Schumacher to quit F1

Michael Schumacher set the scene perfectly with a trademark victory in the Italian Grand Prix at Monza before announcing the end of his record-breaking career.

Formula One’s most successful driver will hang up his helmet for good in Brazil next month after admitting he could not be sure of maintaining his high standards next season.

He had no problems living up to expectations today though and delivered exactly what Ferrari’s home crowd wanted before revealing his retirement.

“You have to find the right moment and we feel this is the right moment,” the 37-year-old said. “This is going to be my last Monza race.

“At the end of this season I have decided with the team I am going to retire from racing.”

Schumacher’s chances of retiring as an eight-time world champion look better than ever after his commanding win from Ferrari successor Kimi Raikkonen today.

He moved to within two points of championship leader Fernando Alonso after the Renault driver retired from third with engine failure.

Ferrari were just digesting that stroke of luck when Schumacher revealed his decision over the radio as he lapped up the adulation of an 80,000 crowd following his 90th win.

After a decade at Ferrari, Monza proved to be an emotional venue to announce his 16th season will be his last.

He said: “It was obviously pretty emotional to take the lap back after the race.

“I was talking to my team and informed everybody of my decision and probably this was the most emotional moment. To finish so well, with such a crowd, just overwhelmed me.”

Schumacher confessed doubts over his ability to continue fighting at the front next year and beyond prompted him to call time on his career.

He added: “It has naturally been difficult in a way but at one moment I simply knew.

“All the effort, all the energy, all the motivation you need in order to be competitive – and that is the only reason I want to be here – I can’t say I’m going to have that for future years. It has been such a good time and there is no point just hanging on.”

However, Schumacher is adamant he is leaving Formula One at the top of his game and does not expect retirement to blunt his competitive edge in the remaining three grands prix.

“It is not as if I am lacking anything,” he said. “I don’t want to be going on when I am over the hill.

“I believe I am at the top level so I don’t see any reason to have a problem in the last three races.”

Schumacher revealed, despite his claims to the contrary in recent weeks, that he took the decision to retire after winning at Indianapolis on July 2.

That move was motivated partly by his desire to help out team-mate Felipe Massa, who faced being squeezed out of Ferrari by Raikkonen’s impending arrival.

Schumacher said he opted to make his decision in July because otherwise “it may take away the future of a very young, talented driver like Felipe.

“I was aware of my replacement for a long time but Felipe’s future had to be decided and I didn’t see a reason to hang on and take away his opportunity.”

Massa’s progress in his first season as a Ferrari racer has earned him a one-year contract extension to partner Raikkonen next year.

Raikkonen celebrated the announcement of his Ferrari deal with a fine second place but admitted he had no answer to Schumacher’s pace despite starting on pole position.

However, the 26-year-old Finn is now looking forward to a new life with Ferrari, who he hopes can deliver what McLaren failed to in five seasons.

“I have been expecting to win the world championship already, you never know when it will happen – hopefully it will be next year,” he said.

“I have full confidence that the team will give me a very good car.”

Ferrari’s double announcement overshadowed a largely incident-free race in which Robert Kubica became the first Pole on a Formula One podium with third place for BMW-Sauber.

Giancarlo Fisichella was fourth as Renault lost the lead of the constructors’ championship to Ferrari. Jenson Button took fifth ahead of Honda team-mate Rubens Barrichello.

Toyota’s Jarno Trulli beat the other BMW-Sauber of Nick Heidfeld to seventh but David Coulthard was 12th for Red Bull.