While I will say that he is a good driver, I'm glad to see that he's going away soon. He pushes too many limits when it comes to rules and regulations, and many of his actions during his career were questionable.

He's also an arrogant *** who won't dare set foot (race) in a non-F1 venue, which to me is an indication that he may not be as great a driver as the rest of the world thinks he is. Yes, F1 takes great skill, but I still won't be impressed until I see him show skill in a non-F1 series.

All negative opinions aside -- he is a great driver.


Cabo

 

Really? Ever see the Race of Champions?

 

I won't argue he has done some questionable things but honest many great driver's have been accused of the same thing. A great driver should be aggressive otherwise you will never win ****, ask Coultard.

 

I don't think it's at all correct to say that Michael won't be just as devastating in any other form of motorsports. From my memory, he was involved in sportscar racing and earlier go-karting so he wasn't just thrown in an F1 seat after a couple of formula ford races.

F1 cars and regulations have changed vastly over the years from the active suspension days, slicks, one pit stop, one lap quali, etc. etc. and Michael has adapted flawlessly. I don't see why he would not be able to adapt to any other form of motorsport just as well. He more than any other driver IMO has changed the role of the driver to become more involved in the strategy and technology of the team. With his commitment and skills, I'm sure he would have been just as prosperous in any other type of motorsport as he has been in F1, but in F1 where the pace of change is the greatest and the competition most fierce is where his skills can really shine.

People say all sorts of things about his aggressive driving. Yes, you can every now and again get and advantage or even a win by being a dangerous a$$hole but the fact of the matter is that drivers like that don't win 90 gp's and counting.

 

It was quiet clear that the team in red didn't want him for another year as he had planned Michael and Ros Brawn actions showed it the politics that reached him is that Rimmi seat at Ferarri was known from earlier this year and they didn't want to gamble loosing his drive by Shumi staying another year and Rimmi getting a big drive somewhere else (Renalt) it sucks dosn't it.

 

i think Michael has at least one more championship in him. he is still mentally and physically fit and Ferrari is still very much at the top of their game. i think he did it as a favor for Massa because with Kimi coming over in 2007, there wouldn't be a seat for Massa. i'm not Michael's biggest fan but i do enjoy watching him race and dominate most of the time. he is a living legend.

the question now is who will be the #1 driver for Ferrari, Kimi or Massa. and where the heck did this kid Kubica come from out of no where.

 

i read somewhere that he is still going to keep some ties with ferrari after his retirement, but there wasn't any information as to what that meant. any ideas or insight as to what role that might be?

 

??where did you hear that Ferrari no longer wants Schumacher in the team??

From what I've read, Michael pretty much had an open contract to stay on for as long as he liked. It would have been Michael and Kimi at Ferrari and there's even information that Marlboro is prepared to foot the bill for the two drivers. That's what Michael was talking about when he talked about Fillepe being able to decide on hisown future as a result of the announcement.

 

I think it was more rumors that Ferrari wanted him gone, but with the look of things after the race, mainly how Schumacher acted toward the team owner, it did seem like it was more than just him wanting to retire. I personally think that Ferrari was pushing him out the door. Not so much with a "we dont want you" attitude, but with a its time for the next generation of driver to come in.

 

Nope -- did he drive anything besides an open wheel car in this race (or series)?

Is this the one where professional drivers compete in a variety of different cars, venues, etc?


Cabo

 

my favorite shumacher clip - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5GK9O7EumY

 

I think the thing that bothers me the most about him is the 60 minutes (I think)interview where they asked him if he would ever compete in NASCAR. His response (in a nutshell) was that he wouldn't even bother because it wouldn't be a challenge. His answer was delivered as though he was "above" that form of racing. My opinion of him changed drastically when I saw that.

I would really like to see how he stacks up against a bunch of good 'ol boys in a car with far inferior technology (compared to F1). Some drivers lose skill once you start taking away their technology. Until he backs up a statement like that, it's just eurotrash lip service.


Cabo

 

Yes, your right hes cocky, but do you see many NASCAR drivers going to F1?

Now i know that there is tons of money in NASCAR, but i believe that Jeff Gordon had a chance to drive for F1, and he declined, partly due to the fact that you had to be in such great shape to drive those cars.

It goes both ways.

 

True dat.


Gordon actually drove an F1 car as a promotional type thing @ Indianapolis. The F1 driver drove the NASCAR car as well (can't remember who it was though).


Why hasn't anyone in NASCAR asked Michael to drive? Because they don't like him.

(Well, no, that's not really the reason, but I can guarantee if he gave NASCAR a try he'd have a lot of haters because he's Eurotrash).


Cabo

 

i was flipping through the channels one time and happens to see a nascar race on road coarse and thought this has to be interesting and decide to watch a little bit of it then i hear the funnies thing from the announcer. he said “these guys aren’t use to brake, turn and downshift at the same time”. i laugh then turn the channel. i would probably watch nascar if they actually use show room cars. i don’t get the point of building a purpose race car then having to put a body on it to make it look like a production car. i would be more impressed if they can make a production Ford Taurus go 200 mph around the oval track.

btw, how’s Montoya doing in the nascar circuit?