It's Official: Schumacher is Retiring (again)

[Cousin Eddie]

At the same token I can't see Fangio or Gilles be able to drive the current cars today neither. Senna probably would be fine, but really he is already in the modern era. The technique and the handling of the vehicle from the old cars to new cars are not exactly the same neither. The advent of downforce alters the technique required to carry speed through the corner and the modern wide slicks makes the transition from grip to slip much finer. Its just not the same sports. Even looking at the last few years, the technique required from driving a blown diffuser car compare to ones without it is different also, and some driver suffered more than others(see Vettel v Webber). The winning driver of a given period are the ones thats most adapt to the given circumstances. You can't just say that the modern drivers don't have the same ability anymore, if all their career leading up to that point was in a downforce car with wide slicks and carbon brake. Just like you can't stick a Fangio in today's car if he doesn't even have the understanding of what downforce is.

I would disagree, I can't think of a modern car that is more difficult to drive than older cars. I mean even the meanest street cars of today with 600+ horsepower delivers the power in a much smoother way, that's just the nature of technology. Different, yes, and the way you drive them is definitely different. But I think they would adapt quite fine.

Everything in all levels of racing has always been introduced to make the car easier to control, easier to go faster in. Suspension, brakes, aero. This is all very obvious. So it makes what those drivers of days gone by did that much more impressive.

You won't convince me that it's every bit as difficult to drive, say, a modern Porsche GT car as it is to drive a race prepped 930 Turbo. Tire technology alone has increased adhesion and wear intervals immensely in motorsports.

[Cousin Eddie]

I can't see Youtube at work, so I don't know if this is the crash at the Chicane, or the turn one of the year after....because Senna DID run Prost off the road in turn 1 the year after....

Apologies, I thought you were debating the chicane.

Turn 1 was fueled by a lot of politics, revenge, grid selection changes. I think it was a little more complex than "I am a whiny baby and if I can't win nobody can". It wasn't "right" and was the focus of much debate. Yes you found ONE instance where Senna may have had a moment of weakness. Schumacher made sure to show time and time again just how much of an ******* he was. Much like Hamilton does today.

[Ross1013]

Apologies, I thought you were debating the chicane.

Turn 1 was fueled by a lot of politics, revenge, grid selection changes. I think it was a little more complex than "I am a whiny baby and if I can't win nobody can". It wasn't "right" and was the focus of much debate. Yes you found ONE instance where Senna may have had a moment of weakness. Schumacher made sure to show time and time again just how much of an ******* he was. Much like Hamilton does today.

I think your personal dislike of Schumacher is blinding you a bit here.

One of the biggest indicators of Senna's greatness was how much better he was in the wet than everyone else. Schumacher was the same.

For 13 straight years from 1994-2006, Schumacher was in the F1 title hunt. At 43 he is getting on the podium in a clearly inferior car. His time in the field's best car was maybe 3-4 years (01-04) out of the 13-year period of title contention.

[ROCK AND ROLL CHEVY]

He's the Bret Farvrvre of racing.

[PlatinumGLS]

He's the Bret Farvrvre of racing.

I would say Micheal Jordan.

[EL GOLFO DE MEXICO]

Of course that will always be up for debate, but in his prime, no one could even come close to Schumacher in the wet and his feel for the limit was always discussed as being scary good. Any one else remember that documentary where they reviewed telematry of Schumi vs. another F1 driver? The difference in the number of steering inputs vs. the other driver was astonoshing

[Double-V]

Fangio, Gilles, et al would completely lack the conditioning required to drive today's cars for a full race distance. Aside from the gulf of time, that would be the toughest thing for the previous generations of drivers.

Aside from that, I think there was a bigger breadth in quality in F1 three or more decades ago. Damn near anyone could show up with a car and race. When ABBA is driving in F1, you know there is some crap talent in the field. It was easier for a driver to shine against people like that.

[ryank]

Oh that's 1993 - Schumi wasn't in his prime yet

[dopaz]

One of the biggest indicators of Senna's greatness was how much better he was in the wet than everyone else. Schumacher was the same.

[8v_gti777]

I'd like to see all the current drivers put in an identical car and see the times.

[McBanagon]

I'd like to see all the current drivers put in an identical car and see the times.

So would the rest of us..

[Swapped6n]

Who is that guy? Ralf's brother?

i literally lold..thank you

[612Scag]

i literally lold..thank you

Who is that guy? Ralf's brother?

[urbanrocketeer]

I'd like to see all the current drivers put in an identical car and see the times.

They already tried that in the US: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interna...e_of_Champions

Also there is this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_of_Champions

[kiznarsh]

I would say Micheal Jordan.

You know when I first heard Schumacher's coming back, my first reaction was, "oh boy...he's making the same mistake as Jordan."

When you're that good and you leave the sport after so many victories, coming back after multiple years of retirement will always be a let-down. Just like Magic & Favre. As competitive as he is, I'm sure he's not happy about how he's performed but I doubt he regrets is.

Either way, I think it's the right time to quit permanently.

[612Scag]

You know when I first heard Schumacher's coming back, my first reaction was, "oh boy...he's making the same mistake as Jordan."

When you're that good and you leave the sport after so many victories, coming back after multiple years of retirement will always be a let-down. Just like Magic & Favre. As competitive as he is, I'm sure he's not happy about how he's performed but I doubt he regrets is.

Either way, I think it's the right time to quit permanently.

I idolized him for so many years that I was crushed when Alonso beat him out of the championship his last* season. To hear of his return was the greatest feeling in the world. Since then, I have pulled for him more than any other driver, but now (in the midst of his mediocrity) I am a bit saddened that he couldn't make something happen. I hope ultimately this does not deter from his prior glory.

Here's to hoping he can pull off something special in the last 6 races!