Byrne To Stay On

Ferrari's former chief designer Rory Byrne is reportedly set to stay at the team for a further two years in a consultancy role.

UK magazine Autosport report, Byrne, who was an important part of the design team that helped Michael Schumacher to all five of his World titles with Ferrari, has agreed to remain with the Scuderia as a consultant until February 2009.

Meanwhile the report added that Jean Todt has also committed to Ferrari for a further season and will remain at the helm of the team for the 2007 campaign, thereby guiding Ferrari in its first post-Schumacher era, while see Kimi Raikkonen form the backbone of the team's new title challenge.

Technical director Ross Brawn, though, is expected to take a year out in 2007, while will means Aldo Costa, who is head of the Design and Development Department, will take on more responsibility.

No official announcement as yet has been forthcoming from the Scuderia, who intend waiting until the end of the season to confirm their team personnel for 2007.

Schumi will still earn millions after F1

Even if Michael won't be earning his money with racing in Formula One we don't have to feel sorry for him. After this season he will be earning around 20 million euro a year with promotion activities his manager revealed.

His manager, Willi Weber, told German magazine Bild that 15 big international companies want to use Schumacher in their promotion activities. "My goal is to make Schumacher a commercial king," Weber said. "Most of our current partner will stay with us. I've been in this business for many years but I never experienced what is happening at the moment. Companies seem to be fighting for Michael since he announced his retirement."

Schumacher's current partners Shell (1.6 million euro a year), watchmaker Omega (1 million euro) and DVAG (2.6 million) have already extended their contracts with Schumacher. In his Formula One career Schumacher earned over 650 million euro already.

Schumi didn't want to become an also-ran

Michael wishes to end his career at the top.

Germany's seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher revealed Monday that his decision to quit Formula One was due to his desire to end his career at the top rather than stay on and become an also-ran.

Schumacher said at the time that he felt the time was right, and justified the decision 24 hours later by saying he did not want to become a run of the mill driver.

"I am not getting any younger and I had to ask myself whether I would have the energy, the strength and the motivation to stay at the forefront of the sport over the next few years," the 37-year-old said on his homepage.

"Of course I am still fit and of course I can compete but it is not my style just to take part.

"I know that a lot of people question the timing but it was perfect as far as I am concerned."

Schumacher's 90th career victory in Monza moved him two points behind leader Fernando Alonso in the drivers' championship and he is now fired up for the final three races and the chance to lift an eighth title.

"I do not want to concentrate on the past and my focus is on the world championship," Schumacher said. "There are three races left and we are so close. From now on the only important thing is the title. Everything else can wait."

Schumi Retiring - A Sad Day For Formula 1

Michael Schumacher's career 90 wins
A run down of Schumacher's success
Formula 1 will never be the same, Ferrari will never be the same.

Michael Schumacher claimed his 90th career Grand Prix victory in the Formula One world championship just before announcing his forthcoming retirement on Sunday.

Ahead of the season's final three races, below is a list of those career wins.

Grand Prix wins

France (Magny-Cours): 8 (1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006,)
Canada (Montreal): 7 (1994, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004)
San Marino (Imola): 7 (1994, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006)
Belgium (Spa-Francorchamps): 6 (1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002)
Japan (Suzuka): 6 (1994, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004)
Spain (Barcelona): 6 (1995, 1996, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004)
Europe (Jerez and Nurburgring): 6 (1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2006)
Monaco: 5 (1994, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001)
United States (Indianapolis): 5 (2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006)
Brazil (Interlagos): 4 (1994, 1995, 2000, 2002)
Hungary (Hungaroring): 4 (1994, 1998, 2001, 2004)
Italy (Monza): 5 (1996, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006)
Australia (Melbourne): 4 (2000, 2001, 2002, 2004)
Germany (Hockenheim): 4 (1995, 2002, 2004, 2006)
Great Britain (Silverstone): 3 (1998, 2002, 2004)
Malaysia (Sepang): 3 (2000, 2001, 2004)
Pacific (Aida): 2 (1994, 1995)
Austria (A1-Ring): 2 (2002, 2003)
Portugal (Estoril): 1 (1993)
Argentina (Buenos Aires): 1 (1998)
Bahrain (Sakhir): 1 (2004)

Year-by-year victories

1992: 1 (Belgium)
1993: 1 (Portugal)
1994: 8 (Brazil, Pacific, San-Marino, Monaco, Canada, France, Hungary, Europe)
1995: 9 (Brazil, Spain, Monaco, France, Germany, Belgium, Europe, Pacific, Japan)
1996: 3 (Spain, Belgium, Italy)
1997: 5 (Monaco, Canada, France, Belgium, Japan)
1998: 6 (Argentina, Canada, France, Great Britain, Hungary, Italy)
1999: 2 (San-Marino, Monaco)
2000: 9 (Australia, Brazil, San-Marino, Europe, Canada, Italy, United States, Japan, Malaysia)
2001: 9 (Australia, Malaysia, Spain, Monaco, Europe, France, Hungary, Belgium, Japan)
2002: 11 (Australia, Brazil, San-Marino, Spain, Austria, Canada, Great Britain, France, Germany, Belgium, Japan)
2003: 6 (San-Marino, Spain, Austria, Canada, Italy, United States)
2004: 13 (Australia, Malaysia, Bahrain, San-Marino, Spain, Europe, Canada, United States, France, Great Britain, Germany, Hungary, Japan)
2005: 1 (United States)
2006: 6 before China, Japan and Brazil (San Marino, Europe, United States, France, Germany, Italy)

Schumi retirement - Ferrari's official statement

Ferrari statement
"Michael Schumacher will retire from race driving at the end of the 2006 World Championship. Whatever the final result of this year's championship, Michael leaves Formula 1 holding almost all the records. To date, he has taken seven Drivers' world titles and has contributed to the same number of team wins in the Constructors' Championship. He has taken part in 247 Formula 1 Grands Prix (178 of them at the wheel of a Ferrari), won 90 (71), been on pole 68 (58) times, setting 75 (52) fastest race laps. He has amassed a total of 1354 points, 1051 of them in a Maranello car. No one in the world of motor racing has done better.

Following his decision, the only record that will elude him is the one for the number of race starts. He will be able to reach the 250 mark, just six short of the record held by Riccardo Patrese.

Schumacher has been with Ferrari for eleven seasons, a demonstration of loyalty without equal in Formula 1, to date securing five of his Drivers' titles here and contributing to six of the team's Constructors' titles. No other driver has ever won as much with the Scuderia.

Ferrari confirms Raikkonen and Massa

Following the announcement of Michael Schumacher's retirement, Ferrari confirmed that Kimi Raikkonen joins on a three-year deal and Massa's contract has been extended for another two seasons.

Massa is now contracted until the end of 2008 while Raikkonen is signed up until the end of 2009.

Luca Badoer will be the official test driver once again.

Schumi Confirms Retirement

Michael Schumacher will officially retire at the end of this season, he confirmed in the post race press conference having taken his 90th career victory.

"This is the last Monza race I'll do and at the end of this year I've decided with the team I'll retire from racing," Schumacher said. "It has been an exceptional time the last thirty years of what motorsport has given to me - I've loved all the good and bad moments and they've made it so special."

"I want to thank my family, my dad, mum, wife and kids all of whom have supported what I've been doing," he went on. "Without their support to survive in this business and perform would be impossible. I can't be thankful to my family enough and to all my mates from the Benetton times and Ferrari days where I've made so many friends here and it's been a really tough decision to decide not to work together any more."

"One day, it has to come, and I feel this is the moment," he went on. "In terms of timing, I think it is right to give Felipe to find his place in the team and decide his future and there was no point for my decision to be taken any further as he's been doing such a good job for the team."

Retiring Schumacher cuts Alonso's lead to two points

Michael Schumacher drove faultlessly to secure his 90th Grand Prix victory from Kimi Raikkonen and BMW's Robert Kubica. The big news however, was that Fernando Alonso's engine failure has allowed Schumacher to close to within two points of the championship lead, with three races remaining. Schumacher also confirmed he is to retire at the end of this season.

Schumi entertains at Nurburgring

Seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher took part in Ferrari's 'Racing Days 2006' event on Sunday at Nurburgring. The German entertained the crowd of 35,000 with a series of laps in Ferrari's latest road beast - the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano - and rounded the demonstration off with a run in the F2005 itself, in which he lit up the event with some race starts, donuts and quick laps.

The event included displays of historic Ferrari F1 cars and around sixty road cars. Schumacher also showed off his very own FXX, which has been built for research and development purposes.

"It's an honour for me to take part in the programme," said Schumacher, "especially as it allows for an interesting exchange of technical information.

"The atmosphere of the Ferrari Racing Days is incredible with so many fans. I am very happy to be here," he concluded.

Ferrari to announce driver line-up after Monza race

Ferrari will reveal its 2007 driver line-up on the day of the Monza Grand Prix on 10 September. The Italian team confirmed on Friday that the lengthy speculation regarding Michael Schumacher's future will end once the race is over.

"Ferrari will make an announcement on Sunday after the race," Schumacher's spokeswoman has stated.

It is widely reported that Kimi Raikkonen will be joining from McLaren, however, all eyes are on Schumacher and what Formula One's multi-record holder will decide at potentially his last ever Grand Prix in Europe.

Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport expects him to retire.

"The fact that Maranello will announce their 2007 line-up after the end of the race leads one to believe that Sunday's race will be Schumacher's last Monza."