Schumacher Wins 90th Grand Prix, Announces Retirement

Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher will retire from F1 at the end of the season. The announcement follows Schumacher’s first place in the Italian Grand Prix, a result that reduces his title deficit (behind Renault’s Fernando Alonso) to just two points. The Ferrari (Bridgestone) driver’s victory was the 90th in a career in which Schumacher has broken almost every F1 record.

But he has also been a controversial champion. “Where Schumacher cannot draw the right line is on track. He cannot see when he crosses the line between tough but fair, and ruthless but foul. That is exacerbated by his total belief that he cannot be wrong. He has a default mode in the car: if you’re going to pass him, he will drive you off the road. He even did it to me as a team-mate,” former Benetton team-mate, Martin Brundle commented.

Meanwhile Renault boss Flavio Briatore got himself into hot water of his own by suggesting that this year’s title had already been decided in Schumacher’s favour. He later said the comments were jokey remarks made out of context.