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[Hammer278]

I do not care what Murray Walker says. Schumacher was not the best. He was the most successful. A championship is just points. The two major teams he drove for focussed all the points on the one driver, making the other driver run interference for him. He only ever won things when he had the best car. His 94 car may or may not have had illegal traction control. Don't get me wrong, he was really good, and he was not the only one to use dubious or unsportsmanlike tactics on the track, but other champions did not have these luxuries. Had any of a good dozen or so drivers I can think of had his help or went on the path he did instead of him, the result would have been the same for that driver, instead of him. I'm just saying...

Says it all really.

Ferrari was the best car in the pitlane?

You missed Murray's point, people like Senna always wanted to drive the best car, Schumacher made the Ferrari the best car through leadership, skill and determination.

Most drivers would love to be the team number 1, Schumacher asked for it and because he was so good the team granted it. No arguments and no conflict.

Look what happened, the results speak for themselves.

Well yeah, he's probably the Champion of Champions in playing the politics in the team. As for driver skill, we can all witness it in the open now. Don't get me wrong, a damn good driver...but best ever? Not a chance. Not even Top 3 if put in equal cars with the drivers of today. This goes for the Michael of today, and the one during Ferrari days.

[madbrad]

And? All the greats have had some help in the pitlane. It is a team sport. Being successful is about several factor coming together such as the right people, the driver and the car.

Yeah, that's why I said he's the most successful.

[Big Azza]

I just thought I'd post this article regarding Schumacher's last race in Brazil last year... Despite the many issues that some have had over his personality over the previous couple of decades, the man behind that facade possessed a real champion personality.

Vettel didn't need the position, because 7th would have been enough as Horner said, but Schumacher wanted to do it in his final race to the kid who once looked up to him as his boyhood hero....

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/104626

Red Bull thanks 'gracious' Schumacher for giving Vettel sixth

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner has thanked Michael Schumacher for his 'gracious' gesture of handing sixth place to Sebastian Vettel at the end of the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Schumacher allowed Vettel to make an easy pass on him near the end of the Interlagos race, although seventh would have been sufficient for the Red Bull driver to claim the title regardless with his rival Fernando Alonso only second.

"Michael very graciously gave him P6 and that was enough to convert his third consecutive world championship," said Horner.

"Michael is renowned for being a tough racer. I think it was his gesture to Sebastian, almost like passing the baton on.

"I'm sure it was not particularly well received at his former employer [Ferrari] but I thought it was very magnanimous of Michael to move out of the way for his fellow countryman."

Horner admitted Red Bull had considered telling Vettel to hold position behind Schumacher rather than risking a battle with the seven-time champion in his final Formula 1 race.

"I thought he'd be pretty tough to fight with," said Horner. "We weren't sure whether to tell Sebastian he didn't need that [position] so long as the finishing order was there so he didn't need to get in a scrap with Michael.

"Michael obviously felt it was something he wanted to do and it was very generous that he moved over in his final grand prix."

Schumacher and Vettel are long-time friends, and the elder German said after the race that he had no qualms about relinquishing sixth to his compatriot.

"He was a lot quicker and there was no point getting engaged with him," said Schumacher. "I didn't see the point so that's why I moved over and let him through.

"I'm proud of him. He's a good friend of mine."

[racechick]

he had nothing to loose and didn't want Alonso to win.

[Roth]

It does seem like half the time Vettel cruises up behind someone there's usually a political reason for them to make his life as easy as possible.

[CookinFlat6]

Maybe why Seb always gets on the radio when he is behind someone;

Hes too slow get him out the way
this isnt fair boo hoo
if thats ricciardo tell him he is fired

[NHcheese]

It's the way he said it. "Mark is too slow, get him out of the way"

"understood, look after the tyres"

Rosberg went "I can go so much faster, just let me go past"

"Negative"