 career back in 2010, he’s going to need medication this time around. We’re about to find out how good Nico Rosberg really is. Stay tuned …
Michael Schumacher is an asset to Formula One without doubt. A move to Sauber would be good, in which this years car show’s as much potential as Mercedes?
I hope this means a rededication to the sport for Lewis because the past couple years have not added to his legacy.
Schumacher’s return in 2010 probably shouldn’t have happened and full-time retirement was and is the best option. However, nostalgia makes me want to see him win one more time.
With Sauber? Possible (just) – and what other realistic options are there?
Lewis! Does this mean Mercedes will need to paint their cars in shiny McLaren style silver? After all, one is left with the impression that Lewis is rather too fond of himself and mirrors always appeal to the vain.
McLaren? They love winning so need Perez to be on tap when Jenson’s car isn’t 100%. Best of luck to him and his “killer instinct”.
If Schumacher wants to continue in F1, then a good option might be Williams. This year they have had a car that is quick and a proven race winner. They tried to sign Kimi last yr, so are clearly open to a big name signing and Schumacher would bring vast experience.
Yet another case of a successful sportsman not knowing when time’s up. I give you George Best playing for Dunstable Town as but one example of this depressing attitude…
Could he be considering it for equity stake?
MS really needs to retire from driving in F1…he had a great innings 1st time round with Benetton & Ferrari…his 2nd, with Mercedes has worked out as well as he would have liked…he won’t gain anything from going to Sauber…I don’t think he’d appreciate being no 2 to Alonso at Ferrari, given his past there (though it would be good to see him having to let FA past in races, considering how EI & RB had to do the same for him !)….time to hang up the helmet, but if he still wants to race maybe Merceds will provide a seat in DTM…
I like the idea of Schumi at Ferrari for one final year before Vettel joins. However, I’d really like to see drivers being promoted. For me, the most exciting part of all of this is the elevation of Perez, not where Schumi or Lewis drive. In the last year we’ve lost Trulli and Barrichello – and now Schu and Massa are fighting for their jobs. Whilst I’d miss Schumacher, I’d like to see more top seats filled by drivers from the midfield teams, who can be replaced by Pic, Alguesuari et al and open the door to some GP2 talent.
(On a seperate subject, it is nice to see that this is a well behaved/moderated forum . Some other publishers’ forums seem to have some very uncivilised banter on this subject)
this year it was analysed by proper experts, that schumacher would be very high up the championship, if his car did not have mechanical failures, that were no fault of the driver, and there is talk of sabotage, he has outperformed the younger rosberg, he is still one of the most popular and supported drivers still, with millions of fans worldwide, much more than vettel and hamilton, and alonso, if schumacher wants to drive , he will drive in f1, no matter what you say, and if he wants to retire, it will be his choice, and not the medias. he is still a top class driver, and as for the singapore race crash, he stated that he put the brakes on, yet the car was still accelerating, now heres the situation, the car is being checked out as schumacher has said, and hopefully he will be proved right, i saw something very similar to this in indycar once, its not common, but it can happen, but lets wait for the results, before you blame schumacher, lots of bad things have happened to his car this year, and not nicos, funny that ?.
you give schumacher a car that can challenge the top cars, and schumacher will get on the podium again, guaranteed.
i was so shocked when i saw his car go into vernges, and felt sorry for vergne, but it looked so wierd when it happened, the car would not slow down.
schumacher will not retire, because hes a fighter, and does not bow to pressure, and as for mercedes, the car is rubbish, and mercedes have let schumacher down big time, with a non competitive car, i really hope he goes back to ferrari, then the red baron will be back winning again.
I sure hope for Lewis’ sake this doesn’t backfire on him. After all, other than the 2009 where Brawn had an ‘unfair advantage’ for most of the season, Mercedes has flattered to deceive. And I don’t mean to say that Mercedes will continue to fail, with their resources the opposite should occur. As for Schuey, I really don’t care if he reitres or races. Sauber would be the sentimental favorite as he started his top line career there, but we all know F1 is ‘If’ spelled backwards….
For McLaren to land Perez, now that’s a bit of a coup over Ferrari now isn’t it? Montezemolo had stated that Perez was not ready for Ferrari earlier this year, but is he ready for the pressure cooker of McLaren? We will all wait and see…
…and James, you have probably not received a helpful email from Mr. Foster regarding forum etiquette…..I think most of us have and have restrained ourselves to satisfy the editor…..GONG!!!
I guess this isn’t a surprise for LH. And it may be good for McLaren to be rid of the surrounding drama. LH now has to learn what it’s like to be at a team not molded around him, I’m not sure how that’s going to work out.
What I want to know is what mfrs are pursuing McLaren behind the scenes – it must be happening. If Honda isn’t secretly speaking to them … or maybe who else? The opportunity for the right engine mfr is immense.
Back in 2006, Ferrari signed Kimi forcing MS to retire….Merceds signing LH is a case of deja-vue for MS
I think it would be a good move for Sauber to sign Schumacher. They have a good car that seems to manage it’s tyres better than any other car on the grid. Schumacher’s experience will hopefully aid the team to get their first GP win. The Mercedes is not yet a top car.
Everyone is very quick to criticise Schumacher for his mistakes but Hamilton in his short career is capable of making terrific blunders.
Gone on Sauber sign up Schumacher!!
I like Benz cars, but I think the Benz team is poor. Schumi should join Sauber or Ferrari and show them his cabibilities. And LH? He will regret to change to Benz. He will stay far below his capibilities like Rosberg and Schumi in the Benz Team do.
I think both McLaren and Hamilton will regret the split – results wise anyway. There was definitely a look of ‘Oh my God what have I done’ on Hamilton’s face after the Italian GP, given the relative pace of the McLaren and Mercedes teams.
Oh, as for Schumacher?
I’d like to see him in an HRT, just for giggles.
How would Sauber move up the grid with Schumacher driving? His record the past three years doesn’t show him doing very well at all in the drivers championship and he has not wiped Mercedes into a championship team. Sauber doesn’t need public interest, they need a bigger budget and another driver like Perez.
Sure would be interesting to have Schumi around for a few more years. The story isnt over. It shouldnt be. The Mercedes was a terrible car, an embarrasment. Ferrari should move fast to get him back, or perhaps another small team like Sauber could get lucky. MS has a few more racing years left in him.
Merc must have committed to some serious investment in personnel and engine development in order to get Ham on board. Probably/hopefully promised a no1-no 2 setup too (always Mclaren’s Achille’s heel). And a shedload of money. What’s not to like? Good on him.
But what of Mclaren? I hope Perez can develop a car, because Button can’t (see BAR/Honda for details, not to mention the ‘dead end’ development this season). They really do need the designers to pull a rabbit out of the hat this winter (something they’ve failed the last 4 years) and come up with a perfectly, er, ‘balanced’ machine for JB. Then he’ll walk it…
Why looking back to his performance of the past 2 years? This year he often beated Rosberg in the race. Isn’t that good? I think he still is a great driver. He wants to race and I think he must do that! I support him 4 ever. I will miss him if he retires!
check the stats for schumacher this year, without his mechanical failures, he would be high up in the championship, thats a fact, and if he went back to ferrari, he would be challenging for f1 championship, along with alonso, and vettel, i know you schumacher haters, of which there are far less, than schumachers supporters, hate to hear this, but its fact, check the stats and you will see it is right.
all this stupidity because he collided with vergne, what about grosjean this year, with his bumper cars driving style, should he quit also, and maldonado, and what about lewis continually bumping people off track, and massa being so far behind his team mate, and no help at all to alonso for team work, because he is not that good, and no way a ferrari driver, as has been proved, you people dont seem to realise f1 is all about racing incidents, so schumi had one or two a year, because thats all hes had, is it really a big deal, because the other drivers do it also, and worse.
i know you hate schumacher, because hes so damn good, but lets balance your views of opinion on facts, and not heresay.
Good one PeteH, was my thought too when someone wrote ‘why so glum?’ after the race.
Funny, guess someone forgot to tell McLaren about the expert who ranks Massa over Perez.
perfect match. they could be presenting us with some cute surprises, if everything goes well with the new car.
schumi could relax even more…a win/win for him, if he still needs racing at the center of his life, which is nothing to be ashamed of. it’s only quite unusual.
also,
sauber would then be a team with two strong women in an executive position or role. that could be exciting to watch, too. so, yes,
off to hinwil. i’ m sure peter sauber would like nothing else better than that. he’s a “cool dude”, you know.
I’d like to see schumy carry on for a few more years yet. He is still a great driver and could still win races; even for Sauber. Can’t see him going back to Ferrari though, Massa will probably be Alsono’s bitch for another year until Vettel comes along and spoils the party. Looking forward to that if it happens.
Would be a fantastic combination
Please please retire and create a vacancy for a new upcoming fresh talent.
Please.
No No No No!!!
I simply cannot believe some of the comments here wishing Schumacher to stay on yet another year – why oh why??
The man is a cheat and a fraud. Hi driving over the past two years is I feel a true reflection of his talent level as he is finally on a level playing field with both a team mate in an equal car (now theres a first for MS!!) and the other F1 teams in the paddock.
How he must cry himslef to sleep at night reliving those glory years at Bennetton – oh wait, they cheated with traction control didn’t they??
Perhaps then he got a good nights rest after recounting all those Ferrari victories – well if he overlooked the way Rubens and then MAssa were muzzled perhaps…..
LOng overdue to retire – what can he offer to any team other than his ego and a propensity to barge other drivers out of the way as if he has a god given right to the track….
Just go.
I wasn’t a great fan in his years of dominance, but the Schumacher of the past couple of seasons has been respectable in his pace and altogether more ambassadorial, and it would be nice to see him win at least one more race before he retires for good – there would be 20 (or 21, if it were to happen in 2013) years between his first and latest win, which must be some kind of record.
On the other hand, only a return to Ferrari would justify staying on any longer at this stage. Driving alongside Alonso would definitively settle the question of whether he’s still on the pace – though if the answer is positive, this could cause a few headaches at Ferrari, so it probably won’t happen.
Given his seven championships and 91 wins, it would be rather sad to see him trundling about in a Sauber in his mid-forties, making up the numbers for the sake of it – though it would of course be an appropriate place to end his career, since it was with Sauber in sportscars that he began it.
I think Lewis made a dumb move. Mc Laren made him a car to win a Chamionship. Mercedes certainly wants to win one this decade. I can see them spending das boat loads of cash like Toyota and not earn one. Ross is getting older, what’s his motivation? Schumacher perhaps has been thrown under the bus a bit. Yes, he wasn’t beating Nico on a regular basis but he hasn’t done too bad. I thought his experience in developing a car would help. Hopefully some of that has rubbed onto Nico. Schummi should go to Sauber and fight the fight. If Mercedes doesn’t build a quick enough car Lewis may look back as David Coultard once did where he chose money over performance. David left Williams where he could have one a Championship to go into a dryspell at McLaren. The difference is, McLaren are racers and committed to win. Mercedes may pull out just like Toyota when they find out how much money they are spending to be closer to the top;however, not at the summit. It’s been a long time since Fangio won it for them in 1954 and Das Technology has changed a bit. Bigger balls back then as a driver. Fangio you have our respect.
Significant news day in motorsport.
Count me among those who hope Michael retires his driving career.
Young lions aplenty, too few seats available, let’s see some fresh talent and revenue streams.
Lately too, “the posterior horseshoe” seems to have fled its master.
Lewis has shown great grit, and improved humour much of this year. I’m sure this decision agonized him, the McLaren firm virtually family, but will free him also.
Mercedes, Ross Brawn and Nico Rosberg, all need a redefinition of potential pace. Lewis will also bring modern tactical thinking to the party. A Mercedes nadir, often lately.
They can develop a package to lately winning standard rather than submit promise to legacy approach, as I feel they have done.
Finally, sad news for North American enthusiastsin the report of Chris Economaki’s passing at 91.
He was the voice and face (ABC’s Wide World of Sports) of motor sports reporting here, plus publishing the seminal National Speed Sport News.
Economaki was our Bill Boddy and Murray Walker all rolled into one, the dean.
Godspeed Chris, thanks so much for making it so real. Another giant gone.
At first sight, it does appear that LH has been a bit hasty in reaching this decision. Of course, time will tell and the financial strength of the MB organisation would suggest that no stone will remain unturned in the quest to bring the team (first) and LH (second) championships.
However, history shows that winning breeds winning and my view is that McLaren are better placed than MB to deliver a WDC and WCC than most teams. It is questionable whether JB will become a 2 time WC (even though it would please me to see it) and Suarez will need at least 1 season before he is a regular winner and podium visitor for the team – so whilst McLaren will be on the pace and among the top 5 next season, it would seem that it will be Ferrari and RBR scrapping for the laurels…..
While a racing purest would want Schumi to retire and make way for the younger talent, I can’t imagine there are too many purists left in the F1 world, even among the fans.
F1 is a business, and Schumi is a marketing force. Having him in the sport, even at Sauber, creates fans and viewers. Although Rosberg certainly had a better season, Schumi is only a dispointment by his previous standards. His driving is perfectly adequate. And if that’s enough for him, then let him drive.
If you have ever spent time in a race car approaching the limit, you know there is no other experience that comes close. And you would never second guess Michael’s desire to keep driving.
We have to assume that Lewis Hamilton or ‘his people’ have done due dilligence
As for Lewis, he would have a faster car at McLaren next year, but 2014 brings big changes and McLaren will be challenged. MB has no problem with money, if they decide to spend it. Well, it appears they have made that decision.
Now I have problem with Nick Fry (is that right?). He was a total putz when Jenson left, calling him an average driver, and taking credit for the WDC.
But Jenson knew he was responsible for those mind bogglingly bad Hondas, and that’s a major reason he left. Jenson knows more than Lewis on this score. But MB can fix that.
What I was going to say before my thought was shipped before completion was that LH or is people have done due dilligence regarding the Merc board of directors serious, and by report, disappointed and unhappy view they have of the shovels load of money going to the F-1 team, with so far minimal happy result.
In a year or so, with out significant improvement, perhaps the corporate plug gets pulled.
No pressure, Lew.
It would a great move for Michael to end his career with Peter who had a major role in his early career. It would be a good move for Sauber as well in that it could have the positive effect by further raising the profile and attracting sponsors to support this fantastic little team who always punch far above their weight. It would also be nice to see Michael end his career with at least one win in his final season and Sauber would seem to be the team to be able to give him that win.
As for McLaren, it was a shrewd move by Martin Whitmarsh to let Hamilton go and sign one of the best of the rising young stars.
With Hamilton gone and all the peripheral baggage which surrounds him, McLaren should be a much more relaxed team next year, able to concentrate more on the racing. It also rids the team of the ghost of Ron Dennis with Martin truly stamping his mark.
This could now be the start of a new and successful era for ‘Whitmarsh McLaren’. 2013 is already shaping up to be another interesting season!
Don
I think we can safely assume Merc have committed to spending big until 2016 when LH’s contract ends. Where Toyota went wrong was in spending the money at the factory but failing to get a big-name driver – it was the MSC era, admittedly, but had they forked out for a Hakkinen, Kimi, JPM, Alonso or even Coulthard, they almost certainly would have looked a more viable challenger. Merc almost certainly expected more of MSC, but now it’s not worked out they at least seem to not be repeating Toyota’s mistake.
One title since 1999, and that by the skin of Ham’s teeth, does not make them a great team. Like Williams and Lotus and Tyrrell and Cooper, they have history, and they’re hanging on, but I doubt I’m alone in hoping that losing their best driver will spur them to buck up and get their act together…
Mclaren, that is.
(These comments really do need an edit facility…)
I wonder if Hamilton will regret biting the hand that feeds him. I’m afraid he will in the short term at least.
If shumi goes I’d love to see Chandok get another run. At least he has some knowledge of the sport.
More importantly Mercedes will have two drivers with yellow helmets next year – how are we to cope?
I am very happy that Michael left Benz! The way it happened might even be the better one!
Maybe he even knew it would happen like that. Now he is free as a bird. He can go to Sauber or Ferrari without any bad feelings or stupid comments by others.
His decision to wait till autumn to announce whether to stay with Benz or not was right.
If he would have just looked for the money (and driving a little in a F1 car just for the kick), he would have extended his contract before the summer pause. I think he had other reasons to wait.
I think Schumacher is still hot, he wants to win.
For me it is much more interesting to see him winning again than new drivers win some races.
Of cause if there are new drivers who are good like Perez or Madonaldo, than they should have their chance. But there are many drivers in the F1 at present that are much worse than Schumacher, let them retire.
Sauber or Ferrari both would be fine.
I hope he continues to drive.
He certainly came back to F1 to win again and I believe he will if he has the right team and car.
I can’t believe people saying Schumacher should step aside to make room for young drivers. We’ve been putting up for decades with decent race seats wasted on pay drivers, and now people moan that a 7-times champ, 43-years-old but good enough to put a B-grade car on pole at Monaco, wants to keep racing?
it is evident that any of the top 10 drivers in F1 could be a winner in these days where tyres per track seem to have decided who prospers at each individual circuit. Although it has made for exciting viewing, tyres have been the over riding advantage or impediment race for race. Schumacher has hone on record to say that the true potential of the drivers and cars can never be revealed under thd present Pirelli idiocy. Unless this changes and they hive him a competitive car week in and week out he is wasting his time. Championship is exciting though………
What a nice way to finish his carer; where it all started, with Peter Sauber. It just make sense in a way.
Alex Milligan, I wholeheartedly agree with you. In a nutshell Schumacher won everything in the Playstation era with few World Champions to challenge him. His talent was to mould and dominate the team around him.
Current F1 cars require much more driver control than those of the previous decade and this, I believe, has revealed his real ability. Notwithstanding age.
Come on, Michael. Let someone else have the seat. You’ve had enough rides by now. I don’t think it will come to this, though, Michael is past his best -we all know that- but he also past the best of the second tier drivers on the grid, not to mention those from GP2. I’d like to see the ride go to di Resta or Hulkenburg, not to Michael.
I think, Sauber needs a New Young Driver. It’s time Micheal Schumacher to Retire.
Schumacher would have done better to switch to Sauber at the start of this season …. the big shame for Schumacher and Rosberg is that Ross Brawn has yet to deliver a worthy car. And something tells me Hamilton will find more problems with the pace of Rosberg than he has with Button.
Here’s an interesting one! I’ve just discovered on a German site – on which Willi Weber suggests a possible move for Michael back to Ferrari or even to Lotus! – which states that Bernie is delaying the introduction of the new engines planned for 2014 saving up to 30% or costs. How will that upset Mercedes and Hamilton’s plans!?
http://www.formel1.de/de/3260/Ecclestone%3A+V6-Motoren+werden+2014+nicht+eingef%C3%BChrt/newsID/1677991
I assume Mercedes let Schumacher go because of his age rather than relative speed – if the speed was a problem I would have let go of Rosberg as well
Schumacher should possibly become an ambassador to the sport as he has demonstrated such fair and sporting behaviour as well as his speed over the years..
ask Damon Hill, David Coulthard, Jacques Villeneuve and others.
I remember the days when sex was safe and racing was dangerous and when drivers were fair and fast.
well Ed, 20 years on MS still invokes some debate doesn’t he, I met him once [95] a really nice bloke – chatty and totally unlike his media image- i respect his intelligence but neither his achievements nor his performances will ever earn respect.
by the by, to me what happened at Singapore is his reality and I think the biggest thing for him [aka Stirling] its no longer ‘natural’ he is having to think about his driving – hence for what remains of your ego Michael, go -
Schumacher in F1 at all is one of the problems of F1.
Frankly, I was saddened to hear Hamilton will leave McLaren, because Mercedes is just not a top three team.
What would Schumi hope to accomplish at Sauber? He could not get faster than Rosberg, he should leave the sport with his dignity, before he has a few more senior moments like his Singapore crash. People are starting to get embarassed for him.
He’s just chipping away at his status and reputation. He should use his wealth to buy a good piece of a team and run a team for this next phase of his life.
It’s time for him to retire. He’s maybe making a contribution behind the scenes, but not much on the race track. He’s been making fairly elementary mistakes, and that’s into his 3rd season with Mercedes……
Some have said that he’s as good as he’s ever been….I hope not……..because then you could say that the best car, bespoke tyres, a subordinate team mate, sprint racing between stops, and friends at the FIA contributed more than we previously thought…….
If he doesn’t feel like staying (and I wish he would stay) MSC should go off and win Le Mans.
7 WDCs and a Le Mans to sign off with would be a pretty unbeatable record.
Great driver. So many miss the point that it’s a sport, not a ‘game’ for amateur gentlemen, so winning, and earning, is all. Don’t like it? Gets you hot under the collar? You’d be better off watching schoolboy cricket…
please michael, you have damaged your legacy too much already. Hill gate, jerezgate , monacogate. Too many gates, pick up the one that you deserve now, The backgate.
Here’s a thought… Michael Schumacher back to Ferrari as number two to Fernando Alonso. Would it not benefit Ferrari F1 management to bring back the vast experience of Schumacher, particularly with Ferrari. And, if Sebastian Vettel joins the team for 2014, than… a one year deal for Michael bridges the gap to Vettel.
Hamfan – I certainly agree that MS should attempt Le Mans. MAny of the “greats” have done so – Graham Hill springs to mind for example and I for one consider it a shame that F1 drivers are not contracted to do it – many years ago, when the 500cc motorc cycle WC ran proper bikes – i.e. 2 strokes, all the greats such as Lawson Rainey, Doohan Gardner etc had to break off mid season for the annual Suzuka 8 hr endurance race – riding factory 750cc 4 strokes!! Team bosses hated it as it came mid season & were worried about injury, but the big 4 manufacturers insisted – it was the biggest race of the year for the Japanese and much kudos was gained by a victory – esp if Honda lost on their own circuit!!
MS in a facxtory Mercedes entry – would be great to see even though I am not a fan of his by a long stretch. WOuld also like to see him at the Goodwood FOS……
The main goal of Telmex is to have 2 Mexican drivers in F1, and the Grand Prix of Mexico back in the calendar, Telmex will stay in Sauber and Esteban Gutierrez will be promoted from test driver to competition driver, Kobayashi will left the team at the end of the season, and probably Schumacher will be a great addition into the Sauber team, Telmex will love to have him as part of its commercial promotion in the world
Mercedes team is hopeless. Their car is like a pig in a mud, sliding all over the track. LH made a big mistake. As of Schumi, I hope he signs with Sauber and kicks Mercedes bottom next year.
It would be sad to see Micheal leave the sport after putting in so much with still more to give, one of the best race brains in the business