Michael Schumacher will retire from race driving at the end of the 2006 World Championship.
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.
“I had always said that the decision to retire would be his alone, but
now that decision has been taken, I feel a sense of sadness,” commented
Ferrari President and CEO, Luca di Montezemolo. “We have lived through
some unforgettable times together, some good some bad, achieving
results that will be hard to equal. To Michael goes the thanks of
everyone in the company and supporters of Ferrari for all the
dedication he has shown to our colours, for the determination and
courage with which he has worked, which has provided immense
satisfaction. He is both sincere and passionate and has earned the
affection of all of us and of our fans. His relationship with Maranello
will continue, albeit in a different form and I am very happy about
that.”
“Michael has been the author of a unique chapter in the history of
Formula 1 and of Ferrari in particular. It has yet to reach its
conclusion and what he has achieved extends over and above the results
obtained,” added Managing Director, Jean Todt. “He is an exceptional
man and will become a legend as a driver. For me personally, he is a
great friend and together we have lived through unrepeatable
experiences. Having had the opportunity to work alongside him has been
and will continue to be a privilege.”
“Words are not enough and whatever I could say now will never fully
express how much I love this fascinating world of motor sport and all
it has given me,” said Michael Schumacher. “From go-karting to Formula
1, I have lived through moments that I will never forget. I am
profoundly grateful for everything I have had. I want to thank everyone
who has accompanied me, supported and inspired me, right back to the
days of my childhood. Above all, a special thanks goes to Corinna and
our two children, who have given me the strength to do what I have
done. All these years in Formula 1 have been amazing, especially those
spent alongside my friends in the Scuderia. Soon my future will belong
to my family, while I am happy to be still part of Ferrari. But for
now, what matters is this world championship.”
At the end of the year, as is traditional, we will announce the new
team organisation, which will also include a definition of Michael’s
new role.
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