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John Glynn August 2, 2010 10:02 AM

I think he's bored. Been there done that, maybe not enough test miles or facetime with Ross in the average working week.

Broughster August 2, 2010 10:15 AM

He can't believe that people aren't in awe of him and that he can't intimidate them anymore. There has been at least one of these incidents every race, with better drivers being bumped or forced off the circuit trying to get around someone who cannot hack it at this level now.

In previous years we could have a discussion about massive skill, vs dirty tactics. Now we are just left with the latter and it is time for hime to retire, before he injures himself or a fellow competitor.

Lanciaman August 2, 2010 10:29 AM

I and plenty of other people more in the know than me said he was a fool to come back. There is only one direction you can go from the top and that`s down.

Lotus Man August 2, 2010 10:41 AM

if he had been protecting a race lead then it would of been a move of a champion, but since he was just looking after his ego - it seemed a little pathetic.  If I had 1/2 billion in the bank, I'd rather be sailing in the Med!

Broughster August 2, 2010 10:50 AM

Good point Lotus Man....

The interesting thing is that he is probably doing more damage to the Schumacher brand financially, than he is earning at Williams.

If you were a large company would you like your brand associated with Schumacher now?

Fred The Fiend August 2, 2010 11:02 AM

Schumacher's an animal and always has been.  He's also a has-been.

Pistachio August 2, 2010 11:30 AM

Schumacher, hmm Why doesn't he go racing in another category WRC, World Touring Car, Classic F1? and become world champion of that? or cant he do that?

Its not like he needs the money any more and he is denying a younger driver a drive in F1.

Just for the record his move on Barichello was dangerous. He didnt need to do that at all. And Barichello used to be his team mate who helped him to all those World Championships. Nice pay back.

Leslie Brook August 2, 2010 11:31 AM

Broughster...

he's earning nothing from Williams as far as I know. I'm sure Mercedes are paying him well though.

moskvich427 August 2, 2010 11:36 AM

I don't agree with the general vibe towards Schumi at the moment. His move on Rubens was firm... but there was enough room, proved by the fact he got passed. And if Rubens had dived down the other side instead, there wouldn't have been an issue.

People moan about F1 being boring, then when a driver does something vaguely interesting (thinking back to the final corner at Monaco here too...) he gets punished. It's silly.

RadeB August 2, 2010 11:41 AM

Sailing , racing in WTC...GOOD LORD!

That man has mad ambition, he would go only for the best in F1, nothing less!

Don't rule him out yet.He'll show his real potential next year,his last chance,and that will make him even more dangerous!

Leslie Brook August 2, 2010 11:43 AM

moskvich427...

yes, there was enough room, but if someone had been leaving the pits at the same time, Rubens would have driven into the side of him at full chat and without warning.

Fred The Fiend August 2, 2010 11:49 AM

RadeB: and that will make him even more dangerous!

He's quite dangerous enough. His move on Barichello was obviously premeditated and timed to cause the maximum amount of intimidation.

montgomery August 2, 2010 11:56 AM

Horrible driving by Schumacher but why be surprised? Schumacher has been a dirty, cynical cheat since he came in to F1 and that hasn't changed. He could have killed himself, Barrichello and others yesterday. There's a line between hard, firm racuing and dangerously risking other people's lives and Schumacher crossed it. If I was Barrichello I would have smashed his face in afterwards.

Latebreaker August 2, 2010 12:23 PM

Such a shame, a motoring legend is slowly dismantling his castle.

michael knight August 2, 2010 12:29 PM

It's all 'what if' and what could have happened. Fact is - no-one was hurt...end of story.

Schuey makes life a little more interesting. Especially if your name's Rubens..!

autodownunder August 2, 2010 12:29 PM

Yes Montgomery...points taken.

In fact I seem to remember very well some years ago at the Belgian GP at Spa in the wet, when Schumacher and Coulthard came together in appaling conditions..who can forget the sight of Schumacher storming down pit lane, intent on having it out with Coulthard...

Personally I wouldn't blame Rubens if he wanted to do the same thing to Schumacher, except of course, that Rubens is far more wise than that.

Call it a day Schumacher, go back to your wife and kids and go take up golfing...it worked for Mansell...!

Amanitin August 2, 2010 12:32 PM

It must be kind of depressing to find you're over the top with thirty something and have literally no clue about anything except for driving a car fast. Or riding a bike. Or kicking a ball.

It looks like a fat account does not make up for that feeling.

Paul J August 2, 2010 12:50 PM

I heard the news earlier and Schuey has a 10 place grid penalty at the next race.  Not much for attempted murder is it?

GaryW August 2, 2010 12:58 PM

moskvich427...

Since Schumacher only started to move to the right AFTER Rubens had started to pass on the right...what do you think would have happened if Rubens had chosen the other side?  Correct - Schumacher would have forced him off the track in that direction instead.

Once a cheat with no scruples, always a cheat with no scruples.  Compile a list of all the drivers who've been disqualified from the F1 Driver's Championship for cheating.  It's a short list...  (Hint: 1997)

944s2jock August 2, 2010 1:02 PM

I dont know what was worse the prematitated squeeze towards barriers or the post race claim/justification "I moved to the right to let him pass on left"

Give up Michael before you do any damage to yourself or others

Lee23404 August 2, 2010 1:38 PM

Schumi's move might have been a bit OTT (I think some people are getting a but hysterical) but I'm glad it happended because apart from a minor prang in the pits and Rosbergs wheel falling off nothing remotely interesting happened in that race.

Typical dull Hungary.

Knucklehead August 2, 2010 3:24 PM

To all Schumi fans - I am a big fan of MSC and yes, I thought his genius came back at Monaco when watching live (and not knowing all the rules) but yesterday's move on Rubens was almost too scary to watch.  

It was also apparent from Rubens' live discussion on the BBC with a feed of Schumi's response to questioning his move that there is more to it than just a defensive move. Rubens was absolutely stunned at what was being said and looked sick at the thought of racing this man in the future as it was such a dangerous action.

I'd rather remember MSC for races such as his 'last' great race in Brazil 2006 which showed his raw amazing speed and aggressive - not dangerous - overtaking by a true legend.

Its why I'd rather he stepped down than go on to make mistakes (in my opinion) that could result in him being remembered for something far worse than being a former champion.

beachland2 August 2, 2010 3:48 PM

Schumacher has said he is sorry, and has admitted he made a mistake as has agreed with the stewards penalty on looking at the incident himself. he says he didnt mean to endanger rubens.

we could say his rustiness continues in how close he fights to the edge, not quite perfect, nor is his racing pace.

i am more concerned about his ability now, but given his competence on building and refining a car to his style will have to give him the benefit of judging him properly in 2011.

david RS August 2, 2010 5:59 PM

Shame to have not found the wisdom and good sportsmanship in his retirement.

A very talented driver but stained by anti-sports maneuvers sometimes dangerous and helped by the points of his small pilots.

Dave Ryan August 2, 2010 6:32 PM

As Lee23404 has said, the reaction to the move is getting a bit much. It was definitely very poor (and the stewards' response to investigate was correct), but I still think it's very premature to be speaking of Schumi needing to walk away because of it. As I said on one of the forum topics, for me this move was borne out of frustration as much as anything else, said frustration stemming from his race rustiness just as it did in Canada. It crossed the line (in both the metaphorical and literal senses...), but he has been punished accordingly and mercifully no further harm came of it. He has held up his hands and apologised which for me is a good step forward and will perhaps make him think a bit more about it in future.

I still think Schumi can overcome the race rustiness and see out the end of his 3-year contract (even if he does not hang around much longer after that), but it was always going to be a difficult first season back given how much has changed compared with 2006 and the calibre of the grid. If incidents like this occur again next season then it will probably be a different story, but for now I'd say calls for him to return to retirement are a bit premature.

david RS August 2, 2010 7:11 PM

Could he lose his license?

marktobin August 2, 2010 8:03 PM

I loved Schumi, he's one of the greatest drivers of all time (i happen to belive THE greatest) but its very sad to witness his downfall this year. Not onlt being comprehensivley outpaced by his team mate, but resorting to dangerous driving, & for what, a single point! Schumi should never have come back. Instead we shouyld have been able to remember him as the true natural talent he was (albeit somewhat flawed!)

zogle28 August 2, 2010 8:10 PM

I think it's time we put a few things straight here because the tabloid-lovers out there who listen to everything they hear are coming out all over the place now and it's showing how ill-informed you are.

As a Schumacher fan since the beginning of 1994 I've witnessed plenty of questionable moves and Hungary was one. Yes, Michael moved over a bit aggressively and probably just about crossed that line between giving enough room and pushing your luck but as many have pointed out, he has apologised and even so Rubens still made it through.

As someone who has raced myself for 12 years I know that in racing you get one move, one change of line, and that's the principle I always worked by. A steady move across the line with the intention of putting the other driver off going for that gap. If you're in front it's your right to do so and I did plenty of times. Let's just go back to earlier in the year where a certain Hamilton swerved his car across the track 4 times in front of Petrov at 180mph, completely contravening the rules in the process. Did he get punished? No.

Schumacher's move on Kubica at Canada -  what's the problem here? If you look at the video you'll see he's in front, therefore it's his corner. He would have taken it properly had he not been nerfed onto the grass by Kubica. Kubica is behind and like on the real roads we all drive on it's his place to concede.

So Schumacher's lost it has he? I take it you all were busy downing a pint then when Martin Brundle finally commented on what I've been noticing all year - that Schumacher has made up 24 places on the first lap of races this year. In 10/11 races? Yeah you're right he's crap, he's lost it. Who's had the most fastest pitstops this year? Yeah you know who I'm going to say. Has he lost it? Course he has.

Does MS stop at the end of the pitlane when he sees a red light? Yes. Does Hamilton? No. Does MS race people down the pitlane alongside hoardes of mechanics? No. Does Hamilton? Yes, and he gets away with that too. Does MS overtake the safety car? No. Does Hamilton? Yes, and he gets away with that too. (disregarding the penalty because it was given when it made no difference).

Do Ferrari get punished for robbing us of a racing spectacle? Yes. Do McLaren get punished for ordering their drivers to stay in formation and not race (thus robbing us of a spectacle)? No.

Let's take a look at this year's race stewards: Derek Warwick (English), Alain Prost (ex-McLaren), Alex Wurz (ex-McLaren), Nigel Mansell, (ex-McLaren, British (at the British GP) confessed on the Saturday "come on Jenson and Lewis"), Johnny Herbert (English), Emerson Fittipaldi (ex-McLaren).

Now am I just being really pedantic or am I seeing an abundance of British and ex-Mclaren drivers/testers on the Steward's panel? Would you have a British referee in a game with England in, at Wembley, after he'd just said 'Come on England'? Everything has gone McLaren's way this season (punishments not handed out to them, punishments consistently handed out to others).

But back to Schumacher. He didn't win 7 titles by being crap or giving out rewards to other drivers on the track. He came back because he loves racing, he wanted to come back to help his old team last year, he's nailed his balls and reputation on the line and he's putting up with second rate machinery till he has the chance to do something in a good car. I doubt any of you would be willing to stick your pride on the line for the love of something you are good at so until you do then put your tongues away. And whilst you're at it, remember that when Schumacher has a crap car and comes 14th he gets ridiculed. When Button has one of the best and doesn't make it out of Q2, no one bats an eyelid.

vpande August 3, 2010 3:39 AM

Thank god Schuey's got more balls than the typical motoring journo.

Full marks to him for putting his legendary reputation on the line and confirm that he'll be hanging around for 2011.

944s2jock August 3, 2010 8:50 AM

zogle28

A move to try and block a rival passing fair enough Almost pushing a rival into pit wall to try and prevent him passing slightly different thing I think

I cant be bothered looking all them up but I'm quite sure a list of similar Schmacher/Benneton/Ferrari transgressions over the years could easliy be found. Obvious one of the top of my head is stopping on track in Monaco and goodness knows how many agressive blocks and so on which went unpunished. Sadly, to me anyway, that push to the edge and beyond attutude of both him and Senna was the side of two great drivers I was uncomfortable with and the reason while I respect his amazing achievments I'm no fan of him. Witness his blatant "what have I done wrong" comment after race which were quicky changed to an grudging apology when someone probably took him aside and pointed out what he had actually done.

BTW Vettel appears to have inherited the Schumi swerve off the line recently and thus far is getting away with it

zogle28 August 3, 2010 11:26 PM

Quick point but if you're gonna make a note of the Monaco incident, which we'll describe as deliberately blocking the track to stop a competitor getting a chance at pole, then maybe we should also take a look at Fernando Alonso's blocking tactic on Lewis Hamilton in Hungary when the two were team-mates, when Fernando stayed in his pitbox just long enough to stop Hamilton having the chance at getting round in time to start a timed-lap.

Cynical? Yes. Is he remembered for it? No. Entirely as blatant but yet not the same. But why? Because the traditional German-bashing by the English press has never truly ended.

Those without balls lose. Those lacking in killer instinct on a race track fall by the wayside. Barrichello is a nice guy but that's where he'll always fail in F1. Senna had a killer instinct - Japanese GP where he deliberately drove into Prost to win the championship as one example - So is he constantly remembered for it? Was he disqualified from the championship for it? If you know your F1 you'll know the answers to both are no. Point made.

944s2jock August 4, 2010 9:35 AM

zogle28

you just reinforced all that is wrong today with motorsport.

I was at a club meeting at weekend where a driver had his licence removed for the same reason you give above he removed a fellow competitor from trackand debatably caused an accident which led to another competitor being hospitalised

That is where KILLER instinct leads

BTW Senna IS remembered by some for that incident and his win at all cost whatever the cost is attitude not for his amazing first lap at Donington and other epic drives

zogle28 August 4, 2010 9:58 PM

Remembered by 'some'. Yes, you're right to point out the absolute minority there 944. Not one person I know from any walk of motorsport has ever remembered him for that. Everyone remembers him as a great driver and for great drives.

Schumacher on the other hand is remembered by far more people for his dark side than his great drives and ability to bring a team around him to achieve great success.

And don't be so pathetic to take literally the 'killer' in killer instinct. Good quality racing and the greatest moves come from a killer instinct, including all the greats from Prost and Senna to Alonso and Hamilton.

Your example comes from club racing where the immature and the downright sneaky are very prevalent because people haven't learned race craft. In karting you see it all the time too, driver's sticking their nose under a competitor's bumper thus lifting their braking wheels off the ground so they can't slow down, barging them off, etc. I've been subject to it many times, I've even been flipped out of my kart and shoved up quarry walls with it.

The line is drawn when accidents are caused. On Sunday, no accident was caused. Oh wait, one was caused. A Renault took out a Force India in the middle of about 36 unprotected people and a crowded pitlane. I don't see anyone writing up a blog about this continually going wrong up and down the pitlane but hey, I wouldn't want a motoring journalist to get his priorities straight now instead of resorting to tabloid opinions would I?

944s2jock August 5, 2010 8:40 AM

Yes totally agree  the pitlane safety car disasters were virtually ignored yet could have been hell of a lot worse!

Though it may have been no one hurt no column inches!

944s2jock August 5, 2010 10:41 AM

The other thing about the pitlane debacle was they were accidents stupid potentially serious but unintended all the same

Ralf S. August 10, 2010 4:43 PM

I think Big Schu' did the right thing...  Hard but fair, had it not been Whinger Warwick on the steward's panel.. :D

This is Formula-1.  Delicate squeamish types need not apply.