Full Throttle

Some of us that toil away for decades as slaves to The Man (or The Admiral in my case) get a hardy thank-you and a gold watch on the way out of the door. The Great Unwashed we are and it’s hardly expected to be treated with anything more than what is doled out by him, The Man.

Others get what is commonly called a Golden Parachute, usually given to those in the upper crust of the corporate world and a result of a buy-out or takeover to provide a soft financial landing for those that don’t need it in the first place.

And then there is Michael Schumacher. A breed apart from all of us. His career spans from the days of a little pedal-kart with a motor of undetermined origin to seven-time F1 World Champion.

Those seven championships may never be surpassed and truely sets him above all of us whether we are part of fandom or his compatriots on the race track. The championships have also given an opportunity to award Schumi with much more than a watch or a financial “soft landing.” (like he needs one)

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has said Schumacher can keep the Brazil-spec Ferrari 248 F1 that he will race for the last time in his sixteen year career at Interlagos this Sunday. “I cannot think of a better parting gift for him,” the Ferrari president is quoted as saying.

The obvious must be stated, that’s some “watch!” It’s a gift he could easily afford to purchase himself and you have to wonder what the hell he wll do with it. I suppose at some date in the future we’ll hear of Shumi dusting off the cobwebs as he sprints around Marranello’s Fiorano test track.

We may even hear a few of the old Tifosi will be on hand to view it. But I suspect even those that bleed Ferrari Red will move on, the crowd will be small and may be out numbered by the paparazzi and ink-stained wretches looking to start a “Schumi is coming back” rumor, or two.

As Franco Bartelli, a taxi driver from Milan and a fan in attendance at Monza put it, “Schumi is a wonderful driver, but he is not so easy to love.”

That may be the summation of Schumi’s legacy, one of the best drivers of all-time, but also very controversial at times.

A single question remains; Will Schumacher go out “fighting fair” as Renault boss Flavio Briatore believes, or should Alonzo heed Damon Hill’s advice and “Keep your armour on until after the last race?”

Michael Schumacher, F1, Formula One, Brazilian Grand Prix, Sports, Fernando Alonzo, Auto Racing, Motorsports, Full Throttle