Several independent F1 observers have told a prominent British F1 magazine that 2002 could be “Michael Schmacher’s final year in F1”. The signs are there, they say.
Several independent F1 observers have told a prominent British F1 magazine that 2002 could be “Michael Schmacher’s final year in F1”. The signs are there, they say.
The German, the strong favourite to equal Juan-Manuel Fangio’s record of five world titles this season, is apparently considering hanging up his helmet at the end of the year. Schumacher, team-mate Rubens Barrichello, Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn and chief designer Rory Byrne, are all contracted until the end of 2004.
But according to a report in the latest magazine, a number of “senior, independent F1 observers” have all said they believe this to be Schumacher’s final year in the sport. The now infamous Austrian Grand Prix debacle, and the way that Schumacher, Barrichello and the Ferrari team handled it, could be telling.
Schumacher’s imminent retirement might explain Ferrari’s keenness to re-sign the experienced Barrichello, instead of raw talents such as Felipe Massa or Jenson Button, for the 2003 season. The Brazilian refused to whinge about being ordered to let Schumacher win at the Austrian Grand Prix, because he “was apparently assured that he will play a key role in the team’s future after Schumacher,” reported.
Barrichello was quoted as saying that he believed that “he could become world champion for Ferrari”, shortly before the Austrian Grand Prix.
If Schumacher retired, Ferrari would require an experienced driver, such as the Brazilian, to replace the German as team leader.
reported that Schumacher might decide to bow out before his contract expires at the end of 2004, because “there were few F1 records left for him to break and, as a devoted family man, he may opt to retire rather than carry on taking risks”.
In the aftermath of the Austrian Grand Prix, Schumacher voiced his regret that he was unable to dissuade Ferrari from ordering Barrichello to slow down in the closing laps of the race.
Schumacher was reminded by his team that he is required to fulfil his obligations to Ferrari, and he did so by winning the race. To what cost?
Schumacher’s popularity has certainly been tainted by the affair, irrespective of whether the German deserves to be blamed for the Austrian Grand Prix incident or not.
"As a sportsman, Michael could have said to the team, ‘forget the contracts, Rubens earned this one’," Minardi driver Mark Webber, a self-confessed Michael Schumacher fan, said at the weekend. "For Michael to follow through with it was, in my view, pretty weak. Everyone felt for Rubens. Despite his tremendous performance, he had no choice.
“In Barrichello’s position, you really have no choice. He had to comply. The problem is Michael. They would have been discussing the situation on the radio for several laps. Michael could have said to them, as a sportsman, that it was Rubens’s race," he added.
