The 2005 Canadian Grand Prix

2005–2006[edit]
Schumacher battling with Kimi Räikkönen during the 2005 Canadian Grand Prix
Rule changes for the 2005 season required tyres to last an entire race, [86] tipping the overall
advantage to teams using Michelins over teams such as Ferrari that relied on Bridgestone tyres.
[87]
The rule changes were partly in an effort to dent Ferrari's dominance and make the series more
interesting.[28] The most notable moment of the early season for Schumacher was his battle
with Fernando Alonso in San Marino, where he started 13th and finished only 0.2 seconds behind
the Spanish driver.[88] Less than halfway through the season, Schumacher said "I don't think I can
count myself in this battle any more. It was like trying to fight with a blunted weapon.... If your
weapons are weak you don't have a chance."[89] Schumacher's sole win in 2005 came at the United
States Grand Prix. Before that race, the Michelin tyres were found to have significant safety issues.
When no compromise between the teams and the FIA could be reached, all but the six drivers using
Bridgestone tyres dropped out of the race after the formation lap. [90] Schumacher retired in six of the
19 races. He finished the season in third with 62 points, fewer than half the points of World
Champion Alonso.[91]
2006 became the last season of Schumacher's Ferrari career. After three races, Schumacher had
just 11 points and was already 17 points behind Alonso. He won the following two races. His pole
position at San Marino was his 66th, breaking Ayrton Senna's 12-year-old record. [92]
Schumacher was stripped of pole position at the Monaco Grand Prix and started the race at the back
of the grid. This was due to his stopping his car and blocking part of the circuit while Alonso was on
his qualifying lap; he still managed to work his way up to 5th place on the notoriously cramped
Monaco circuit. By the Canadian Grand Prix, the ninth race of the season, Schumacher was 25
points behind Alonso, but he then won the following three races to reduce his disadvantage to 11.
After his victories in Italy (in which Alonso had an engine failure)[93] and China, in which Alonso had
tyre problems,[94] Schumacher led in the championship standings for the first time during the season.
Although he and Alonso had the same point total, Schumacher was in front because he had won
more races.[94]
Schumacher overtakes Kimi Räikkönen for 4th with three laps to go of his final race for three
years at Interlagos, having dropped to 19th early on
The Japanese Grand Prix was led by Schumacher with only 16 laps to go, when, for the first time
since the 2000 French Grand Prix, Schumacher's car suffered an engine failure. Alonso won the
race, giving himself a ten-point championship lead. With only one race left in the season,
Schumacher could only win the championship if he won the season finale and Alonso scored no
points.[95]
Before the Brazilian Grand Prix, Schumacher conceded the title to Alonso.[96] In pre-race
ceremonies, football legend Pelé presented a trophy[97] to Schumacher for his years of dedication to
Formula One.[98] During the race's qualifying session, Schumacher had one of the quickest times
during the first session and was fastest in the second session; but a fuel pressure problem
prevented him from completing a single lap during the third session, forcing him to start the race in
tenth position.[99] Early in the race Schumacher moved up to sixth place. However, in overtaking
Alonso's teammate, Giancarlo Fisichella, Schumacher experienced a tyre puncture caused by the
front wing of Fisichella's car.[100] Schumacher pitted and consequently fell to 19th place, 70 seconds
behind teammate and race leader Felipe Massa. Schumacher recovered and overtook both
Fisichella and Räikkönen to secure fourth place. His performance was classified in the press as
"heroic",[101] an "utterly breath-taking drive",[102] and a "performance that ... sums up his career".[103]
2007–2009: retirement at Ferrari[edit]
BMW Sauber with "Thanks Michael" messages towards Michael Schumacher on the back of their cars,
Schumacher and Peter Sauber worked together in sports cars before entering F1 in 1992
While Schumacher was on the podium after winning the 2006 Italian Grand Prix, Ferrari issued a
press release stating that he would retire from racing at the end of the 2006 season. [104] Schumacher
confirmed his retirement.[11] The press release stated that Schumacher would continue working for
Ferrari. It was revealed on 29 October 2006 that Ferrari wanted Schumacher to act as assistant to
the newly appointed CEO Jean Todt.[105] This would involve selecting the team's future drivers. After
Schumacher's announcement, leading Formula One figures such as Niki Lauda and David
Coulthard hailed Schumacher as the greatest all-round racing driver in the history of Formula One.
[106]
The tifosi and the Italian press, who did not always take to Schumacher's relatively cold public
persona, displayed an affectionate response after he announced his retirement. [107]
2007: Ferrari advisor[edit]
Schumacher attended several Grands Prix during the season. He drove the Ferrari F2007 for the
first time on 24 October at Ferrari's home track in Fiorano, Italy. He ran no more than five laps and
no lap times were recorded. A Ferrari spokesman said the short drive was done for the Fiat board of
directors who were holding their meeting in Maranello.[108]
Schumacher at Finali Mondiali celebrations in the F2007
During the 2007 season, Schumacher acted as Ferrari's adviser and Jean Todt's 'super assistant'.
[109]
On 13 November 2007 Schumacher, who had not driven a Formula One car since he had retired
a year earlier, undertook a formal test session for the first time aboard the F2007. He returned in
December 2007 to continue helping Ferrari with their development programme at Jerez circuit. He
focused on testing electronics and tyres for the 2008 Formula One season. [110]
2008: Ferrari road car development[edit]
In 2007, former Ferrari top manager Ross Brawn said that Schumacher was very likely and also
happy to continue testing in 2008; Schumacher later explained his role further saying that he would
"deal with the development of the car inside Gestione Sportiva" and as part of that "I'd like to drive,
but not too often".[111]
During 2008 Schumacher also competed in motorcycle racing in the IDM Superbike-series, but
stated that he had no intention of a second competitive career in this sport. [112] He was quoted as
saying that riding a Ducati was the most exhilarating thing he had done in his life, the second most
being sky diving.[113]
2009: planned Massa substitution[edit]
In his capacity as racing advisor to Ferrari, Schumacher was present in Budapest for the Hungarian
Grand Prix when Ferrari driver Felipe Massa was seriously injured after being struck by a
suspension spring during qualifying. As it became clear that Massa would be unable to compete in
the next race at Valencia, Schumacher was chosen as a replacement for the Brazilian driver[114] and
on 29 July 2009, Ferrari announced that they planned to draft in Schumacher for the European
Grand Prix and subsequent Grands Prix until Massa was able to race again. [115] Schumacher tested
in a modified F2007 to prepare himself [116] as he had been unable to test the 2009 car due to testing
restrictions. Ferrari appealed for special permission for Schumacher to test in a 2009 spec car,
but Williams, Red Bull and Toro Rosso were against this test.[117][118] In the end, Schumacher was
forced to call off his return due to the severity of the neck injury he had received in a motorcycle
accident earlier in the year.[119] Massa's place at Ferrari was instead filled by Luca
Badoer and Giancarlo Fisichella.[120]

The 2005 Canadian Grand Prix

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2005–2006[edit]

Schumacher battling with Kimi Räikkönen during the 2005 Canadian Grand Prix

Schumacher at Finali Mondiali celebrations in the F2007

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