Michael Schumacher happy with Lewis Hamilton as his replacement – Formula 1 news
Michael Schumacher has expressed his agreement with his team Mercedes’ decision to replace him with Lewis Hamilton next year.
Hamilton has recently decided to leave his team McLaren to join Mercedes and partner Nico Rosberg for next year. On the other hand, Schumacher has given his decision to retire from Formula 1 at the end of this season. The driver is the seven time world champion
and had already retired once before. He had confirmed that he will be retiring at the end of the 2006 season.
During the retirement he kept working for team Ferrari and help them select future drivers. Schumacher returned to Formula 1 for the season of 2010 and partnered Rosberg at Mercedes. The years following his end of retirement have not seen him perform very
well. He was only able to achieve one podium finish ever since.
Schumacher admits that he has not been performing the way a Mercedes’ driver should although his team has shown him unconditional trust and commitment. He insists that he has not been forced into another retirement by Mercedes so that they can sign on Hamilton
but he has been pondering on a similar decision himself for several months.
“No. Those in charge of Mercedes had repeatedly emphasised that even after this season they would like to continue working with me,” he said. “It was not for another year, but rather a further two years. With that in mind, even for a year, it would have
been difficult. Inwardly, I probably prepared myself unconsciously already for retirement several months ago. And honestly, if you can sign Lewis Hamilton for Mercedes, then you have to get him. I would have done the same, he is the right choice.”
The team principal for Mercedes, Ross Brawn, is also very excited for the new change in their team and he thinks that the duo of Hamilton and Rosberg will bring them new laurels.
Hamilton admits that McLaren has been a very fantastic team to work with but he is now ready for a fresh challenge. He said that Mercedes and him share a similar passion for winning and hopes the combination will work out well.
Schumacher has wished his team and Hamilton good luck and is working to concentrate on his upcoming races.
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