The announcement this morning from Michael Schumacher that he was retiring from Formula 1 was not entirely surprising, given recent developments in the driver's market for 2013, and the disappointments which he has endured this season. However, there were some intriguing and revealing morsels of information contained in the announcement itself.
Schumacher appears to have begun to doubt his motivation in recent times, and it was somewhat surprising to hear such a frank and honest assessment of his innermost thoughts and the reasons leading up to the move to quit. It is admirable, and also characteristic, of Schumacher to decide that if he cannot give a project 100% then he will not continue with it.
It was also significant that the German used the word "relief" to describe the emotions which he feels in making this momentous decision. Hinting perhaps that the last three seasons, or at least the latter portions of that period, have been a chore, an ordeal and a time of frustration, even if rewarding from some perspectives on a human level?
Another revealing detail is Schumacher's assertion that the signing by Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton for 2013 aided his decision to "re-retire". We can therefore assume that there was no genuine appetite for pursuing possible opportunities or options with other teams. Is this all consistent with the notion that the 2010 comeback was entirely "a Mercedes thing"?
So was it a mistake for Schumacher to return to F1? We can all pontificate and speculate, but none of the parties directly involved is likely to admit as such outright in the immediate future.
Concern has been expressed as to whether the less than sparkling results achieved during Michael's second F1 career will in some way tarnish his legacy. My own feeling is that the travails and setbacks experienced during his time with Mercedes will be placed in their right and proper perspective, and that he will be mainly remembered for his years of near hegemony with Ferrari, and his earlier feats with Benetton.
We now await news of what Schumacher intends to do with his time in the future. Some role within the Mercedes structure or, after a period of reflection, some racing activity in other, less exalted categories?
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