Michael Schumacher announced his retirement from Formula One at Monza, closing a career defined by extraordinary statistics: 90 race victories, 68 pole positions, 75 fastest laps, and seven drivers' world championships, five of them with Ferrari. A German from Kerpen, near Cologne, he became the first of his nationality to win the F1 title.
His record of 247 starts left him six shy of Riccardo Patrese's all-time mark, the only major statistical benchmark in the sport he would not claim. His final three races of the season, in China, Japan, and Brazil, offered a chance at an eighth championship.
Yet his legacy remained deeply disputed. Critics, including 1997 champion Jacques Villeneuve, pointed to a pattern of aggressive driving and rule-bending across his career. Controversies included a collision with Damon Hill at the 1994 Australian Grand Prix, a deliberate clash with Villeneuve in 1997 that cost him that title, and a qualifying incident at Monaco in 2006 involving Fernando Alonso.
Supporters, meanwhile, credited his fitness, professionalism, and relentless competitive drive. He was also a prominent voice on driver safety. His post-retirement plans were unclear, though an ambassadorial role with Ferrari was widely expected.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in September 2006, in its own words.