Tag Archives: Schumi

31 October 2006

Schumacher’s driving days over but will stay in F1

Retired World Champion Micael Schumacher will continue in Formula one with Ferrari as an super assistant to support newly appointed CEO Jean Todt who also will remain as an interim MD for the team. Both these decisions were announced by Ferrari at Monza on sunday while Ferrari’s technical director, Ross Brawn will leave Ferrari before the end of this year. In a long anticipated move, Brawn will stand down from his post of technical director to devote more time to his personal life and will hand over his duties to Mario Almondo. But Ross Brawn will hold talks with Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo and CEO Jean Todt in the middle of next year to discuss about rejoining the team and how they feel about how the team’s running. Brawn could potentially rejoin the team as principal allowing Jean Todt to concentrate solely on being CEO.

Even though Schumacher retired officially from racing, lot of media have been spreading rumors that he may be back. The 37-year-old Schumacher retired as a driver after placing his Ferrari to fourth place in the Brazilian Grand Prix last Sunday. Michael Schumacher won a record seven world titles and was with Ferrari as driver from 1996 until he retired. But Micheal Schumacher turned down the offer to become a regular test driver for Ferrari. This was revealed by Italian team’s chiefs Luca di Montezemolo and Jean Todt at Monza at the weekend. Montezemolo, the Ferrari president, said (more…)

23 October 2006

2006 F1 season finale

The 2006 F1 season is over and Alonso defended his World Champion title at Sao Paulo, Brazil by finishing the Brazilian GrandPrix in second. Felipe Massa drove a faultless drive from pole position to take the chequered flag at his home GrandPrix. Ayrton Senna was the last countryman to have won at Interlagos, where Massa grew up. But the day belongs to the F1 legend, Michael Schumacher who demonstrated why he is still the best out there in his final Formula one race. Schumacher, the only man who can deprive Alonso started 10th on the grid after technical problems prevented him from setting a time in important final qualifying. To win an eighth World title, he must win the race, with Alonso failing to score. Even though its tough ask from 10th on the grid, no one dared to rule out the possibility as Ferrari dominated all weekend. (more…)

21 October 2006

BMW pays tribute to Michael Schumacher

BMW and BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen paid tribute to the most successfull Formula 1 driver ever, Michael Schumacher on his final race of his career with Thanx messages.

The most successful driver of all time is retiring, he did a lot for the sport and because of him, especially in Germany, F1 is very popular. As a thank you to Michael Schumacher we have Thanks Michael and Danke Michael on the rear wings of our cars.

In friday’s morning practice, the rear wings of the BMW cars read retirement messages in big blue lettering “Thanks Michael” and “Danke Michael”, in reference to 37 year old Michael Schumacher’s 250th and last Grand prix in an illustrious sixteen year career. (more…)

11 September 2006

Michael Schumacher retires from Race driving

Michael Schumacher will retire from race driving at the end of the 2006 World Championship. Thats the official news from the Maranello’s Motor Sport Press Office. Check the pdf version of the official release.

I guessed this will be the announcement after viewing some emotional moments just before the podium. For the first time or may be the first time I have seen, Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo jumped the barrier to congratulate his hero Schumacher after the lap of honor. But Schumacher went straight to his co-workers and the president has to wait to get hold of Schumi to give a hug. He then went straight to Jean Todt and his wife for a hug. Wat a moment it was.

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.

F1 will miss the legend.

07 August 2006

Button wins unbelievable Hungarian GP

Jenson Button did it finally by winning his maiden Formula 1 race on his 113th start at Hungaroring. De La Rosa and Heidfeld also secured their maiden podium for Mc Laren and BMW. The Championship rivals Alonso and Schumacher both retired from the race leaving the Championship fight as it was at last race. Half way through the race it almost looked like Alonso gonna win the race leaving schumacher without any points and with final 5 laps to go, it looked like Schumi is on his way to grab 8 points as Alonso retired. But the dramatic weather conditions changed everything right from the start to the end of the race. (more…)

10 July 2006

Ferrari boosts Schumi’s title hunt with $26m

Ferrari has pumped in another $26 million to boost Michael Schumacher’s charge for an eighth World Championship in 2006. Buoyed by the German’s dominance at Indianapolis, Jean Todt convinced his backers to bolster this year’s Ferrari budget, according to German newspaper Bild.

At Jerez last Friday, in preparation for the upcoming French Grand Prix, the 37-year-old Schumi set a new test lap record with a rejuvenated completely overhauled Ferrari 248 F1 car. Although Ross Brawn insists that it is not a ‘B’ specification, the heavily revised 248 features a new engine cover, front wing and engine, improved aerodynamics, packing an extra 20 hp. (more…)

03 July 2006

Schumacher and Ferrari reigns Supreme in US GP

Schumacher and Ferrari dominated the United States Grandprix at Indianapolis with Alonso managing no better than 5th place. Schumi made 5 wins out of 7 appearances in the US GP for ferrari. Right from the first lap ferrari was on their own race with all others having a race of their own. The start itself was brilliant as, into turn 1 and Massa takes the lead from Schumacher with Alonso side by side with the german. Schumi keeps second, but there has been drama at the back of the grid with a pile up into turn one.

Safety car was deployed. A total of seven cars are in the gravel trap at the first turn. Hiedfeld, Webber, Klien, Montagny, Montoya, Speed, Raikkonen all gone. That was an amazing start for Alonso, for a moment it looked as if he was going to take the lead into turn 1. Replays showed that it was a huge accident at the back, the two mclarens made contact. They in turn touched a Super Aguri. The result was a further impact with Heidfeld’s BMW sauber which sent the german into a spectacular barrel roll. There is smoke comming from Button’s car and he retires in Honda garage. Montoya was the guy responsible for triggering atleast some of the drama on lap 1. (more…)

02 July 2006

Schumi and Ferrari rocks Indianapolis & ends Alonso’s run

Michael Schumacher and Ferrari secured the pole position and front row in United States Grand Prix Qualifying with a scintillating performance. Schumacher and Massa dominated all saturday finishing 1-2 in the third and final practice and finally securing the front row in qualifying. Its one of the dominating performances by Ferrari after a long time with Alonso managing only 5th place. Schumi trails Fernando Alonso by 25 points in the championship but enjoys a formidable record at Indianapolis and hinted at another successful weekend today.

World champion Alonso, who has NEVER finished a race at Indianapolis was down in 5th and anything can happen in the race but IMO Schumi will take away minimum of 4 points from Alonso’s lead in this race. Ferrari really looks to have got their strategy right here at Indianapolis, so lets wait and see what happens tommorow. (more…)

27 June 2006

F1′s joke World Champion

German newspaper Bild, ridiculed 24-year-old Alonso for his unique brand of post-victory celebrations. While Schumacher does his famous ‘leap’ after a win, Alonso likes to imitate animals as he stands on his blue Renault. In Barcelona he acted like King Kong and yesterday in Canada, he climbed on his car and mimicked an eagle.#.

“If Alonso continues like this, he will get his second title – and he will be F1′s joke World Champion.”#.

26 June 2006

Alonso does it again in dramatic Canadian Grandprix.

Alonso takes his maiden Canadian GrandPrix win, with seven time canadian GrandPrix winner, Michael Schumacher taking second and Raikkonen in third. Only 14 out of 22 drivers crossed the line as everyone suffered or struggled for rear grip at the hairpin which is just covered in marbles at the end. With just 10 laps to go, Villeneuve went hard into the wall at turn 1 and the safety car was deployed, which enabled Schumi to come close to Raikkonen and eventually pass him at the hairpin to claim the extra 2 points. Raikkonen was really unlucky with heldups at both the pitstops and finally loosing 2nd place.

On the whole its a boring first half and the second half was little bit exciting with some overtakings. Ferrari and Schumacher have lot of work to do to catch up Renault in the next weekend’s United States GrandPrix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. (more…)