F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone says Michael Schumacher should never have returned to Formula 1 after retiring in 2006. Schumacher won seven world titles in his first career, but returned in 2010 with Mercedes and managed just one podium finish in three years. “We will miss Michael, because even though he wasn’t winning races in those three years, he is still very popular.” “People new to the sport – people who have joined the F1 fan fraternity just recently – will remember Michael now, not as he was,” said Ecclestone. “They don’t see the hero that he was but the human that can fail.” Ecclestone added: “I would rather he had stopped as a seven-time world champion, rather than stopping now.” Schumacher first retired from the sport in 2006 after losing an intense, season-long battle with Fernando Alonso for the title. The German returned in 2010, aged 41, linking up with Ross Brawn – who he worked with at Benetton and Ferrari – at the new Mercedes team.
Schumacher’s career
1969: Born 3 January
1991: F1 debut in Belgium for Jordan
1992: Third in championship for Benetton
1994: First title for Benetton
1995: Second title for Benetton
1996: Joins Ferrari
2000: First title for Ferrari
2001-04: Wins four more titles in a row
2006: Last race win in China. Retires at end of season
2010: Returns to F1 with Mercedes
2012: Retires for the second time at the end of season
However, he finished behind team-mate Nico Rosberg in the drivers’ championship in each of the three seasons with the German team. Despite Schumacher’s disappointing comeback, Ecclestone said his departure will be a loss to the sport. “He enjoyed racing and was there helping to do good things for Formula 1,” said Ecclestone when speaking to the sport’s official website Formula1.com.
