Goodbye Michael! Bashny.Net

The checkered flag at the finish last in the 2012 season of the Brazilian Grand Prix will mark not only the end of the championship, but the care of an era. Whose name - Michael Schumacher.

Hardly once Michael thought he would be not just a pilot, broken all records imaginable, but also a kind of temporary "bridge" between the ages of Senna and Prost and Alonso and Vettel. Fate has prepared him such a role, simultaneously awarding seven league titles and giving the right to be called the greatest champion of all time.





It all started back in 1991, when shortly before the Belgian Grand Prix driver Bertrand Gachot Jordan team squabbled with the London taxi driver and as the last "argument" used pepper spray. Of course, if one could not assume, to some serious upheavals that almost funny episode will soon be the world of the Big Prizes. However, Eddie Jordan at the time it was no laughing matter: the day before the race, he learned that the British Themis considered an act Gachot socially dangerous acts, and instead of a racing car cockpit Bertrand pleased to prison bunks. Jordan had no choice but to seek an emergency order a new pilot. That's when the call came from Willi Weber - an old friend of Jordan More Formula 3. Eddie Weber sincerely sympathized and offered to sign a contract with his protege - the young German rider with the unpronounceable name Schumacher. According to Willie, despite the relatively modest racing success of his ward, it's worth it, because, according to experts, the young German has "a pronounced talent." Eddie Jordan, it turned out, in fact, in a stalemate, was either get behind the wheel yourself or listen to the words of Weber. Of two evils, he chose a smaller, even more so, much to the delight fisted Jordan, it turned out that the newcomer has a sponsor in the person of the partner Mercedes - Peter Sauber, who paid "admission ticket" Schumacher to the world of the Big Prizes.
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Three-time champion Ayrton Senna racing wisdom explains the future seven-time champion (approx. Picture)



At the hastily arranged "pokatushki" Michael showed no worse than the first driver Andrea de Cesaris Jordan, and in qualifying and did "pushed" his more experienced team-mate. However, not one of his.

Eddie had not rejoice so suddenly piled on him Fortunately, as black clouds of bad luck once again gathering over his head. At this time the "pig" planted his athletic director Flavio Briatore Benetton, immediately after the Belgian Grand Prix entice young German talent to your team. How many do not resented Jordan as no fuss and threatened ridden Briatore and Weber on the courts, but it was done - Michael became a pilot Benetton.
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Schumacher announces his retirement



Later, after many years, it became clear that they simply could not meet. The best driver and the best sports director. However, then this few people realize. All who remembered the early performances of the young Schumacher, unanimously agree that on the road, he looked good, but the stars of the sky, as they say, is not enough. Normal young racer, what about a dime a dozen. And if not for an unfortunate incident with Gachot, the world of the Big Prizes, possibly I never would have learned about Michael. And, of course, hardly anyone could have imagined that this ever-smiling boy in a canary-yellow suit, which journalists have already dubbed "The Sunshine Boys" soon will become the greatest of all the riders who have ever sat behind the wheel formular cars. Moreover, for some less than five years, smiling, "Sunny Boy" will turn into a formidable "Red Baron," to whom everything will fall records in Formula 1 in its history, and that will be one of the most highly paid athletes in the world.
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Senna, Prost, Schumacher. Three greatest champion of Formula 1



But it will be later, but earlier in the season in 1992, Flavio Briatore puzzled over how to "move" the recognized giants of Formula 1: McLaren, Williams and Ferrari. Make it could only increase the budget of the team at least twice, or come up with something revolutionary, to which no one has yet thought of. And Briatore invented ...

The strength of Benetton, of course, was Michael Schumacher. And as it was almost the only trump card team, Flavio decided on a bold and risky move, trying to create a team "around" Michael. Better to have a good rider on a perfectly "fitted" under his car than the two pilots who regularly finish outside the points zone, or not finish at all. Based on this new concept of "Benetton" season in 1992 he was created specifically "for Schumacher." Briatore has set designers task to make a car that would be a natural "continuation" of Michael. The correctness of the chosen tactic Flavio beginning to bear fruit soon: after exactly a year after its debut, Michael wins all the same the Belgian Grand Prix and at the end of the season ranked third. Furthermore, Briatore and former distinguished harsh temper, introduces the team almost military discipline. Benetton mechanics are trained up a sweat in the pits, while designers and engineers on the fly catch every note Michael, with every race more "fitting" the car under his manner of driving.
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Ross Brawn and Michael Schumacher. Once the pair terrify opponents



Meanwhile, the whole world avtogonochny breathlessly watching the struggle between the two "sworn friends" Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna, with the eternal confrontation between McLaren and Williams. In some there if Schumacher and pay attention, it is only when he is on his wacky, canary yellow "Benetton" unashamedly trying to intervene in the "dismantling" of the Brazilian Sorcerer with Professor. At best, it is perceived as a misunderstanding as a kind of a racing incident as serious, always smiling "Sunny Boy", no one takes. His destiny - to languish on the sidelines, in his humble, poor "stable" and sometimes, if you're lucky, to climb on the podium.

However, the 1994 season dot the i.
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Michael celebrates the three hundredth Grand Prix in his career



Perhaps someone among the experts had expected from Michael vivid and memorable performances, but no one, including, perhaps, himself, did not expect such a defeat, committed by them in the first three races. Undefeated, champion Williams-Renault, where Alain Prost just won his fourth title at the wheel and who now sat no less a great champion Ayrton Senna, invariably behind Schumacher. No one could understand how Benetton Michael, equipped with a weak "Ford's" engine and having basically almost a "museum" construction, designed by John Barnard in the early 90s, so easily deals with hitherto invincible Williams. However, with all its disadvantages, "Benetton" of 1994 had a very significant plus - it was designed specifically for Michael. And when in Williams finally realized this, it was too late ...

Of course, I do not know how things would have been more if not for the fateful, black "May Day" of Imola, which claimed the life of Brazilian Ayrton Senna Wizard, but the fact remains that after the first three races, no one allowed himself an indulgent attitude to the "Sunshine Boys." After winning the fourth race in a row all somehow immediately became frighteningly clear - on the way to the championship crown Michael hedges no more. Great Ayrton Senna was killed, the second Williams driver Damon Hill, more recently, who called himself the best racer of modern times, hopelessly behind, expected to progress from sluggish starters McLaren and Ferrari also not necessary. FIA officials had tried to intervene in what is happening, taking away the victory of Michael and disqualified him for a couple of races, but in the last race of the season in Adelaide after a highly controversial collision with Hill, Schumacher still tried championship crown.
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The first victory Schumacher, Belgium in 1992. In the future he will have to stand on the top step of the podium 90 times more



And that was just the beginning. The following year he became the champion long before the end of the season and won the Constructors' Cup for Benetton, but Flavio Briatore last stages goes all grim. He knew a year ago that Michael is interested in Ferrari. And when the boxes Scuderia frequenting Willi Weber, Briatore, knowing the Italian habit of making offers that can not be waived, he realized that the days are numbered Schumacher at Benetton.

Going to Ferrari Michael has been evaluated ambiguously. Many learned the amount of his contract, do not come up with anything more clever as to accuse him of commercialism. The Italian press, on the contrary, rejoiced and foresight Others Schumacher role as the sole savior of being in a protracted crisis of the legendary Scuderia. There were also those who seriously was convinced that Ferrari is just a stopover before going in Williams. However, when following Michael in Maranello reached former employees of Benetton, it was clear that Schumacher at Ferrari came to stay. If not forever.
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Schumacher and his successor at Ferrari - Kimi Raikkonen



Jean Todt, the sports director of the Scuderia did not reinvent the wheel, and followed the path blazed four years ago Flavio Briatore. All for Michael, all for victory. Spit on anything and everything - but the team has to go for the bones of the first pilot. And it is not discussed. As a result of this - a fierce struggle with Jacques Villeneuve in 1997 and unfortunate collision in Jerez, Schumacher lishivshee championship crown, which was already practically in his pocket. The next two years were held in no less fierce battle with Mika Hakkinen ended for Michael severe accident at Silverstone. And only in 2000, no one and nothing could stop the Red Baron. At Michael finally had a competitive car, and in Maranello almost every weekend joy rang a bell, ever since Enzo Ferrari Scuderia celebrate the victory. As a result, the Japanese Grand Prix Schumacher celebrated his third title and the first for the Ferrari 1979!

The next four season pattern is repeated with depressing monotony. Schumacher ahead on a spirited stallion, scarlet, and behind it, as a rule, at a respectful distance, the rest of the field. Things reached the point that bookmakers refused to bet on Michael and Bernie Ecclestone for a couple with Max Mosley, seeing melting in front of the popularity of "royal races" began to frantically look for opportunities to enhance the entertainment of Formula 1, coming up with new and new rules, one more absurd another.
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Michael - "freelance" employee of Ferrari



Hope zateplilas in 2003, when Michael, by winning another title, for the first time allowed himself to relax. Relax afford and Shinnik from Bridgestone, shod Ferrari in much worse tires than their rivals were from Michelin. But even in this position, lagging behind competitors in each race and experiencing problems with the tires, Schumacher still defended his title. And in the next season in 2004 simply did not leave his rivals did not stand a chance, winning 13 races out of 18.

It would seem that the triumphant march of the "Red Baron" will continue indefinitely, because the dominance of Schumacher and no one was safe. Those with whom he fought a few years ago - Prost, Hill, Villeneuve and Hakkinen, withdrew from motor racing, Raikkonen and Alonso did not have such experience, as Michael and eighth league title seemed a matter entirely resolved, but the 2005 season another glitch allowed Shinnik from Bridgestone. As a result, Ferrari was totally uncompetitive, and the championship crown went to the young Spaniard Fernando Alonso of Renault. Schumacher is particularly zealous "experts" were quick to write off the scrap. They say that the era of the "Red Baron" is over, Michael is not the same that a couple of years ago, and in general it is time to retire. Perhaps such statements would be true if we were talking about some other riders. But it was the fact that early in his career, and in her late Michael recognized only one word - victory. And the unconditionally. But the league title in 2006 again went to Alonso and Schumacher all the cards mixed up the explosion engine in the Japanese Grand Prix, dashing his hopes.

And then something happened that was least expected - Michael announced his retirement. Although, having assets and 91 winning seven league titles Schumacher just did not see in front of new challenges. Champion title? Regular podiums? Although Michael soul to anybody and never climb can not, but the abundance was available. Not only was it the most decorated pilot of Formula 1, but also the highest paid. According to some sources, the Schumacher in 2005 the state has exceeded one billion dollars.
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Last podium Schumacher - Grand Prix of Europe in 2012



Next it was planned very quiet and provided old age. If old age can be called the age of a little over forty. Schumacher remained virtually staffer Ferrari, «ambassador of the brand" and the unemployed was not bringing "to mind" road models of the legendary Italian firm.

And then, they say, the devil has beguiled. Or rather, not the devil, and the concern Daimler AG, bought a barn champion Brawn GP, ​​and even an old friend Michael - Ross Brawn, constantly repeated, that can not wait to light the day, when Michael again sit behind the wheel formula-car. Once a bunch of Brown Schumacher terrified the whole "Big Circus" because tactically it was possible to beat a little. But time passes and everything changes. Brown Schumacher were the professionals of the highest standard, but their time has passed. Michael spent three years in a Mercedes, but only once on the podium, recalling only a shadow of himself. And just the other day was actually fired - Mercedes AMG now sees its future not with the Red Baron, and with Lewis Hamilton.
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Schumacher had been in his career, and such moments. British Grand Prix 1999



For a time, Michael was silent. While journalistic brethren woos him in the Sauber, in the Lotus, and some absolutely inappropriate visionaries saw Schumacher already in a Ferrari. And now all the i apart. Michael has officially announced his retirement. Despite the fact that over the past three years, Schumacher has undoubtedly become very competitive, he found the courage and strength to put a point in their careers. And this act is worthy of respect.

What is regrettable, because it is only that for three years, Michael was not really competitive car. Yes, Nico Rosberg Mercedes AMG was able to bring the first victory, but then again, the German team has slipped to the position of the middle peasant. However, before the end of the championship it is still six races, and who knows - maybe goodbye to his favor Fortune favors the former darling?
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I finished, a special thank you comrades dayton701, Oleg64, OnlyCash for that selection broke, thanks cars Mel py for the material.



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