Michael Schumacher announced that he won`t drive in next Formula 1 season and he is going to retire from professional sport. German is most titled driver in history with 7 World Championships.
Mercedes driver announced the decision in a press briefing before Japan Grand Prix on Thursday.
“Let me start with clarification and announcement today. It concerns obviously about my future, probably it won`t be a complete surprise. I’ve decided to retire at the end of this year. Although I’m still able to compete with the best drivers, but at some point it’s good to say goodbye and that’s what I’m doing at the end of the season.
“I said in 2009 that I wanted to be measured by my success, and this is why I`ve beed criticed in the past three years. With no doubt we did not achieve our goal of fighting for the world championship in those three years. But then it is also clear that I can still be very happy about my overall achievements in Formula One.”
“Already during the past month I was not sure if I still had the motivation and energy which is necessary to go on. It is not my style to do something that I’m not 100% feeling for.
“With today’s decision I feel released obviously from those doubts and in the end my ambition to fight for victories and the pleasure of driving is nourished by competitiveness – told Schumacher.
German driver`s future was unsure after Mercedes singed contract with Lewis Hamilton for 2013 season. There were rumours that Schumacher may replace Felipe Massa in Ferrari but Italian team denied.
Schumacher announced his first retirement after 2006 season, but he came back to F1 in 2010. Since then he scored only one podium finish – this year in Valencia. Currently German is 12th with 43 points in drivers classification.
Schumacher is in Formula 1 since 1991. He drove in 300 grand prix and he won 91 of them.
