Michael Schumacher’s former manager reveals F1 driver’s “stupidest decision”
When Michael Schumacher retired from Formula 1, he was untouchable as the greatest champion in the sport’s history.
Five straight championships and seven all up, Schumacher was in a league of his own.
In the 250 races he took part in between 198 and 2006, Schumacher had 68 pole positions, 154 podiums and an astounding 91 wins.
Schumacher was breaking records left right and centre – until he signed on to a three-year deal with Mercedes in 2010.
In his last 58 races over three years, Schumacher claimed just one podium, finishing third behind Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso at the 2012 European Grand Prix, where he was the oldest driver to make a podium since Jack Brabham at the 1970 Grand Prix at the age of 43.
While the end of his career left some of his records under pressure from a driver such as Hamilton, Schumacher’s former manager Willi Weber revealed that he tried to talk Schumacher out of a return in 2010.
“Let’s say, this was, even in hindsight, the stupidest thing he could do,” Weber told Motorsport-Total.com.
“He told me he was bored, he had to drive. Then I say, ‘Michael, what do you want? You can only lose. You can’t win anymore. You won everything. You are the best racer in the world. You stand on the highest pedestal that exists. You can only lose now’.
“But, he just didn’t want to hear it.”
Schumacher ended up sticking to his decision and the two ended their professional relationship.
But despite his comeback wasn’t what many expected, he’s still considered one of the greatest drivers of all time.
After sustaining a head injury in 2013 during a skiing accident, Schumacher is now rarely sighted as his family has remained notoriously tight lipped about his condition.