F1 » Schumacher: I quit F1 to save Massa's seat

Why are drivers thought of so poorly when they "lose motivation" for the sport? Especially when it's a champion at the top of their game. Do people expect them to drive until they are getting soundly whooped? Then you just hear they should have quit earlier. Should they race until they are injured or worse? That's just stupid! So what if he didn't have the drive in him for that life anymore.

I'm betting everyone of us here would love to lose motivation for the stressful side of our dream job, get to hang around for the glamorous parts and then to go live the good life in our castle while counting our billions.

I wonder if Schumacher treats all of his great friends so condescendingly. Felipe, you must be very thankful to your great buddy saving your career...?

I was following this thread to see if someone comments on the Ferrari's internal power politics between Italian Boss Luca di Montezemolo and Non Italians like Jean Todt, Ross Brawn and Schumi.There has been lot written about it in media, though we won't know the complete truth till one of these guys writes a memoir. Though the way that organization was restructured in recent times to bring Italians to fore and the way Jean Todt signed Massa's contract till 2010 before he left office, can give clue to Internal Strife in that team and its possible connections with Schumi's retirement.

Super Special Ferrari Consultant - M Schumacher
Latest Role - Mental Disintegration
Victim - F Massa
Beneficiary - F Alonso??/S Vettel??

this is a PR news, they want build up Massa's image on the grid. He has admiration and Kimi wants to ride till 2009/2010 so it's done job about transfers, or...Ferrari want to offer high expectations and lower costs in contract for newcomers like Alonso or Kubica. Ferrari will let Santander/Marlboro or any other outside advisor pay for those riders.

JV beat Shu for the championship then Renault bailed from the sport and Williams had junk engines for a couple years and it showed, there wasn't any potential quality replacement either, so JV moved on.

At BAR his car was always falling apart. a few times his rear wing falling off on a straight etc. the other driver never had any problems... JV's fault? I think the team was more to blame. Still BAR never became a front runner like Williams ended up became when BMW hooked up with them.

In the end MS still was untouchable in the era of F1 racing with the most driver aids. He was only there to turn the wheel. He was good, but not that good. 1v1 JV would outdo him anytime in spec cars.

Mark, the reason nobody questioned Senna's underhand tactics is because at the time, the battles were thrilling and nobody cared about off track politics, but now there is no on track and its all off track.

If somebody were to comment on Senna now it would be seen in bad taste as Senna is unable to defend himself. Its like an unwritten rule not to speak opinion of the dead in the media without a darn good reason.

so jayson in your educated opinion of jv would beat ms in equal cars how do you explain he only just beat him when the 1997 williams was a country mile better than the ferrari.. ms won races in cars that he shouldn't have even been anywhere near the podium whereas jv only ever won races that his car was much faster than the oppositions

Jayson,

I think you forget about his titles with the Benetton.

JV will never be as good as MS even in the same car.

JV showed success right away entering F1 and winning the championship in the 2nd year. Practically learning the circuits from video games. He didn't win via MS manouver either.
"... In a controversial last round at the Australian GP Michael entered leading Damon Hill by one point. On the 36th lap Schumacher made an unbecoming mistake and banged the wall, damaging his rear suspension. He made it back on the track and as Damon Hill came to pass him on the next corner, Michael turned in on the Williams car. Hill's front suspension was badly damaged and both cars were out of the race. Hence Michael gained the crown."

See mschumacher.com/history.html

MS has the class of a toad.