Michael Schumacher will retire!
Michael Schumacher will retire from race driving at the end
of the 2006 World Championship. Whatever the final result
of this year’s championship, Michael leaves Formula
1 holding almost all the records. To date, he has taken seven
Drivers’ world titles and has contributed to the same
number of team wins in the Constructors’ Championship.
He has taken part in 247 Formula 1 Grands Prix (178 of them
at the wheel of a Ferrari,) won 90 (71,) been on pole 68 (58)
times, setting 75 (52) fastest race laps. He has amassed a
total of 1354 points, 1051 of them in a Maranello car. No
one in the world of motor racing has done better.
Following his decision, the only record that will elude him
is the one for the number of race starts. He will be able
to reach the 250 mark, just six short of the record held by
Riccardo Patrese.
Schumacher has been with Scuderia Ferrari for eleven seasons,
a demonstration of loyalty without equal in Formula 1, to
date securing five of his Drivers’ titles here and contributing
to six of the team’s Constructors’ titles. No
other driver has ever won as much with the Scuderia.
“I had always said that the decision to retire would
be his alone, but now that decision has been taken, I feel
a sense of sadness,” commented Ferrari President and
CEO, Luca di Montezemolo. “We have lived through some
unforgettable times together, some good some bad, achieving
results that will be hard to equal. To Michael goes the thanks
of everyone in the company and supporters of Ferrari for all
the dedication he has shown to our colours, for the determination
and courage with which he has worked, which has provided immense
satisfaction. He is both sincere and passionate and has earned
the affection of all of us and of our fans. His relationship
with Maranello will continue, albeit in a different form and
I am very happy about that.”
“Michael has been the author of a unique chapter in
the history of Formula 1 and of Ferrari in particular. It
has yet to reach its conclusion and what he has achieved extends
over and above the results obtained,” added Managing
Director, Jean Todt. “He is an exceptional man and will
become a legend as a driver. For me personally, he is a great
friend and together we have lived through unrepeatable experiences.
Having had the opportunity to work alongside him has been
and will continue to be a privilege.”
“Words are not enough and whatever I could say now
will never fully express how much I love this fascinating
world of motor sport and all it has given me,” said
Michael Schumacher. “From go-karting to Formula 1, I
have lived through moments that I will never forget. I am
profoundly grateful for everything I have had. I want to thank
everyone who has accompanied me, supported and inspired me,
right back to the days of my childhood. Above all, a special
thanks goes to Corinna and our two children, who have given
me the strength to do what I have done. All these years in
Formula 1 have been amazing, especially those spent alongside
my friends in the Scuderia. Soon my future will belong to
my family, while I am happy to be still part of Ferrari. But
for now, what matters is this world championship.”
At the end of the year, as is traditional, we will announce
the new team organisation, which will also include a definition
of Michael’s new role.
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