85 replies to this topic

[teejay]

He was, because until that moment he didn't sign new contract with the team. If he did it , there wouldn't be a Lewis talk.

I suspect that once the Lewis talk was serious, they told Michael that he would have to wait to renew his contract.

Had Lewis not signed I suspect Michael would be driving this year.

[Rinehart]

Without the input from Lewis, the car would just be another midfield car.

[Rinehart]

Why he did not, remains little mystery.

Only to you.

[femi]

In all honesty, I don't think he had a choice. He was gracefully laid off.

[Juan Kerr]

Are you better informed or just being overly nationalistic? Which is it?

We all know what the approach was from Mercedes, they were totally supportive of what Michael wanted to do, they would've mentioned that Lewis was interested in signing if Michael was retiring and that Mercedes would sign Lewis if Michael didn't want to carry on. The team would've definitely wanted to sign Hamilton and mentioned this fact to Schumacher so it was a case of him saying to them something along the lines of 'listen I'm having fun and thanks for the support but its not certain the car is going to move forward and I've been patient for 3 years so even though you have faith in me still I don't wanna stand in the way of you signing Lewis , it would be good to get him here even if he has to wait 3 years himself for things to happen'

The trouble was the car had great innovations on it but some particularly difficult short-comings like the front aero grip, Michael had to change his driving style to something more like his brothers but he still felt there was a chance some upgrades or a new car would make the world of difference, they've always had the potential to suddenly nail it.

Those people on internet forums just making negative comments or just plain anti-Schumacher can give it the 'he was sacked because he's rubbish', 'they got rid of him because he's an old man' they can wallow in their own false sense of power to voice as much as they like at someones demise but the fact is the team stood by Schumacher all the way in every decision he made. The only significance of Michael's age was that he just can't keep on waiting half a normal F1 career for car development like he could've 15 years ago, there is no other significance of his age, the guy was just as sharp, fit, hungry and able as ever.

[Massa_f1]

His biggest regret is not staying on at Ferrari in 2007 a title which I truly believe he would of won, who ever his team mate was out of Massa or Kimi

Schumacher came back in 2010 to win races and fight for a championship. Those who think he came back just to have fun are mistaken.

sadly the car had went backwards from the year before and backwards for the past 3 seasons really.

If they start winning now (and it is still a big If) it has nothing to do with Hamilton, even if his fans would like to claim so.

It might however have something to do with the fact they have signed like 4 technical directors. Other teams seem to manage with 1.

[TheNewStig]

Why would Schumacher regret not signing for 2013 if the W04 is a winner when still Nico Rosberg is in the other car?Nico was better than him in 2010,2011 and 2012.

[One]

Give Schumacher a break.

[undersquare]

Rosberg is not top 3 (otherwise we would have noticed) so either Schumi was never very special or he's lost speed and consistency with age; you can't have it both ways.

It was smart for everyone that he retired. He did amazingly well first time around, and also second time around for his age.

Now whatever the car achieves it's going to be more than if he were driving it. It's not going to have a positive advantage over the others all year, which is what he'd have needed. Hamilton doesn't need that, because he is top 3.

No regrets for Michael, I'm sure.

[Juan Kerr]

His biggest regret is not staying on at Ferrari in 2007 a title which I truly believe he would of won, who ever his team mate was out of Massa or Kimi

Schumacher came back in 2010 to win races and fight for a championship. Those who think he came back just to have fun are mistaken.

sadly the car had went backwards from the year before and backwards for the past 3 seasons really.

If they start winning now (and it is still a big If) it has nothing to do with Hamilton, even if his fans would like to claim so.

It might however have something to do with the fact they have signed like 4 technical directors. Other teams seem to manage with 1.

If the car improves it might have everything to do with Hamilton I would never assume he couldn't give cause to improve the car and his pace is second to no driver on the grid.

[aditya-now]

Did he have a choice?

I think he had no choice and I think it is his disappearance as well as the appearance of Hamilton that has given Mercedes GP a boost. Schumacher was long past his sell-by date.

[Sakae]

Aha, the dratted scurrilous British Media, I stopped reading there. I guess you are no more informed than the rest of us.;)

Well I did not made up the remark about being "booted out by Hamilton", and it was (if my memory serves me) stated by one of BBC writers. It's still British, isn't it? You may not like that I do not like this kind of a tone, but that I would consider your problem, rather than mine.

[ForeverF1]

Well I did not made up the remark about being "booted out by Hamilton", and it was (if my memory serves me) stated by one of BBC writers. It's still British, isn't it? You may not like that I do not like this kind of a tone, but that I would consider your problem, rather than mine.

I don't scour the media of any nation and if I did, I would take it with a truck load of salt. Do you really believe that a remark in 'any' media would influence Michael and cause him regret?

[DutchCruijff]

Bullshit he had no choice, Mercedes wanted for him to commit to 2 more seasons when, I suspect, he wanted a rolling contract. He hesitated to sign on for the team, they looked elsewhere thus Schumacher didn't give a hoot afterwards.

[Longtimefan]

Without the input from Lewis, the car would just be another midfield car.

Wow, the guy is obviously godlike!!

Not only an awesome F1 driver but also a top mechanic, aerodynamicist and designer.

[Hairy]

I don't believe Schumi was discarded, but I also think his hand was called, and I also think he was instrumental in Hamilton signing; I think he thought it was in the teams best interest.

That's from reading between the lines.

[sharo]

Give Schumacher a break.

+1
Will Schumacher regret? Will Lewis regret? Let's see how the season pans out.

[maverick69]

If they start winning now (and it is still a big If) it has nothing to do with Hamilton, even if his fans would like to claim so.

Yep. They secretly steer the car from the pits!

[1Devil1]

Yep. They secretly steer the car from the pits!

No because Alonso is fighting against Costa not Hamilton in the title fight.

[Sakae]

I don't scour the media of any nation and if I did, I would take it with a truck load of salt. Do you really believe that a remark in 'any' media would influence Michael and cause him regret?

Simple answer is, of course not at all. I had to actually go back, and re-read my post, because your understanding of my reference is not in context it was intended. (Probably my lousy writing). Intent for inclusion of that reference was association of that, and some other claims with posts you find in this thread, and which I am considering to be factually incorrect.

Of course most of us are stuck with what we read, or hear through vocal media, but one has to relay on common sense and people whom you mistrust least. If I have to choose between A. Benson and R. Brawn or N. Haug, you can guess whose word I will accept on face of the context it was said. Story of Schumacher's last days in F1 was not written in one day, or in one article cohesively. It is a story one has to piece together based on understanding who Schumacher, a man and racer is, his relationship with some individuals in the business, and various utterances from endless interviews over very long time. I should add, that my believe that it was Schumacher's call whether he will race or not is probably valid until Lauda came on the scene. Then the situation changed.

Anyway, I am not sure what else I could add new to this subject.

[spacekid]

Without the input from Lewis, the car would just be another midfield car.

Stay classy, Hamilton fans. Thank god King Lewis is here to finally tell the team how to design the car now that no nothing German is out of the way.

If the Mercedes follows the form of the past few years, I think some of you could be in for a surprise.

On topic - I'm not a mind reader, so who can tell? I would have thought Michael is sensible enough to know that, at 44, his best racing days are at least 10 years behind him. If at the end of the season Merc have produced a race winning car that was strong and consistent through the season maybe he will regret doing 3 years and not 4. Or maybe he knows that he has had more than his moment in the sun and its best to walk away at a time of his own choosing.

Michael has always given the impression of being pragmatic in his career, I don't think he will allow himself too many regrets.

[study]

Stay classy, Hamilton fans. Thank god King Lewis is here to finally tell the team how to design the car now that no nothing German is out of the way.

The fella probably isn't even a Lewis fan.

[seahawk]

No, I am no Lewis fan and it was a sarcastic remark.

[Shambolic]

No, I am no Lewis fan and it was a sarcastic remark.

Someone I am unfortunate enough to be acquainted with made the same remark with sincerity over the weekend. Apparently Hamilton's McLaren knowledge is the reason Merc are fater than all others, plus he wasn't on fumes when everyone else was, as witnessed by Massa running out of petrol on a lap.

There's times one just internalises the tears one weeps for the future of humanity.

[as65p]

The question should rather be: will he regret it more, the same or less than his first retirement.

[Jejking]

Aha, the dratted scurrilous British Media, I stopped reading there. I guess you are no more informed than the rest of us.;)

I wouldn't be surprised if Sakae was mostly referring to Andrew Benson, who always was on it to nail Schumacher to the wall whatever the circumstances or the actual facts were. The rest of the British press behaved pretty well during the final year, except for some nasty and biased comments during reviews of the year from some members of the BBC crew.

Sakae, I think you summarized it pretty well:
2010 - most of the time Schumacher unworthy, couldn't drive around problems often and Rosberg beat him fair and square in both qualifying and race in a pretty reasonable car, best of the rest with Renault.
2011 - Schumacher improved dramatically in races but was more prone to mistakes, driving in the midfield as a direct consequences of his poorer qualifying. Also he had more technical woes than his team mate, but nevertheless when crossed out all the problems, Rosberg beat him 5-2 on saturday. The car was slipping back on sunday anyway.
2012 - Schumacher equalled Rosberg on pure qualifying speed and was often faster on the sundays as well. Wasn't it for his dramatical reliability, he would have outscored him by about 15-20% overall. The car slipped back even further, both drivers struggled to stay close to the top six.

I think Schumacher is finally 'falling off the cliff' in terms of performance because he's slacking slightly after a well deserved holiday after 3 years of incredibly hard work. He would grind teeth if Hamilton and Rosberg are going to be consistently fighting for top 4 spots. In 2011 Mercedes knocked on the door for contract extension already, even more in 2012. With the new technical team getting ready, there are two possibilities: Schumacher was getting tired of the Merc adventure and saw no promise for a jump in performance for the near future (2013). This year is still evolution. 2014 will be more of a revolution where Merc has a better chance. There was an option to take a 2 year contract option but that could have been too much for Schumacher, who clearly was hesitant. When Hamilton came in the picture with a real opportunity to join 'another' team, Merc would have shot themselves in the foot if they wouldn't have been going for it. From that moment on, I think Schumachers future at Merc was doomed.

Edited by Jejking, 04 March 2013 - 14:26.

[Kingshark]

If only he stayed with Ferrari, then I am sure he regrets retiring a bit too early in 2006. I think he would have won in 2007 and 2008.

This.

[boldhakka]

Not at all. I think he is at peace; In fact, I think the last three years helped him, and he left at the right time.

[AJFIN]

I don't think Mercedes will challenge for the title in 2013 + he always said that his goal for his return was to win the championship, not just to get occasional podiums and wins -> he made the right choice and will not regret. Time to reload the batteries so he can make a 2nd comeback when he's +50 to become the oldest driver ever.

[Fildischum]

I don't think Mercedes will challenge for the title in 2013 + he always said that his goal for his return was to win the championship, not just to get occasional podiums and wins -> he made the right choice and will not regret. Time to reload the batteries so he can make a 2nd comeback when he's +50 to become the oldest driver ever.

A fairy tale story that i would want to see but just not happening. I wonder what will be it like if ever it did come true.
2 things will only surely happen, great race equals schumi the goat and a bad race equals hes past it and should have never returned or simply reminisce 2010-2012 season. But man, how awesome it would be to see him fight at least in the top 5.

[SvenF1]

Yeah , he is afraid of Kimi as RG is?;) And that easily scared guy returns to F1 after 3 years at 41 years?
Ooh, these Kimi fans and their bed stories.

Oh but I think he was scared. In 2005/2006 Kimi was probably regarded as the fastest guy on the grid. Montoya was considered a future champion but Kimi simply destroyed him. And now Kimi was coming to Ferrari with equal treatment, first time in years since Michael would have to fight against a teammate. Yeah, he kinda chickened out.

Of course, he probably regretted that when he saw how much Kimi struggled against Massa who Schumi beat easily. 2007 and 2008 WDC would have been Michaels, he had the advantage of familiar team and Bridgestones, I just can't see him losing them. Oh well.

[F1Champion]

I doubt it, because Mercedes are at least another season away from the top step (I think). By then Michael would have been 45 and he knew it would have been time on his career. I think he honestly though that it would take 3 years but Mercedes have been pretty shocking in their car development. Another season kicking around midfield.....I don't think so.

RB, McLaren, Ferrari and even Lotus are far ahead in, in-season development. Structures have been put in place but is the creatively of the aero team there? Not sure. I don't think they can sustain a WDC campaign and Michael knew it.

I would love Mercedes to be at the front and be proved wrong especially with Ross Brawn at the helm, but they are another season or two away from this.

[Shambolic]

I regret his retiring, if only because as much as Merc were laughable, in a "if you don't laugh, you'll cry" way, he was definitely getting the measure of this era of F1 and his team mate last year. And if Merc can even manage to be regular podium contenders, he would have probably enjoyed a last season instead of suffering one. But I suspect right now he's fairly comfortable with his choice, and may be more, or less so over time. He was allegedly perfectly happily retired last time around.. For a while..

What's going to interest me most isn't so much if he's shown to have been twice cursed (once by joining a champion turned lemon team, then by leaving as they get on form), but how the team mate he lost to, equalled, then bettered fares against the "fastest evah!!!111eleven!!" sharing garage space.

[halifaxf1fan]

I don't think Mercedes will challenge for the title in 2013 + he always said that his goal for his return was to win the championship, not just to get occasional podiums and wins -> he made the right choice and will not regret. Time to reload the batteries so he can make a 2nd comeback when he's +50 to become the oldest driver ever.

That would be just about the right age to come back and fight it out with Vettel for the honour to become the first 8XWDC.

Edited by halifaxf1fan, 05 March 2013 - 23:26.

[mattferg]

Oh but I think he was scared. In 2005/2006 Kimi was probably regarded as the fastest guy on the grid. Montoya was considered a future champion but Kimi simply destroyed him. And now Kimi was coming to Ferrari with equal treatment, first time in years since Michael would have to fight against a teammate. Yeah, he kinda chickened out.

Of course, he probably regretted that when he saw how much Kimi struggled against Massa who Schumi beat easily. 2007 and 2008 WDC would have been Michaels, he had the advantage of familiar team and Bridgestones, I just can't see him losing them. Oh well.

Yes, but 2006 was Massa's first year with Ferrari, so it's likely his performance increased.

[Ragingjamaican]

He proved year on year, and was more than a match for Rosberg in 2012.

It's a shame that he got demoted by a 5 place grid drop in Monaco, but I guess it was self-inflicted.

I think he would have done well this up and coming season, he put in some great drives when the car was a load of shambles at the end of last year.