Michael Schumacher looking to enjoy final race at Brazil

Michael Schumacher has explained how he is looking to enjoy his final race in Formula 1 this weekend, as the German prepares to enter retirement for the second time in his career after 20 years in the sport. The seven-time World Champion returned from initial retirement in 2010 with Mercedes, and has failed to returning to his winning ways.

Despite his lack of competitiveness in the sport in comparison to his Benetton and Ferrari days, Michael Schumacher has remained positive at each race weekend. The German finally returned to the podium earlier in the year at the European Grand Prix, however he has struggled to remain consistent on a regular basis. Admittedly this has been largely due to the team’s mechanical woes throughout this season, which has seen Schumacher suffer gearbox, fuel pressure and hydraulic issues throughout the year.

As the 2012 season progressed, it was initially believed Michael Schumacher could well sign a new contract with Mercedes, with his initial three-year return contract set to expire after this season. However once Lewis Hamilton was linked to the German marque, it quickly became clear that Schumacher would be the driver making way for the Briton, who was later confirmed alongside Nico Rosberg for 2013.

This decision has since become a major talking point within the paddock, with even Jacques Villeneuve questioning the team’s decision in pairing Hamilton with Rosberg. Either way, Michael Schumacher seems calm and collected ahead of the brewing Championship storm and is looking to enjoy his final race.

“Well I guess I have some experience and that’s probably why I’m so relaxed about the happenings,” explained Michael Schumacher. “On top of that we are not in any Championship fight compared to last time when it [retiring] happened to me and I’m just going to take the best out of it and enjoy it the best I can.”

The 43-year-old German, who has taken a mesmerizing 91 race victories throughout his long and colorful career in the sport, has no regrets about his imminent departure. Michael Schumacher initially retired from the sport after the 2006 season, after a season-long battle with the Renault of Fernando Alonso. Unfortunately Schumacher has been unable to return to his former dominance during his return to the sport, however it’s unquestionable that he has enjoyed it nonetheless. When asked whether or not he was sad about ending his career in F1, the German emphasized his satisfaction at leaving after an utterly sensational career in the sport.

“Probably not, no.” Continued Michael Schumacher, “I have tried that mission to end successful, it didn’t work this time, but I’m quite happy to finish from here and go for a different life again.”

Michael Schumacher’s successor at Mercedes will be Lewis Hamilton, who has controversially decided to leave McLaren for the German marque. With Mercedes having only won one race so far this season, in comparison to McLaren’s six, many are understandably baffled by the Briton’s decision. Whether he can lead Mercedes to a competitive resurgence in his time at the team will be interesting to see, as Hamilton prepares to team-mate good friend Nico Rosberg.

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