Michael Schumacher has announced that he will retire for a second time at the end of this season.
The seven-times World Champion joked that this time it would probably be permanent, and said that he just wants to enjoy the last six races of the season. His final race will come in Brazil exactly six years after his first retirement.
Flanked by Ross Brawn and Norbert Haug, Schumacher began by reading from a prepared statement to the assembled media.
“Basically I’ve decided to retire by the end of the year,” he said. “Although I’m still able and capable to compete with the best drivers that are around. But at some point it’s good to say goodbye. And that’s what I’m doing herewith by the end of the season, and it might this time even be forever.
“During the past month I was not sure if I still had the motivation and energy which is necessary to go on. It is not my style to do something that I’m not 100% feeling for. With today’s decision I feel release, obviously from those doubts, and in the end my ambition to fight for victories and the pleasure of driving is nourished obviously by competitiveness.
“It is without doubt that we did not achieve our goals to develop a World Championship fighting car. But it is also very clear that I can still be very happy about my overall achievements in the whole time of my career.
“In the past six years I have learned a lot about myself. For example that you can sort of open yourseflf without losing focus, that losing can be both more difficult and more instructive. Sometimes I’ve lost this sort of out of sight in the earlier years, though that you appreciate to be able to do what you love to do, that you should live your convictions, and I was able to do so.”
Michael’s voice showed a clear hint of emotion when he mentioned his wife: “I would obviously like Daimler, Mercedes-Benz, the team, the engineers, all my mechanics for all the trust that they’ve put in those years into myself. But I would also like to thank all of my friends, partners and companions who over many years supported myself. But most of all I’d like to thank Corinna, my family, for always standing by my side, giving me the freedom to live my conviction and sharing my joy. That is very special.
“I would like obviously now to concentrate until the end of the season for the last races, and enjoy them together with you. Let’s have fun – thank you.”
Adam Cooper F1 
He will be missed again. All those fantastic sunday afternoons gone again. Live well
Obviously, for sure, you know.
A sad day for me, this year he was showing up Rosberg it was just the car failures that make Michael’s championship position look unfavourable. I know people criticise him for the relative lack of success in his comeback but I don’t. It shows him for what he is and what he should be remembered, a pure racer. I also appreciate the more human side to him that he has demonstrated in the last few years. He has shown more of his true self and I think that’s been very positive, the image of an uncaring robot that many had of him has been shown to be false. He’s a good man and one of the finest drivers to have lived and I consider myself priviledged to have witnessed his career. I wish him every success and happiness for the future.
Well, thats that then. I can’t tell you how depressed I am. I really believed Ross and Norbert when they promised him a race winning car. I can see the motivation to keep on flogging round in a mid-field car would be almost impossible to maintain. This is why he went to the young drivers test at Magny Cour to see if the upgrade would make any difference, clearly, again they didn’t and his distraction at Singapore was plain to see. Now I hope he can have 6 good races and at least enjoy his parting shot. I have said before, and will again that I think Mercedes have behaved very badly and let him down big time, so I hope he doesn’t go and work for them [unless its on the road car side], certainly not with Lauda, Brawn and Haug.
@Loti
I also had that felling that he should never work for Mercedes again, but it sounds from his staments that they, apart from giving him a crap car 3 years in a row, has been fair enough. And that he wanted them to make the decision. So given the chance/money I will buy a Mercedes:-) But a crappy day. I just sit surfing the net for reactions and look at the 2006 review where had Ferrari not stuffed him both in Japan(engine blown in the lead) and Brazil he would have been 8 time world champ.
And I just wanted him to get the most races record. Maybee in the next comeback:-)
I hope he’s going to be happy. Somehow, I think he will be…
I have been to some F1 races and everytime Schumacher has been around in 2010 we snicked into the pit around 18 saterday evning. And all the Ferrari mecanics was working on Alonsos car and a lot of selebs was taking pictures(so did we) then at Mercedes Scumacer was hard at work. Talking to the engineers. When he left on his electrcal bike a guy was quickly putting his arms around Schumis shoulders he stod still long enough for the guys wief to take photos. With a wave he went. In 2012 it was Spa and in the rain we sat freezing our butt just oppersit the Mercedes pit an there he was as the only driver working during gp2 and gp3 practise. Then there was the driver parade Sunday he was the only one calmly answering questions and his driver was a very polite old man who sprang out of the car went to the passenger side and opened the door for Schumacher. He is the king all the other drivers just came and vent as fast as they could. Schumacher stayed around. I belive it is why Bernie say the young champions doesn’t give anything back. I will miss him. But I do respect what he wants.
And Adam please give my respect to Edd Straw his articels on Schumacher are very nice. And fair.