Who thinks Schumacher finally should retire?

**nigelred5** · 1st Jun 12, 20:17

I'm sorry, but I've apparently missed all the races Nico has won in the MERC over the past three seasons... I stand by what I said, in a car with the performance advantage schummi enjoyed whail at Ferrari and Benetton, like the RB the past two seasons, he'd have added well to his career win tally. The merc simply was not a contending car the past two seasons. I believe it IS very competetive this year and no, I don't believe he should pack it in. I say he's still better than 50% of the drivers on the grid many of them are half his age. HE said he was ok supporting NICO and making the car better. Teams rarely have truly equal cars and support for their drivers, and Merc is no exception.

**The Black Knight** · 1st Jun 12, 23:29

Originally Posted by F1boat

If car#7 has problems in almost every race, it doesn't matter how competitive it is pacewise. Merc are doing fine with Nico, but what is happening to Michael is a disgrace, unbelievable.

I think they will probably sort that. It is bad what is happening alright but tis nothing that didn't happen to some of Schuey's teammates in his Ferrari era. Still, I'm sure that Merc will sort it.

**F1boat** · 5th Jun 12, 09:28

Originally Posted by The Black Knight

I think they will probably sort that. It is bad what is happening alright but tis nothing that didn't happen to some of Schuey's teammates in his Ferrari era. Still, I'm sure that Merc will sort it.

I can't remember such bad series for a teammate of Michael, honestly. Rubens and Eddie were simply never that good.

**SGWilko** · 6th Jun 12, 12:31

Originally Posted by F1boat

I can't remember such bad series for a teammate of Michael, honestly. Rubens and Eddie were simply never that good.

Only time Eddie was quick was running to the bank, or clambering out the window of some fillie's gaff before the old man got upstairs!

**F1boat** · 7th Jun 12, 10:33

Eddie amused me

I still remember his odd wins in 1999, he almost won the WDC...

**SGWilko** · 7th Jun 12, 13:10

Originally Posted by F1boat

Eddie amused me

I still remember his odd wins in 1999, he almost won the WDC...

That he didn't, even with Salo and the Shoe playing rear gunner for him, show's just how poor he really was. One of life's natural No. 2's is Ediie.

**F1boat** · 7th Jun 12, 14:20

I think that he was OK, not a great driver, but not a terrible one either. And he was surely annoying to his rivals

**SGWilko** · 7th Jun 12, 14:50

Originally Posted by F1boat

I think that he was OK, not a great driver, but not a terrible one either. And he was surely annoying to his rivals

He was always one of those 'great on a good day', but never seemed to manage to have a good day co-incide with a race!

**F1boat** · 8th Jun 12, 08:08

Originally Posted by SGWilko

He was always one of those 'great on a good day', but never seemed to manage to have a good day co-incide with a race!

Hahahahah, thank you sir, you made my day! It is true, however, that from what I remember McLaren were quite perplexed about how this guy could fight them for the WDC... when Michael broke his leg, they expected to finish 1-2 in the championship. Instead they barely beat Irvive and Frentzen!

**The Black Knight** · 8th Jun 12, 12:21

Originally Posted by F1boat

Hahahahah, thank you sir, you made my day! It is true, however, that from what I remember McLaren were quite perplexed about how this guy could fight them for the WDC... when Michael broke his leg, they expected to finish 1-2 in the championship. Instead they barely beat Irvive and Frentzen!

Yes, but I'll always remember the 1999 championship as the Championship nobody wanted to win. All the contenders seemed to be making all the necessary mistakes required just at the right moment to make sure they didn't wrap it up.

It was a missed opportunity for MS, much like 97 and 98. Frightening really if you think about it, had luck favored him a little more those years we could be calling him a 10 time WDC and even then there would still be idiots claiming that he was never a great driver and it was all down to the car. Go figure!

**i_max2k2** · 8th Jun 12, 20:38

Originally Posted by The Black Knight

Yes, but I'll always remember the 1999 championship as the Championship nobody wanted to win. All the contenders seemed to be making all the necessary mistakes required just at the right moment to make sure they didn't wrap it up.

It was a missed opportunity for MS, much like 97 and 98. Frightening really if you think about it, had luck favored him a little more those years we could be calling him a 10 time WDC and even then there would still be idiots claiming that he was never a great driver and it was all down to the car. Go figure!

Yep I have always looked at those years and wondered the same, I think along with senna, he is up there to have had the best of combination of what a competitive racing driver should have to be successful, still in awe of the fact that he got the best qualifying time in Monaco at 43 in such a competitive season.

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**Garry Walker** · 8th Jun 12, 21:49

MS to win canada

Originally Posted by F1boat

I don't think that he is currently the best driver in F1, but I do think that Mercedes are highly unprofessional when preparing his car, to the point that conspiracy theories almost look credible.

No, they don't look credible.

Originally Posted by F1boat

If car#7 has problems in almost every race, it doesn't matter how competitive it is pacewise. Merc are doing fine with Nico, but what is happening to Michael is a disgrace, unbelievable.

That happened at Ferrari with Schumi's teammates. Remember what happened with Rubens in 2002? Even worse than what MS has had. Sometimes things just don't work out, it doesn't have to be a conspiracy.

**jens** · 9th Jun 12, 08:52

Originally Posted by Garry Walker

Sometimes things just don't work out, it doesn't have to be a conspiracy.

Pretty much so. It is also worth reminding 2001, when Häkkinen had a horrible start into the season. After the first seven races he merely had 4 points, while Coulthard had 40! This is what unluck can do to a driver.

**F1boat** · 9th Jun 12, 09:09

Originally Posted by The Black Knight

Yes, but I'll always remember the 1999 championship as the Championship nobody wanted to win. All the contenders seemed to be making all the necessary mistakes required just at the right moment to make sure they didn't wrap it up.

True. Hakkinen retired from the lead at least four times, maybe more (Oz, Imola, Germany and Monza I remember quite well).

**F1boat** · 9th Jun 12, 09:39

Ah, I think that Michael was easily the best that year, in the car in which Barrichello failed to win the race, he dominated easily. Mika was good, however, very good, on his day invincible.

**steveaki13** · 9th Jun 12, 17:01

Hakkinen only scored 7 points in the first 7 races or something in 2001, or something like that, until he won at Silverstone then had a better second half season, but Coulthard looked more consistant that season. And Michael I think was best.

Still each to there own.

**jens** · 9th Jun 12, 17:39

Originally Posted by henners88

Yeah 2001 was a year McLaren threw the title away through unreliability at the start but Mika still came away looking like the best driver that year IMO.

I suspect you might be confusing 2000 and 2001.

**rjbetty84** · 9th Jun 12, 19:01

Michael's done alright this year, no?

Australia: Qualifies 4th, Gearbox Failure in race while running 3rd
Malaysia: Qualifies 3rd, close to pole. Problems in race limit him to 10th, but utterly annihilated (sp?) Rosberg
China: Well of Rosberg's pace, but starts on front row and runs 2nd till mechanical failure at 1st stop.
Bahrain: Sent to back of grid, finishes 10th. Pace a bit off Rosberg in quali, but more equal in race (as in 2011)
Spain: Qualifies a little off Rosberg, crashed in race. I didn't see, but heard he was going FAST at the time.
Monaco: On pole. Would have won. Nuff said.

**ShiftingGears** · 10th Jun 12, 02:26

Originally Posted by henners88

Just a differing opinion Jens.

Hakkinen the best driver in 2001? The year when he finished 5th in the championship?

The year when seven out of the eight times that the McLaren drivers both finished a race, Coulthard placed higher?

**Garry Walker** · 10th Jun 12, 13:43

Originally Posted by henners88

Yeah 2001 was a year McLaren threw the title away through unreliability at the start but Mika still came away looking like the best driver that year IMO.

You must be thinking of 2000.

Originally Posted by henners88

Just a differing opinion Jens.

No, you must be confusing the years, otherwise I fear for your sanity and deeply. DC kept destroying Mika that year in both quali and in races, after MH lost motivation after the car failure at Melbourne. Throughout the year he only had 2 good races, which he actually both won, but most of the time he was nowhere.