Schuey To Leave Ferrari & Retire?

[lfc4ever]

Raikkonen 'set for Ferrari move'

Renault boss Flavio Briatore claims long-time target Kimi Raikkonen has agreed to join Ferrari next season as a replacement for Michael Schumacher.

Briatore had been chasing the McLaren driver to take over from world champion Fernando Alonso for the 2007 campaign.

But he says Raikkonen will partner Felipe Massa at Ferrari as he expects Schumacher to announce his retirement.

"Kimi chose to sign this pre-contract with Ferrari. Good luck. We will try to beat him next year," said Briatore.

"You try to do whatever you think is the best. For me Raikkonen was committed very early with Ferrari and the fact, we believe, next year he is driving for Ferrari with Massa takes away that option.

"We tried for Raikkonen but that was not possible.

Renault boss Flavio Briatore claims long-time target Kimi Raikkonen has agreed to join Ferrari next season as a replacement for Michael Schumacher.

Briatore had been chasing the McLaren driver to take over from world champion Fernando Alonso for the 2007 campaign.

But he says Raikkonen will partner Felipe Massa at Ferrari as he expects Schumacher to announce his retirement.

"Kimi chose to sign this pre-contract with Ferrari. Good luck. We will try to beat him next year," said Briatore.

"You try to do whatever you think is the best. For me Raikkonen was committed very early with Ferrari and the fact, we believe, next year he is driving for Ferrari with Massa takes away that option.

"We tried for Raikkonen but that was not possible.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/5328606.stm

[Milan_Milan]

I like Raikonnen's style, but I'm not sure he has what it takes to head up a team like Ferrari as number 1 just yet. At McLaren he had JPM as kind of an equal partner, and more recently de la Rosa has admittedly been a junior partner but Raikonnens hardly proven in the #1 role.

I'm glad Renault didn't get him though, he and Alonso would have been frightening! Another Hill/Villeneuve inter-team battle for the title!

[TheStig]

I like Raikonnen's style, but I'm not sure he has what it takes to head up a team like Ferrari as number 1 just yet. At McLaren he had JPM as kind of an equal partner, and more recently de la Rosa has admittedly been a junior partner but Raikonnens hardly proven in the #1 role.

I'm glad Renault didn't get him though, he and Alonso would have been frightening! Another Hill/Villeneuve inter-team battle for the title!

Alonso's going to McLaren though isn't he?

[ningnangnong]

Alonso's going to McLaren though isn't he?

Yes he is.

[Milan_Milan]

Alonso's going to McLaren though isn't he?

Good point.

[Finnish_Red]

Just published that Schumacher retires after this season, but remains at Ferrari in some role.

[Jayesh87]

Schumacher to quit at end of year

Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher will retire from Formula One at the end of the season.

The German made the announcement after winning the Italian Grand Prix to reduce title rival Fernando Alonso's lead to just two points.

The Ferrari star's victory was the 90th in a career in which Schumacher has broken every single F1 record.

He will be remembered as one of the greatest, and most controversial, drivers in the history of the sport.

"I have decided that I am going to retire from racing. It has been an exceptional time," the 37-year-old said.

"What motorsport has gven me over the last 30 years, I have loved every moment of it, good and bad."

Schumacher, who will be replaced at Ferrari by Finn Kimi Raikkonen, has dominated the sport since the death of Ayrton Senna in 1994.

That was the year in which Schumacher won his first world title, with Benetton-Ford, and he added further championships in 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004.

He added: "It has been a tough decision to not work at this level. The day has come and I felt this is the moment.

"As well as timing the decision I though it was fair so Felipe [Massa, his Ferrari team-mate] has a chance to decide his future.

"He has done a great job, good team-mate and he had to decide.

"My future replacement is a driver [Raikkonen] - I was pleased that he was the person and now like to concentrate on this last three races and finish it in style. We have done a big step to the championship today and I look forward to that now."

The records Schumacher has set will probably never be broken, and he set a new standard for F1 drivers with his extreme fitness and commitment to his job.

But his legacy will also be as a driver who stretched the rules to their limit and sometimes beyond in his quest for success.

Controversy followed him throughout his career, and he was involved in a series of incidents that left many observers questioning his sense of fair play.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/moto...ne/5332630.stm

[TheStig]

Would be pretty cool if he won the title before retiring.

Maybe he won't and he'll do a Zidane?

[chewyuk]

He'll win it this year and go out in style, best driver imo since Senna.

[bacon]

I used to like F1 until about 10 yrs ago and watched it all the time .... but now it just bores me ****less ... start ... parade of cars ... pit stop ... parade of same cars shuffled about a bit ... pit stop .... finish

[G_Man]

Anyone hear about Schumaccher's charidy contributions?

apparently they total 50 million pounds including a 6 million donation to the Tsunami appeal.

Respect is due

[mersey86]

Very grudgingly.

[bazza76]

I used to like F1 until about 10 yrs ago and watched it all the time .... but now it just bores me ****less ... start ... parade of cars ... pit stop ... parade of same cars shuffled about a bit ... pit stop .... finish

Yeah I agree mate, it has become very boring. I guess we can only hope for a final day race off between Schumacher and Alonso.

[Howard_lfc]

Anyone hear about Schumaccher's charidy contributions?

apparently they total 50 million pounds including a 6 million donation to the Tsunami appeal.

Respect is due

Total respect from me for that.

However, he is a dirty cheating german ******* on the track and I as much as I admire his ability (especially in the wet) I simply can't stand the bloke when he's driving an F1 car. I'll never forget him taking Damon Hill out when his car was broken and Hill was about to overtake him.
H

[G_Man]

That's what separates winners from losers. He showed he was preapred to go further than Hill to win it. He used tactics which go against the grain of sport but the record books show he was a winner.