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"Weird, with a chaotic race. Yes, chaotic, that's the right word".
Alonso won his second world championship.
"Congratulations. He did well. He's good".
How did you stay calm throughout the weekend?
"The secret is concentration, like at Monza. That day I knew my announcement, but I was thinking about the battle for the Drivers' World Championship; here, I wanted to give Ferrari the Constructors' title. I'm sorry we didn't succeed; we had the means to make it a one-two, but bad luck stopped us".
Do you realise you are no longer a Formula 1 driver?
"Not yet".
How would you describe your sixteen years of career, long or short?
"Intense. And wonderful".
Does anything particular come to mind?
"My first race, with sensations similar to today's. Even though it lasted just five hundred metres, inside me there was the same emotion".
Anything else?
"My first World Championship, at Suzuka in 2000. We worked hard throughout the year, bringing the title back to Maranello after a very long drought".
Is there a slogan that can sum up your career?
"A song: 'My Way' by Frank Sinatra".
Do you want to say thank you to someone?
"Many have helped me. But I want to thank especially the fans”.
When will we see you on a circuit again?
“Soon. On Sunday at Monza, there's the Ferrari Day. I'll be there. If you come too".
This time, no one can blame him if he closed his season with a big mug of beer in hand and a fine cigar in his mouth. It is a tradition that Michael Schumacher has always respected in all the years of his motorsport reign.
Some dared to criticise him: but how, smoking and drinking, then you cannot drive anymore. And he would respond with a shrug. Now, however, no one can say anything if the legend has extended the night in Sao Paulo immeasurably, making it endless, with his wife Corinna, father Rolf, manager Weber, the man with whom he shared every decision of his career, close friends, Swiss and German, Räikkönen and Barrichello, all the Ferrari men, without exception, because as his mechanics wrote on the photo they gave him:
"You are one of us".
Now no one can scold him if the Casa Fasano restaurant in the centre of São Paulo, the scene of the great farewell party organised by Rafaela, Felipe Massa's girlfriend, went well beyond the normal closing time, if inside beer and caipirinha flowed on the floors, if the ecstatic customers danced on the tables in the less sober atmosphere in Ferrari's history, if some cried with excitement and others with sadness because, after all, the champion of champions and the friend who always played football on Wednesdays and showed up at the factory at Christmas to personally deliver a gift to all the company's men is leaving Maranello. Now no one can blame him if on Monday morning Schumacher left Brazil a little less lucid than usual because he has stopped, said enough, and will not race anymore, after spending a Sunday full of strong emotions, the strange wait, the phenomenal race, the bad luck of the punctured tyre, the incredible comeback, many overtakes, and that record-setting lap, which perhaps represents the best farewell postcard, the message that the one who leaves is still the greatest of all, as Luca Montezemolo affirms:
"Michael was extraordinary; he retires while still the greatest in the world and after making a race that is part of Formula 1 history".
He will remain tied to Ferrari, that is for sure, Jean Todt reaffirms it on Sunday night in Brazil, and Montezemolo confirms it. But with what role? He has always answered this question these days with:
"I don't know; we'll see".
He has certainly said no to Audi, which offered him 10.000.000 euros to participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, just as he rejected the proposal from Mercedes (the first team to believe in him) to race in DTM like Hakkinen.
"One does not make such a big decision and then immediately question it and go back. I will not race anymore".
And he declined possible television engagements as a commentator.
"Maybe I'll come to some Grands Prix, but as a Ferrari fan; otherwise, I'll watch them on TV with my family. And if, by chance, at the same time, my son has a football match, I'll record the race and watch it calmly in the evening".
Schumacher will no longer be an official driver, nor will he be a journalist. The temptation to write, with the help of his spokesperson Sabine Kehm, came to him, but he will limit himself to an autobiography that will be released in November.
"I need to reflect calmly, relax, spend a lot of time with my family to recharge".
Schumacher in slippers, enjoying his money, since in 2007, even without racing, he already has advertising contracts worth 30.000.000 euros.
So what does Ferrari have to do with it? It does matter, indeed, because the German remains a cover man, and there is a queue to borrow his image. On four wheels, he will only lend it to Ferrari, a luxury testimonial, an ambassador around the world, gathering crowds as he will at the Ferrari Day in Monza. But since no one believes in a Schumacher sitting in an armchair (the first to be sceptical is his father Rolf), it would not be surprising if he soon returned to the car as a super test driver. As Ross Brawn says:
"No one knows Ferrari better than him; he has always given a lot of advice".
He has sworn it:
"I will never leave this team".
Yes, the company gave him the last Ferrari, the one with which Michael raced in Brazil. Hardly, however, will he be able to fill the gap with a few surprise appearances.
"They have been intense years".
At the same time, Fernando Alonso spends his first night as a champion on a plane. Quick and efficient as on the track, the Spaniard collects his things and, after saying goodbye to engineers, technicians, and mechanics, flies to England. Spain can wait a few more days: on Sunday evening, 9.300.000 spectators, a 60% share and a new Spanish record for a Formula 1 race (last year, for his first time, it was around 8.000.000), were anxiously awaiting him on television, and politicians were also unleashed: Zapatero defines him as an example for young people, King Juan Carlos called him from Budapest. Excuse me, Alonso, why do you not go celebrate in Spain?
"This week, I'm going to England. I'm going to the factory for the last time, to thank each person who works there one by one. Honestly, I hope to go to France as well and do the same".
Oviedo is waiting for you.
"I know it well. I will go next weekend, to Oviedo. Saturday or Sunday, I still don't know. And of course, then we will celebrate all together".
Next goals?
"I would like to retire…".
But how to retire...
"Yes, but only with three world titles won".
Only? You already have two, and you are only twenty-five.
"It's just that I was thinking about Ayrton Senna. He won three; matching him would be nice".
You might have time to overtake him too.
"See, next year I'm going to McLaren. In my career, there is no Ferrari, exactly like it was for Ayrton. I see his story as a driver like mine; it reminds me a lot of it. That's why I say that the goal of my career is to leave Formula 1 with three titles".
Meanwhile, you have already joined Senna in a particular club.
"Yes? Which one?"
The one for consecutive one-twos. Schumacher, Cooper, and Brabham are also in it.
"Muy buena suerte".
After the Grand Prix, you had a concert at Renault.
"A concert?"
In the pits.
"Ah, the V8 symphony. A game, it was fun".
A game that deafened the paddock...
"But only for about ten minutes. With the engine roar, we sang the Marseillaise. I also revved up a bit".
Will you feel nostalgic for Renault?
"As I said before, it has been my family. I grew up with them, but I can confidently say that we grew up together".
Has it been a year of vague loneliness, or not?
"No, in the end, no".
Yet, some of your statements...
"Words that should be taken for what they mean at a specific moment. I never deny anything, and when I say things, there's a reason".
And now, what do you say?
"Thank you, thank you, thank you. Also to Michelin: they knew they were leaving; they could have given up. Instead, they held on".
You must have learned something from Renault too.
"I repeat: the team's lesson was that of example. To remain polite even in the face of oddities".
Alonso has stirred up some controversy, and you were accused of being politically incorrect.
"I expressed my opinions without exaggerating in tone. But we couldn't stay silent".
Today begins the Alonso era.
"I don't know; I won't stay in Formula 1 for long".
Felipe Massa has teased you, advising you to retire now.
"And I replied that it would be a good time, but for now, I intend to continue".
What awaits you at McLaren?
"I don't know; we'll see. I hope the car is reliable because continuity is important".
Who will be your opponents in 2007?
"The two Ferrari drivers. Both. And then Renault, of course. But I would also watch out for Honda".
No one else?
"Who knows, there are other variables. Next year, many things are changing: engines, tyres, rules".
A prediction?
"In the top three. But everyone should know that it will be difficult to repeat what Schumacher did, dominating for so many years".
An era comes to an end. Jean Todt, the head of Ferrari's sports management, does not mince words. He explicitly states that it is not just Schumacher leaving Maranello, the champion of champions, the driver who brought eleven world titles to the red team, five for drivers and six for constructors, but also a substantial part of his world. Starting today, there will be an epochal revolution within the Maranello team, as acknowledged by Todt himself. While waiting to know Schumacher's future role, who will remain connected to Ferrari, possibly as an ambassador and luxury spokesperson, Todt, the team's general manager since 1993, might be the first to step down. Todt, sixty years old, will not leave Maranello; if possible, he will gain even more power within the company, becoming the CEO, but he would no longer personally handle the races.
His position as head of sports management is expected to be taken over by Mario Almondo, while at the operational level, the role of orchestrating operations in the pits might go to Stefano Domenicali, a long-time figure at Ferrari, an emerging executive highly esteemed by President Montezemolo, and the current sports director. Todt's step back is closely linked to Schumacher's farewell, as Schumacher was the catalyst for Todt's motivation, a fuel that might now be missing. The dynamic stability touted by Montezemolo in recent years risks taking a hard hit. While the Ferrari president considers every promotion a sacred act, the strategic part should transition from Ross Brawn (a loyal companion of Schumacher, probably also at the end of his career) to Luca Baldisserri, a key mind in the pits for years (he invented the four pit stops at Magny-Cours, leading to Schumacher's triumph). There will also be a change of leadership for the car's design: Byrne is now just a consultant, and the car will bear Aldo Costa's signature, but the heart inside will beat with Greek Nicolas Tombazis, an aerodynamic designer. There are also changes on the engine front: the head, Paolo Martinelli, might step aside to give more weight to Gilles Simon and Mattia Binotto. Regarding the drivers, there is speculation that Schumacher might help as a super tester, but it is a challenging hypothesis. Massa and Räikkönen swear they are not afraid to replace the legend and both dream of winning the world title. So, on Wednesday, October 25, 2006, the post-Schumacher era at Ferrari begins to take shape: after the German driver's farewell (and also that of Ross Brawn), there is the official announcement of Jean Todt's leap. The French manager, 60 years old, already general manager, is appointed CEO of Ferrari Spa in Turin, a position that once again confirms Luca Montezemolo's trust in him.
Amedeo Felisa is appointed general manager by the board of directors. The only doubt from a sports perspective now is whether Todt will maintain operational control of the racing team or pass the baton. In the latter case, the famous Todt-Schumacher-Brawn triad, the source of the great successes of recent years, and which we have seen at work on F1 tracks all over the world, would disappear altogether. In the coming days, the Maranello team will announce the 2007 lineup: the top candidates for team leadership are Mario Almondo (as head of sports management), Stefano Domenicali (currently sports director), and Luca Baldisserri (as technical director). There are also young emerging talents like Gilles Simon (head of engine design and development) and Mattia Binotto (head of on-track engines). Finally, for the design of the single-seater, Aldo Costa might pass it on to Nicholas Tombazis, currently in charge of aerodynamics. The revolution at Ferrari is now official. Not only is Schumacher leaving Maranello, but also a significant part of his world, including general manager Ross Brawn, a loyal companion of the German, who had been with him even at Benetton, and head of engine Paolo Martinelli. The Ferrari team announced this in a statement on Thursday, October 26, 2006, thanking the two executives for their immense contribution (Brawn will retire for now, and Martinelli will assume an important role within the Fiat group). The statement indicates how the new era will develop, a term used by Todt immediately after the end of the Brazilian Grand Prix. The biggest news, beyond the weighty farewells, concerns Todt's role. It involves two outstanding promotions, Stefano Domenicali, who takes on the responsibility of sports management, and Mario Almondo, who assumes the role of technical manager. Todt, who also temporarily takes on the vacant position of general manager left by Brawn, will be the great supervisor, continuing to coordinate all activities but will no longer attend races. The direct responsibility for the team on the track will fall on the young Stefano Domenicali and Mario Almondo. Within the technical management, the Chassis department has been established, chaired by Aldo Costa, while Gilles Simon becomes the head of engines, and Mattia Binotto gains more weight in the engine area. Ross Brawn was a wizard in strategies, and now this task should fall to Luca Baldisserri. The departing Englishman blesses the new course:
"My successors will be better than me".
The role of Schumacher is yet to be defined: ambassador or something more? For now, he only expresses gratitude to Brawn and Martinelli:
"I owe you my victories".
There are also updates from McLaren, which on Friday, November 24, 2006, announces the signing of Lewis Hamilton, the first Formula 1 driver of Caribbean origin. The Englishman is hired by McLaren-Mercedes as the second driver, alongside World Champion Fernando Alonso, with Pedro de la Rosa returning to his role as a test driver. Hamilton was this year's GP2 champion (considered a kind of F1 nursery), but there have long been rumours in the motorsports world that the talented driver from the West Indies, repeatedly praised by McLaren's top management in recent months, would not have a low-profile career:
"I grew up with McLaren and Mercedes, and I wouldn't be here today if I hadn't had their continuous support".
The question is what to do, but especially what Ron Dennis will ask him to do in a season that promises to be full of uncertainties for the British team because while Alonso is the reigning World Champion and Schumacher is no longer racing, it is also true that the reconfirmation for the third consecutive year of a driver at the top of the World Championship is extremely rare:
"I'm aware that this is a challenge for me, and I know I'll have everyone's eyes on me. However, the team told me to stay calm, do my best, and take advantage of this opportunity. I will work hard to achieve good results".
The sports season concludes with Ferrari's traditional Christmas dinner, chaired by Luca Montezemolo, taking place on Wednesday, December 20, 2006. The Ferrari president has no doubts about his factory, the true centre of his life, always and not only during this Christmas dinner held inside the Fiorano track, with Schumacher's last car in the middle of the gigantic hall. Certainties.
"We are ready to win again. Even though an era has ended with Michael's farewell, an era full of successes, where we dominated for years and when things went wrong, I think of 1997, 1998, but also the World Championship that has just ended, we lost the title in the last race. We have great confidence in our two drivers, Räikkönen and Massa, as well as in the new organisational structure. We have everything, means, money, and incentives, to start winning again, to find ourselves back on top of the world. 2007 is a great, fascinating challenge. I am sure we will face it brilliantly".
However, Schumacher's legacy is very heavy.
"I would have preferred him to race for another year; I have many F1 races behind me, but I struggle to remember an extraordinary performance like his in the last race in Brazil. He didn't seem like a driver saying goodbye, on his way out. However, we decided to let him choose freely, and he chose to retire. He was the greatest of all time, and it's clear that the void left is enormous. But to replace him, we've got the best. Räikkönen comes to Ferrari at the right time, in his prime, the time when you start winning. He could have succeeded in 2007 if only he had a reliable car and not the McLaren that broke down five times. Better this way; he will start with us. I just hope he has a bit more luck".
For now, fans are most concerned about his alcoholic tendencies.
"Why does Raikkonen drink? I'm not the least bit worried. Apart from that, even certain Germans born in Kerpen and several times World Champions get drunk three or four times a year; they just don't let anyone know, and nothing happens. Jokes aside, everyone in our team has always worked seriously, even Irvine, who seemed like a jolly fellow. The same will happen with Räikkönen".
Will he be the number one driver?
"We'll see how it goes because I wouldn't underestimate Massa. He won two races with Schumacher in great shape; he learned a lot from Michael, as he is currently preparing very well physically. Schumacher has paved the way; now all drivers understand the importance of training. I believe our two drivers are the best at the moment, apart from Alonso; they will have the same equipment and equal chances. One thing is certain: they must know that they are not racing for themselves but for Ferrari. As long as Todt and I are at the top, it will always be like this. For us, Formula 1 is a team sport".
Was Todt not supposed to retire?
"Instead, he became CEO. And you will see him on the track too. I think the credit is due to the new challenge we are facing, new team, old president. We have to win. So, in 2008, he can retire peacefully, and I will retire in Anacapri".
Just when your term with Confindustria expires.
"Look, the one about Anacapri is a joke. In fact, in a year, I'll have even more time to dedicate to Ferrari. They just gave me a medal for my fifteen years in the company, all as president. I was moved; I thought of December 19, 1991, when we won nothing, sold few cars, and there was the threat of layoffs. I arrived in Maranello, and met Engineer Lombardi, the head of sports management, who told me: I am the Ron Dennis of Ferrari. I understood what I was getting into: McLaren couldn't be the model for Ferrari. Now, everyone copies us. And we will continue to set the pace. For example, with three recipes to improve Formula 1: increase the show and overtakes, reduce these crazy costs, and stop neglecting the audience at the circuits".
What kind of World Championship do you expect?
"Tight, point by point. Tyres used to provide tenths of an advantage; now, we all have the same ones. I fear Alonso and McLaren, but Räikkönen and Massa can beat him. Because they drive for Ferrari".