Congrats Michael!

Although I am not a big fan of him I reckon he is one of the greatest drivers of all times.

I am fan, and very happy :D

Boo, boring! :p

Well they (Schumacher and Ferrari) were the best this year (and last year, and the year before...) but Formula One should be made less technical and more exciting.

Best driver of the modern era, period. Don't use the 'But he's driving in the best car!' argument, can you remember how utterly crap Ferrari were before he went there?

Its a great achievement but its a bit of shame that the season is over so soon. It would have been nice to see Kimi win his first race...

The race today actually had some excitement in it so that was nice but Schumi taking the title so early really is bad for the sport as there is nobody that can actually threaten him in the coming years.

Of course he wouldn't become champion in an Arrows or Minardi,but without Schumi Ferrari would only slightly be above these teams.So they have the best driver and through him the best team and so the best car.Jean Todt or Ross Brawn would certainly not work for a non-Schuhmacher Ferrari.

After what happened in Austria, this leaves a bad aftertaste in my mouth... maybe if Schuey wins 1 more, then I'll be satisfied

And this suprises me?

Schumi is probably the best driver EVER in F1...

He should come to Indy next year though and see how he does on an oval! :D

A triumph and a good race to win it with too - spoiled only by Ron Dennis' sulking about the yellow flags being waved when Schumaker overtook Kimi (I think they had the wrong flags out it should have been an oil warning flag not a yellow)

Well I think you would be annoyed to, if one of your drivers shopuld have won but may have been robbed because of the wrong flag being waved.

Probably, but that guy is soooo sour-faced all the time I get sick of hearing his complaints :rolleyes:

Well I would also complain if I had to compete with the pro-Ferrari decisions all the time...

Take the line-crossing thing in the last race. Both Schumachers, Massa and Coulthard crossed it, all got punished, fine so far. But for Massa, Ralf Schumacher and Coulthard the investigation came around one lap after the incident, the penalty two or three laps later.
Michael Schumacher drove on for three or four laps before the investigation came, therefore three laps longer. In this three laps he won about 4 seconds on Ralf Schumacher and Coulthard, so that after his penalty he came out exactly in front of them. If he would have gotten the penalty in the same time as the others he wouldn't have won the race.
These are the little things...

Many people here in Brazil don't like Schumacher. There are a lot of reasons for that. The main reason, in my opinion, is the fact that people here still considers Ayrton Senna the greatest pilot ever (debatable, I know, I'm talking about how many people feel here in Brazil), and it's annoying to see a pilot from other country breaking his records.

The other is that Shumacher is treated better by Ferrari than Rubens Barrichello. Many people here resent that, considering that his car is almost flawless while Rubens' car keeps crashing constantly.

So, people here just don't like Shumacher, it's a fact. However...

I think he's a worth champion. The best pilot, in the best team, in the best car. Taking away his merits based in what's above (as many people here do) is bullsh*t, is trying to deny that he is the dominant force in that sport (for those who still considers F1 a sport).

I'll never try to hide his achievements due to envy on the fact that he is achieveing performances superior to the ones of some of the best brazilian pilots, or due to the very natural fact that Ferrari treats better it's best pilot. Hell,that's what I would do.

So, congrats, Schumacher.

HOWEVER...

I too don't like him. For other reasons. I don't think he plays fair. Not once, but twice, he, on porpouse, threw his cars over others to stop them from winning races and, guarantee his winnings on the tournament.

And he accepted that ridiculous hoax in Austria(?), when he took barrichelo's victory, even without the slightest need of it. In my opinion, Ruben's, second pilot, was cornered, but Schumacher has enough influence to question decisions from the box.

So, all the greatness he has as a pilot, he lacks as a human being.

I'll have to wait for next generation before I consider any F1 pilot a deserving sport idol.

Barrichello just has to accept that he is the SECOND driver in the team and is NOT an equal with Schumaker as far as Ferrari is concerned. The Ferrari project has been the same since Schu joined - ie he is to win the drivers championship for them (because he is the best driver) and the other driver is there to help them win the constructors. This was the position when Irvine was driving for them and has been up until last sunday.

Now it will get interesting as B will have to get as many points as possible to help win the constructors and get a Ferrrari 1 and 2 place in the drivers also. There shouldn't be any surprise that B's car always breaks down - the team HAD to devote as much time as possible to getting S's car perfect if they are to achieve the above. That will change for the rest of the season.

Austria - the order for B to move over and let S win came from the very top of the Fiat group (I cant remember the guy's name). Not many people are going to argue with an order like that, especially a guy like Schu who strikes me as a man who knows who has to respect and who he can ignore.

The idea that B or S should have ignored the order to let S win is ridiculous - this is a TEAM sport remember. You wouldn't expect a football player to refuse to go on if his manager was substituting a popular player with him, just in case the crowd were displeased would you? Sure, the crowd didn't like it but I bet you they wouldn't have minded if it had happened later in the season and it was S moving over for B to win so he could secure 2nd place in the drivers.

Couldn't agree more that Ferrari is right to treat him better.

I agree that it's foolish to think that such an order could be ignored. See, many people here said that Rubens is a chicken for accepting that - people of stature such as Nelson Piquet and Emerson Fittipaldi among them.

Easy to say after you are done. Personally, I think that the idea that a man with a marvelous job such as his (but a job anyway) can ignore orders that he agreed, under contract, to follow, is ridiculous. Barrichello acted with responsibility and maturity.

The same goes for Schumacher, ok. But it's only partially true. Schumacher is one of the most victorious pilots ever (if not the most), and he has a world of prestige. It grants him stature to question orders. Let me put it this way… If Barrichello refused the order, he would be fired next morning. Had Schumacher done the same, than you really believe that Ferrari would punish him?

Now, I understand that it is a team effort, and see room for a pilot making sacrifices to another. The example you gave is a good one. But if it were to Schumacher as well (say, B giving up his position to guarantee S’s title in the last GP of the year), I would have no problem with that. Even in an early GP, if the championship was tight and each point could mean the difference between winning and loosing the season.

The way it happened, however, it was ridiculous. A complete lack of respect for Rubens Barrichello, and worse, for all the fans of F1. If I were in his situation, I would not accept it. And S know very well it was ridiculous, but he made it even more when he gave B the trophy and the highest place in the podium, and when he said – he really did – that “in the last moment he step in the break, but Rubes step even more…”

Well, I won’t discuss how much room a team has to manage their pilots in ways that offend the sense of competition – that would require another thread – but the reasons I have to dislike Schumacher as a person – not as a pilot – includes other events, as you can see in my previous post.

Less than 2/3 of the season is over and it's all wrapped up...snore...

Maybe he is a great driver, but a sport doesn't work when there is only one star. This just validates claims that F1 lacks excitement if there is only one championship contender.

Why not have Schumacher drive in his own series with just himself? The result wouldn't be any less predictable.

I would like to comment that I am an auto racing fan, not just somebody who wants to add 2 cents worth.

Originally posted by FredLC
I agree that it's foolish to think that such an order could be ignored. See, many people here said that Rubens is a chicken for accepting that - people of stature such as Nelson Piquet and Emerson Fittipaldi among them.

Easy to say after you are done. Personally, I think that the idea that a man with a marvelous job such as his (but a job anyway) can ignore orders that he agreed, under contract, to follow, is ridiculous. Barrichello acted with responsibility and maturity.

The same goes for Schumacher, ok. But it's only partially true. Schumacher is one of the most victorious pilots ever (if not the most), and he has a world of prestige. It grants him stature to question orders. Let me put it this way… If Barrichello refused the order, he would be fired next morning. Had Schumacher done the same, than you really believe that Ferrari would punish him?

Of course not.
Does anybody seriously believe they would do anything against the man who brought them to three titles after 20 years?
That's what made the Austrian Grand Prix decision so particularly pathetic. Barrichello had to follow that order, no doubt about that, but Schumacher could well have stayed behind. After the race he admitted that but just after it. That showed once more his egoistic attitude.
Schumacher is without doubt the best driver of the last years, if not ever. Of course you can't really say how good others would do in good cars but he has shown for years that he's able to win in an inferior car. I've alot of respect for his abilities and for years I have supported him. But the action against Villeneuve in 1997 was already pathetic and over the years many more followed. One example was a few years ago when he blocked Ralf Schumacher (his own brother!) shortly before leaving to the pits so that Barrichello could overtake Ralf. Another was his way of acting after his accident when he could have helped Irvine to win the championship. It was obvious that he didn't like it and wasn't keen to help. I admit that Irvine wouldn't have been a champion who deserved it (compared with Schumacher or Häkkinen) as he was clearly weaker than Schumacher and also Barrichello.
I don't like Schumacher too much and I dislike Ferrari, still I have to admit that they are the correct winners, but I don't have to like it.

Originally posted by Hitro
Take the line-crossing thing in the last race. Both Schumachers, Massa and Coulthard crossed it, all got punished, fine so far. But for Massa, Ralf Schumacher and Coulthard the investigation came around one lap after the incident, the penalty two or three laps later.
Michael Schumacher drove on for three or four laps before the investigation came, therefore three laps longer. In this three laps he won about 4 seconds on Ralf Schumacher and Coulthard, so that after his penalty he came out exactly in front of them. If he would have gotten the penalty in the same time as the others he wouldn't have won the race.
These are the little things...
Well, Schumacher was the first to cross the line besides Massa, but Massa had a HUGE jump on the start anyway, and It wasn't readily clear, even from the tape, whether he had cut the line or not. He was allowed 3 laps after call to come in, and he must have pushed hard to gain a lot of speed then, a good tactical call, and only lost 2 positions. The rest were watched a lot more closely by the stewards, thereby making the decisions quicker. But you must say, the pit line in Magny-Cours is right on the racing exit line, and certainly should be fixed....fast.

Originally posted by Hitro

Schumacher is without doubt the best driver of the last years, if not ever. Of course you can't really say how good others would do in good cars but he has shown for years that he's able to win in an inferior car.

sigh.

If only Dale Earnhardt was as well known with the F1 crowd as Schumacher is with the Nascar crowd. Not only was Dale a great driver, but a great person.

:king:

Wow,the Ferrari in Hockenheim was even more impressive to me than before.You could really see how much faster and more powertful the F2002 was in contrast to the BMW.
Which records are still missing Schuhmacher?I think,most poles and most races,right?

I don't know for most races... but for most poles, he's almost 20 behind Ayrton Senna.

I knew Dale Earnhardt, and yes, he was a great driver. But still I think Schumacher is the best in our time, if not ever, and I'm not a fan of his.

Senna is one of the pole masters, with a 40.1% start on pole percentage and 65:eek:poles, but Fangio started from an incredible 56.9% of races on pole. Jimmy Clark is at 45.2%, and Ascari at 42.4. interestingly, Montoya has 30.1% with 9 poles, and Schumacher has 27% on pole, with 47.

Schumi has the most wins, 62, but he will never equal Fangio's 47.1% win-start rate.

i still wonder what would have happend if senna didn't die that day. would you guys still be hailing ms as the best modern day driver? or would he have won his fifth or third championship?

i know this is a big if and agree that schumi is the best today, i guess this is just a tribute to senna post.