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[LewEngBridewell]

He's going... again.

Michael Schumacher has announced that he will retire from Formula 1 at the end of the season.
Lewis Hamilton is to replace the German seven-time world champion at Mercedes from next year.
"Although I am still able to compete with the best drivers, at some point it is good to say goodbye," said Schumacher, 43.
"During the past month I was not sure if I still had the motivation and energy which is necessary to go on."
He added: "It is not my style to go on if I'm not 100% with it but with today's decision I feel relieved."

Schumacher won 91 races in a career that began in 1991 and spanned 19 seasons, helping to revive Ferrari's fortunes after he joined them in 1996.
He won his first title with Benetton in 1994 and repeated the feat the following year.
He claimed five straight titles between 2000 and 2004, before retiring for a first time in 2006.
After three years away from the sport he made a comeback with Mercedes in 2010.
However, since his return he has managed just one podium finish in three seasons, at Valencia earlier this year.
Speculation that Schumacher could retire at the end of the season first surfaced at the start of September, when Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone told BBC Sport that he was "sorry that he's leaving us not being a winner, because he is a winner."
He was then linked with a move to Sauber for the 2013 season, but rather than look for a seat elsewhere he has instead decided to bring an end to his illustrious racing career.

[Denthúl]

Sad times. Next year will feature none of the drivers that participated in the first season I watched.

[Jabberwocky]

Sad times. Next year will feature none of the drivers that participated in the first season I watched.

unless Rubens comes back

[vaptin]

Would have loved to see him against Alonso in Ferrari, but it's probably better this way. He wasn't really going places.

He's been racing in F1 since before I was born.

[What's Burning?]

At face value it was probably a mistake to come back. He seemed unsatisfied and perhaps thought things would have been easier than they turned out to be. Ultimately the return was better for Schumacher the man than it was for Schumacher the legend.

[Hammer278]

Apparently Schumacher said that the Hamilton news helped him to make his decision.

If I'm reading this right, Hamilton has just helped retire the most successful driver in Formula 1 history.

[Jabberwocky]

Is that like Kimi helped him retire the 1st time?

[Hammer278]

Is that like Kimi helped him retire the 1st time?

No one knows for sure. Schumacher announced his retirement before the Kimi announcement if I'm not mistaken? If it was after Kimi's announcement, then I guess it is like that.

[Jabberwocky]

Wasn't it romoured that the Kimi deal was done months before it was announced?

[Hammer278]

I can't remember to be honest. There's a few theories...Montezemolo pushed Schumacher out for Kimi, Schumacher retired because he wanted to, etcetc. Not very important anyway.

[vaptin]

I think it was more Bernie, if he says Schumacher will retire, he will retire.

Nah seriously, Schumacher was thinking about it for a while, then lost his seat, which would have made staying on a little more difficult.

Sauber made it clear they wanted him, so I expect they will seal up a replacement for Perez now they know they can't get Schumacher.

[Denthúl]

Sad times. Next year will feature none of the drivers that participated in the first season I watched.

unless Rubens comes back

Sadly I don't see that happening.

[vlad]

I told you guys, after I saw his face when he collided with Vergne, it was all clear as a day. He is just tired...

[geetface9]

I'm kinda bummed. I liked watching rosberg sh1t all over schumi for the last three years, but he deserved a win for the amount of times mercedes failed him

[andrew]

Very sad news but it was bound to happen. 3 years driving for a team that is incapable of moving forward - sadly it's been a total waste of time.

Ain't any legends driving no more.