Schumacher could retire before Melbourne 04!

[ASCII Man]

Ooohhh, an execution!
Can i come too??

[Damon]

Originally posted by pirenzo
Why?

Because he doesn't like losing pirenzo, never has done, and he's always said the minute he doesn't like what he's doing he'll jack it all in. It's not like he has anything left to achieve.

[f1manoz]

Certainly an interesting rumour, and personally I hope he does buzz off, but realistically I don't think it will happen. TGF will be in a Ferrari on the grid in Melbourne in March.

[Pitstop]

Tomatoes or bullets?

[Pitstop]

Tomatoes or wing nuts?

[Gt_R]

It's unlikely Michael will just call it quits out of the blue. He won't leave Ferrari and throw it into chaos without letting Ferrari finding a solid footing for the future. Why would he just throw the relationship with the team away with such a silly move?

There is little for him to lose this year. He may not win the WDC, but it won't even cause a dent on his achivements. The Ferrari would be good, he will be good, and the battle now is between tyres...winning it would enhance his WDC count, losing it...well it's just BS losing the battle to Michelin.

Irregardless, its strange how critics hope he leave...a compliment really on the great threat they think he possess to upset the chance of victory for the younger generations... don't worry, if anythings to go by, Michelin would win it for them.

[Mr V]

Originally posted by alesi95
This sounds like typical Matt Bishop journalism.

He loves to reveal something spectacular once in a while,

From what i can gather from the original post, Bishop wasn't trying to reveal anything, he was "overheard" having a conversation with a fellow journalist

I personally have no doubt that Michael will be on the grid in Oz.

[z2252314]

He heard that Michael had put quite a bit of weight on over the off-season (very unlike the superfit Michael we're used to hearing about)

Michael could put on 20kgs and still be leaner and fitter than Juan 'another cheeseburger please' Montoya. I very much doubt that weight will be what leads Michael into retirement.

[Skam85]

What I think will happen, is, midseason, whether Schuey is leading the WDC or struggling, he'll announce his retirement for the end of the year.

[RWC]

I agree with those bagging matt bishop-f1 racing really is worse than womens weekly for truly acurate f1 reporting.The only thing they do right is have the guts to print controversial stuff(like the ferrari/bridgestone tyre substitution cheating)
As for shuey giving up because ferrari are too far behind at the start of the year?....In the past one would say-absolute ****!!!
Now that he has set an unbeatable record....quite possible.One things's for sure .If he does have thoughts of giving up he himself won't even know for sure 'till it happens

[Hazza]

RWC, I wouldn't call that record unbeatable, I havn't made my Debut for Williams yet...*ahem*

[pirenzo]

Originally posted by Damon
Because he doesn't like losing pirenzo, never has done, and he's always said the minute he doesn't like what he's doing he'll jack it all in. It's not like he has anything left to achieve.

He has got stuff to achieve.

He doesn't want to lose, but i think by losing he means finishing well down the order. If it's a close season he couldn't possible feel that demotivated by third to retire.
Plus i think he's the kind of guy to carry on if only to rub it in the face of all he beats. He's not interested in the records. He just wants to beat anyone and everything.

[Damon]

Originally posted by pirenzo
He's not interested in the records.

I think you'll find he's one of the most record driven drivers in history!

The fact remains that he's had a package for the last 4 seasons where he know at the start of each and every race that there's a very good chance he's going to win. If that no longer exists then his interest is bound to drop.

[Mr V]

To quote Michael himself, he did say that he'd proberbly call it a day if he started getting beaten.

[BootsOntheSide]

If Michael has it in him, mentally and physically, he shoudl surely stay superfit and do one more season. Unless Bridgestone make a big leap with their tyres, or there a re lots of wet races, he won't be starting as favourite, so he's got little to lose by not taking the title (as long as he isn't beaten by Rubens and doesn't crash out in the dry at all), but it may be regarded as his finest title if he does take it. Skam's theory sounds about right.

Still, if he does retire, it would leave ferrari with a huge amount of moeny to by someone else's contract out. A late switch such as Alonso-Ferrari, Webber-Renault is possible, or perhaps Raikkonen-Ferrari, Montoya-McLaren, JV-Williams (please kill me for suggesting that)

[ralf fan]

all i can say is that that article is ver intelligently put... i mean do we have any proof that MS has put on weight and seems disinterested?
i think MS will retire when his car is no more competetive and at the moment there have been no such indications!!!

[Knowlesy]

Oh there will be soon ralf......

[Gaz]

Going up a bit I didn't 'overhear' this conversation it was revealed during a public interview on the F1 Racing grid at the Autosport Show!No we don't have proof Michael's put on weight but Bishop said believe him or believe him not that his sources has given him this information!

[Speed]

Originally posted by z2252314
Michael could put on 20kgs and still be leaner and fitter than Juan 'another cheeseburger please' Montoya.

I can´t imagine what Montoya could do to Michael in Brasil (´01) if he had the physical condition he has now...

Ooops, chubby Juan got rid of him already in that race

[Knowlesy]

Originally posted by Gaz
Bishop said believe him or believe him not that his sources has given him this information!

His somewhat dubious sources.......

[Irv the Swerve]

Its the acid test for Bishop then. Is he (as I think) a gossip mongerer on the fringe of the F1 paddock, or has he actually got himself a scoop? Its an easy result. If Michael starts in Melbourne - Bishop is full of it.

Keep your eyes on the magazine I reckon.

[Knowlesy]

Keep your eyes on Schuey when you next see him at a test or launch. I expect nothing less than a pot belly and double chin, the way Bishop is going on.

[Kicking-back]

It's nonsense to suggest that if Schumacher is in Melbourne then Bishop is wrong. He's not saying this will happen, just that he's heard some suggestions.

I hope Schumacher does retire, but at the end of the season and having failed to win the title.

But it does infuriate me the way so many people on here get so protective of MS and slag off anyone who suggests anything that doesn't forget into their demi-god view of him.

[pirenzo]

Originally posted by Damon
I think you'll find he's one of the most record driven drivers in history!

The fact remains that he's had a package for the last 4 seasons where he know at the start of each and every race that there's a very good chance he's going to win. If that no longer exists then his interest is bound to drop.

I don't think so. If that was the case he would have tried to get in the best car all the time so that he could get those records quicker. His joy in racing is beating people full stop. The worse the car he can do it in, the greater the achievement and the more the embarrassement for others.
Plus just because he finished third in the championship as a reason for quitting would be the most absolutely pathetic reason for retiring i could think of. He won't do it.

It does kinda irritate me that everyone says oh he's bound to retire if he finishes third, because they want him to retire.
If his wife is telling him to retire on the other hand....

[Knowlesy]

But it is unlikely he would jack it in now, after rebuilding the team into a position of dominance.