Schumacher May Decide to Retire at the Close of 2010, Eddie Jordan
BBC Formula One expert, Eddie Jordan, has remarked that seven times world champion, Michael Schumacher, is pondering on hanging up his gloves at the close of the 2010 season. The former team Jordan owner said he felt the German driver had been let down significantly by his less than smooth return from retirement.
41-year-old Schumacher returned to competitive racing after three years in retirement. The German driver signed a three-year contract with Mercedes GP at the beginning of the 2010 season, and was paired alongside fellow countryman, Nico Rosberg, to spearhead the team’s campaign. However, Schumacher’s comeback has been far from smooth, and the former world champion has found himself repeatedly overshadowed by his much less experienced team mate.
Once again at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza this weekend, it was Rosberg who managed to set the pace for Mercedes, where Schumacher failed to make it into Q3. Rosberg was able to salvage the 7th place for his team on a track that was regarded as being ill-suited to the Mercedes car. However, Schumacher’s woes continued after he could manage only the 12th spot behind Force India’s Adrian Sutil. The German blamed the unreliability of his car around fast turns for the disappointing result.
Eddie Jordan has not been the first Formula One pundit to speculate on Schumacher’s future in the sport and the Mercedes team boss, Ross Brawn, has once again rubbished rumours that Schumacher will be replaced from the team for the coming year’s campaign.
Ross Brawn categorically asserted that there would be no changes to the team’s first-choice driver line up for the 2011 season. Schumacher’s spokeswoman echoed the team’s principal views, saying the German had no plans for retiring from Formula One at the close of the 2010 run.
Some pundits have reasoned that the seven times world champion has not been able to adjust his driving style to the Mercedes and has hence struggled to capitalize on his experience of the sport. Schumacher has also come under criticism for his aggressive driving style. The German was penalized by race stewards at the Hungarian Grand Prix for a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre aimed at his former Ferrari team mate, Rubens Barrichello. Schumacher almost thrust Barrichello into the pit wall at the Hungaroring in August, earning himself a ten-place grid penalty for the following race.
The German then apologized to Barrichello for endangering his life, though whether it was the Mercedes management which was behind Schumacher’s somewhat reluctant apology has not been ascertained. Barrichello, ever the gentleman, accepted the German’s less-than-passionate plea for forgiveness with open arms, remarking that life goes on. Regardless, Schumacher’s audacious and dangerous move in Hungary did little to warm him in the eyes of those who already doubted his potential to stage a successful comeback at the age of 41.
Eddie Jordan revealed that the Mercedes team’s motor-home had been subject to visits by many managers on the lookout to acquire their drivers in recent weeks. Meanwhile, Jordan elaborated, the position of Ross Brawn as the Mercedes GP team boss was reportedly under threat for the coming season, something which could be highly unsettling for Michael Schumacher’s future prospects with the squad. Jordan also divulged there were rumours the Mercedes 2011 make might not be a championship winning machine after the 2010 car had failed to deliver on expectations.
In light of the above information, Jordan conjectured that Schumacher might very well be already decided on his retirement at the end of the 2010 season. Jordan highlighted an interview the German had with the BBC only a few weeks ago where Schumacher professed it was not possible for him to compete on the same level with the new younger drivers at the grid as he was in his 40s.
Schumacher’s dismissive performance at the Italian Grand Prix this weekend will add further fuel to the fire speculation re-erupts over his future. Schumacher is considered amongst the top echelons of motor sport, therefore he will have to retire on a good note in order maintain his legendary stats. Meanwhile, rumours are rife that the German may already have decided what the future holds for him as far as the world of Formula One is concerned.
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