MARCH 1, 1999

Schumacher to retire in 2002?

MICHAEL SCHUMACHER's manager Willy Weber told a German magazine recently that Michael will retire from the sport at the end of the 2002 season and will almost certainly not change teams before then.

MICHAEL SCHUMACHER's manager Willy Weber told a German magazine recently that Michael will retire from the sport at the end of the 2002 season and will almost certainly not change teams before then. Weber added that Michael was planning to continue his relationship with Ferrari and Fiat, acting as an international ambassador for the company.

The comments should not be taken too seriously. Michael is 30 this year and could go on racing for another 10 years if he wanted to do so. He has been in F1 since the summer of 1991 and in recent years has talked about the possibility of retiring early from the sport although he seems to continue to enjoy being the best racing driver in the world and giving that up will be difficult.

Weber also hinted that Schumacher may help to promote young drivers when he retires. Given that owning Formula 1 teams is currently a very profitable business, it may be that Schumacher's next goal is to establish a successful GermanÊracingÊteam.