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"Shanghai is a good track for Renault," said Renault engineering boss Pat Symonds.

"But it may be more significant that Michael Schumacher had two poor races there in 2004 and 2005. That trend could continue this year."

"Throughout his career, there have been many instances of Michael not performing to his potential when he has been under pressure. And I think the pressure for him is greater than ever in these last three races.

"Previously, he always had the safety net of trying again next year, if he didn't win. There is no 'next year' for him now."

Renault is trying to psyche up Schumi !!!

"Obviously we feel it is a great pity but we are continuing negotiations in order to be included from 2008," Suzuka spokesman Yasuo Sugaya said.

"We hoped we could come to an arrangement to have two races but unfortunately it was not to be," Sugaya said.

"It's still possible we can come back next year (2008), so we'll keep trying."

Till then its Fuji and Toyota'a money that count !!!

Alonso Starts Mind Games

With just three races remaining and Michael's championship bid looking stronger than ever , Alonso had some not so pretty words for Schumi and some usual bickering about the penalty (yawn !!!)

"Michael is the most unsporting driver with the largest number of sanctions in the history of Formula One,"

"That doesn't take away from the fact that he has been the best driver.

"It has been an honour and pleasure to battle against him but things will be more equal now."

"In Formula One there are commercial and political interests,"

"We are talking about the most successful driver in history and a little bit of help has never gone amiss. Quite often they go over the line of what is acceptable and it is inexplicable."

"No one is going to believe the penalty I was given for a long time to come,"

"The excuse they gave was far from honest. It isn't good for our sport."

Damon Hill Praised Schumi



"It's a brave decision to stop doing something he loves," Hill said.

"We sort of know how he'll be remembered but over time his successes will mark an era when his dedication to winning gave the championship colour."




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damon hill, michael schumacher, schumi, alonso, retirement talk, race fixing allegations, penalty

Warning - this is a highly opinionated post

Michael has been my reason for watching Formula One since 1997 , while my fellow classmates were bored by the loud sounds of engines roaring , i on the other hand loved every moment of it and enjoyed it to full , most of my friends wouldnt even understand the concept of pit-stops and tyre changes then. But my interest was not in these array of machines vrooming around the track but Michael , i remember an action replay once , cars negotiating a chicane , one car negotiated it and the commentator said "this is how the pros do it" , then it was Schumi's turn and he simply glided "This is how Michael Schumacher does it". My mind was made then and there , such great talent , such precision , such superiority, F1 was going to be my fave sport and so it remained even afterwards, season after season , seeing Schumi win , seeing him lose too, but never once did Schumi look old to me , that same graceful drive each time.

Then there were bad times too , when Schumi broke his leg in Silverstone missing most part of the season, it was bad , i missed most of the season as F1 without Schumi is like Golgappa without Paani , A car without tyres etc. Then one day in the morning , Japenese Grand Prix Qualifying , thee he was Michael Schumacher's name was there , i felt elated , Schumi was back and so was my interest.

I dont have words to say how i feel right now, but if Schumi ever reads this (lots of time on hand now) , thanks for giving me my passion for F1. This post shall be a tribute to the great Schumi , hope you come back.

Leaving you with some of his quotes from the press confrence

"I have decided that I am going to retire from racing. It has been an exceptional time,"

"What motorsport has given to me in more than 30 years, I have loved every moment of it, good and bad.

"Words are not enough and whatever I say now will never fully express how much I love this fascinating world of motor sport and all it has given me. I am profoundly grateful for everything I have had.

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

"It has naturally been difficult, but all the effort, energy and motivation you need in order to be competitive, I cannot see I have that for further years."

Emotions ran strong , Schumi won not only the race but hearts , hearts of millions of tifosi who had come to be witness to his announcement about his future plans. Only 2 points separate him from Alonso with 3 races remaining.

Sadly this was his last Italian grand prix .


1 Michael Schumacher Scuderia Ferrari 1h14m51.975
2 Kimi Raikkonen Team McLaren Mercedes +8.046
3 Robert Kubica BMW Sauber +26.414

4 Giancarlo Fisichella Renault +32.045
5 Jenson Button Honda Racing +32.685
6 Rubens Barrichello Honda Racing +42.409
7 Jarno Trulli Toyota +44.662
8 Nick Heidfeld BMW Sauber +45.309
9 Felipe Massa Scuderia Ferrari +45.955
10 Mark Webber Williams F1 +72.602
11 Christian Klien Red Bull Racing +1 lap
12 David Coulthard Red Bull Racing +1 lap
13 Scott Speed Toro Rosso +1 lap
14 Tonio Luizzi Toro Rosso +1 lap
15 Ralf Schumacher Toyota +1 lap
16 Takuma Sato Super Aguri +2 laps
17 Christijan Albers MF1 Racing +2 laps

Fastest Lap: K Raikkonen 1m22.559




Drivers' world championship 2006

1 Fernando Alonso Renault Spa 108
2 Michael Schumacher Ferrari Ger 106
3 Felipe Massa Ferrari Brz 62
4 Kimi Raikkonen McLaren-Mercedes Fin 57
5 Giancarlo Fisichella Renault Ita 57
6 Jenson Button Honda GB 40
7 Juan Pablo Montoya McLaren-Mercedes Col 26
8 Rubens Barrichello Honda Brz 25
9 Nick Heidfeld BMW Sauber Ger 20
10 Ralf Schumacher Toyota Ger 18
11 Pedro de la Rosa McLaren Spa 14
12 David Coulthard Red Bull-Ferrari GB 14
13 Jarno Trulli Toyota Ita 12
14 Jacques Villeneuve BMW Sauber Can 7
15 Robert Kubica BMW Sauber Pol 6
16 Mark Webber Williams-Cosworth Aus 6
17 Nico Rosberg Williams-Cosworth Ger 4
18 Christian Klein Red Bull Aut 2
19 Vitantonio Liuzzi Toro Rosso-Cosworth Ita 1

Constructors' world championship 2006

1 Ferrari 168
2 Renault 165
3 McLaren-Mercedes 97
4 Honda 65
5 BMW Sauber 33
6 Toyota 30
7 Red Bull-Ferrari 16
8 Williams-Cosworth 10
9 Toro Rosso-Cosworth 1
10 Midland-Toyota 0
11 Super Aguri-Honda 0

:(

No more Schumi in Ferrari from 2007 , a more emotional post and race result soon !!!