My guess is Schumacher is retiring after 2005. Why?
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My guess is Schumacher is retiring after 2005. Why?
So, Schumacher's Ferrari, which hasn't done squat in qualifying so far this year, takes the pole for the Hungarian GP today. What gives? Here's my take...
Schumacher has every record in the book, other than Senna's record of 65 poles. Schumacher has 64 after today's qualifying. My guess is that since MS is not going to win the championship this year, he may retire as season's end, without the pole record, unless Ferrari grants him a couple favors.
Hence, I feel the team decided to fuel him lightly today. This will need happen for at least 2 more race venues yet this season, so that he can take the remaining two pole positions he needs to claim this final record. That way, MS can then retire at the end of the season with all the marbles.
Yes, I know he has one more season on his contract with Ferrari (I think?), but he could get released if he wants, I'm sure. With the pole record in hand, he has nothing else to prove, and we all know by now, he has more money than he could ever spend.
With Ferrari off the boil, and the new 2.4L V8 rules coming into effect in 2006, it might take 2-3 more seasons for them to rebuild -- or develop that new engine, and I'm not fairly sure MS will want to stick around that long. And besides, once back at the top (if), Ferrari will want him to stick around even longer. I DON'T see that happening at all. So the timing is right for him to pack it in this season... if he can just claim that one last record.
Let's see how many laps he completes tomorrow before pitting. Meantime, any thoughts on the logic of my idea?
Schumacher has every record in the book, other than Senna's record of 65 poles. Schumacher has 64 after today's qualifying. My guess is that since MS is not going to win the championship this year, he may retire as season's end, without the pole record, unless Ferrari grants him a couple favors.
Hence, I feel the team decided to fuel him lightly today. This will need happen for at least 2 more race venues yet this season, so that he can take the remaining two pole positions he needs to claim this final record. That way, MS can then retire at the end of the season with all the marbles.
Yes, I know he has one more season on his contract with Ferrari (I think?), but he could get released if he wants, I'm sure. With the pole record in hand, he has nothing else to prove, and we all know by now, he has more money than he could ever spend.
With Ferrari off the boil, and the new 2.4L V8 rules coming into effect in 2006, it might take 2-3 more seasons for them to rebuild -- or develop that new engine, and I'm not fairly sure MS will want to stick around that long. And besides, once back at the top (if), Ferrari will want him to stick around even longer. I DON'T see that happening at all. So the timing is right for him to pack it in this season... if he can just claim that one last record.
Let's see how many laps he completes tomorrow before pitting. Meantime, any thoughts on the logic of my idea?
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good conspericy(sp?) theory sounds about right on the light fuelling but i don't think he'll retire it would cost him to much money too. plus he's still the best driver out there. kimi's a close second a very close second. so I'm thinking no to retirement.
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I think the reasoning behind MB-BOB's logic is valid.
I can guarantee he won't retire as long as he's so close to the pole record. However, if he does break Senna's record this year I think the odds of him continuing next year are wholly dependent on how good Ferrari looks leading up to the 2006 season. If it looks like he'll have to struggle to even finish on the podium, he'll quit - but if Ferrari looks like they have a competitive car, he'll stay.
I can guarantee he won't retire as long as he's so close to the pole record. However, if he does break Senna's record this year I think the odds of him continuing next year are wholly dependent on how good Ferrari looks leading up to the 2006 season. If it looks like he'll have to struggle to even finish on the podium, he'll quit - but if Ferrari looks like they have a competitive car, he'll stay.
