Schumi hits the brakes

Lost in the spray surrounding the Interlagos circuit, F1 bid farewell – for the second time – to one of the best drivers to have ever graced the grid.

There was almost the passing of a metaphorical batton as Michael Schumacher allowed the young German who once idolised him, Sebastian Vettel, to slip nonchalantly past in wet conditions as the latter overcame a first lap spin to claim his third world title.

However, the circumstances of his second retirement could not have been more different from the first occasion six years ago when he was racing for the best team and challenging for his eighth title.

While he was ultimately unsuccessful, he gave glimpses of his ability as he fought his way from 19th position to claim fourth in the race.

Perhaps it was the thought of what might have been that lured him back. The German Mercedes team allowed him a route back, although they were unable to give him the time to build a successful car and team as he had previously done with Ferrari. 

The best result he has managed subsequently was third in Valencia and, even then, he benefitted from accidents ahead of him.

Schumacher had some of his longest standing friends around him. Ross Brawn, who has been orchestrating every one of Schumacher’s title successes. While disappointed with the results they have achieved together at Mercedes, he still paid tribute to the work done by Schumi behind the scenes.

There was also Fernando Alonso with whom he had so many memorable battles, particularly while the Spaniard was winning his own titles with Renault. It was Alonso who prevented Schumacher from claiming his eighth title at Interlagos in the year of his retirement.

Finally, there was his close friend, Vettel. Their relationship dates back to a time when Vettel was winning junior karting championships at Schumacher’s own track.  Vettel describes Schumacher as his ‘idol’ and ‘inspiration’.  Praise, indeed.

Ultimately, while his return and subsequent retirement has not been as successful or graceful as he would have wished – Mercedes even announced their signing of Lewis Hamilton as a replacement before he was able to dignify his fans with news of his own plans – his second spell has allowed him to win more friends – one appalling manoeuvre on Barrichello, in Hungary, aside.

Many F1 observers will remember him as a callous driver, arrogant on and off the track, who adopted a win-at-all-costs attitude.  However, this time around he has been more approachable.

Love him or hate him, you cannot argue with his achievements, leaving records that will last for years to come. 

While his young German protege is closing fast on Schumi’s 91 race wins and 68 poles, it is his seven championships and 1,560 points that will be hardest to reach.

Vettel’s third championship triumph, making him the youngest to achieve the feat by six years, was achieved in a race that reminded Schumacher of his own success in Brazil in 2003.

Schumi can at least be reasonably pleased with his final appearance. Having suffered an early puncture he claimed the final points of his career by finishing seventh, defeating his teammate, Rosberg in the process – always the acid test in an uncompetitive car.

"I think it’s a nice ending," he said. "I’m finishing off and he’s (Vettel) clinching his third title. I’m very proud of him.

"My emotions are under control at the moment, maybe later it’ll become more sentimental, but I’m looking forward to life after Formula One now.

"It’s been a beautiful time. We shared lots of exciting moments and lots of tough moments. I felt a lot of support in these last three years and they have been the most difficult years for me. But the fans have always been behind me."

For Schumacher’s fans, as in 2006 when he first retired, there was an air of disappointment about his exit from the sport because it came not by choice, but circumstance.
When he retired after the Brazilian Grand Prix six years ago, it was because Ferrari had made clear they were signing Raikkonen from McLaren.

This time around, it was another McLaren driver, Lewis Hamilton, who had to be accommodated by the German’s departure as Mercedes build for the future.

"It’s a strange sort of coincidence that I’ve ended my Formula One career now in seventh, which was my first ever qualifying result at Spa-Francorchamps," said Schumacher.
"It also occurs to me that I was driving with the number seven on my car today and that I have seven world championship trophies.

"Even under these difficult conditions, my final Formula One race was tremendous fun, and I would once again like to thank the team and all my fans for their support over the past years."

After 307 races, few drivers are without the bruises to show as proof of their scraps with the man that Mercedes team chief Brawn this week described as ‘probably the best Formula One driver of all time’.

Brawn was with Schumacher at both Benetton and Ferrari and is widely regarded as the architect of his seven championship triumphs – a haul that is unlikely to be challenged in the near future.

"Having worked with Michael for the majority of the 21 seasons of his career, I feel that he is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, Formula One driver of all time," said Brawn after Sunday’s race.

In Bahrain Schumi will be forever remembered as the first-ever winner of an F1 grand prix at the Bahrain International Circuit. Let’s hope he returns to watch all the action in years to come!