The end of an era

[lvlarc_uk]

INCREDBILE performance from Schumi, had that puncture not happened at the start he would of won. Great for him to leave with a great drive to remember though. Alonso worked hard for that championship too and thoroughly deserved it. Massa was also almost faultless. Next season should be fantastic with all this young talent. Oh and Button got another podium in a Honda!

BTW the directing was poor, we missed all of Sato's overtaking

[Sark79]

Yep great race. 

[neeko]

superb race For Shumi - still racing at his best.

Going out at the very top.

We need a hats off smile.

[Royal Flush]

Odds on him coming back in 2008?

[Sark79]

Odds on him coming back in 2008?

Prost did that at the end of 91.  He sat out 92 and let Mansell take it down.  Then in 93 he came back and dominted, only Senna ( 5 wins ) and Schumacher ( 1 win ) won races that year other than Prost.   Hakkinen wanted to come back as well, but the team he was in talks with ( Sauber) opted for Villeneuve instead

[Royal Flush]

Odds on him coming back in 2008?

Prost did that at the end of 91.  He sat out 92 and let Mansell take it down.  Then in 93 he came back and dominted, only Senna ( 5 wins ) and Schumacher ( 1 win ) won races that year other than Prost.   Hakkinen wanted to come back as well, but the team he was in talks with ( Sauber) opted for Villeneuve instead

Someone i can't see anyone turning him down

I also wanted to say that i think he will be remembered as the most successful driver ever, rather than for incidents earlier in his career.

[Sark79]

Yea I agree, he should be remembered for what he did for the sport.  Most people say,  "he is a great driver....but he" .  Who cares what he did in the past, the Villeneuve incident was 97 and Hill was in 94.  That is a long time ago and since then his behaviour has been almost perfect.  Footballers get a red card and a month later everyone has forgoten about it.  Schumacher did make a couple of mistakes early in his career, but remember he was 25 when the Hill incident took place.  That is young to be under the pressure he was at the time.  He had just taken over the mantle as the sports leading driver after Senna's death earlier in the season. 

[Royal Flush]

Exactly, he made mistakes a long time ago.

Racing drivers are amazingly competitive, sometimes their judgement gets clouded, especially at that young age.

[Rod Paradise]

How long ago did he park on the last bend at Monte Carlo? This year wasn't it?

A great driver, but it's questionable if he was a great sportsman.

[Sark79]

I don't think that was  intentional at Monaco, if it had been any other driver nobody would have been accused of cheating, because it was Schumacher everyone assumed he must be cheating

[Newportlad]

Have to disagree with you there Sark.
I find it a bit too much of a coincidence that he registers the fastest lap and then cant make his car take a corner.

Saying that, i do think he is the greatest ever motor racing driver.