Strumming away my thoughts

Sunday, September 10, 2006

summary of Monza race and Michael Schumacher Tribute.

months of anticipating, it is finally announced.

MICHAEL SCHUMACHER TO RETIRE AT THE END OF 2006 SEASON.
Ferrari's 2007 line-up will be Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa.

i'm sad upon hearing this news. when Michael was announcing his decision, it brought me close to tears. note. close to tears.

i first heard the commentators saying that they heard that Michael radioed in to his team on his lap back to the parc ferme, telling the whole team he was going to retire. hence, it explains Jean Todt's reddened eyes. anyway, after parking his car at the parc ferme, Michael hugs his Ferrari mates - his mechanics, Jean Todt, Corinna, and the Ferrari President. it took much longer time than it usually takes. while they were still waiting for Michael to appear on the podium, the commentator announces, "It's official! Michael Schumacher to retire." no usual leap of his on the podium upon him stepping on it. but he did jumped twice after receiving the trophy. at the press conference, the man announced. from what i got, one of his reasons of retiring is that his retirement would be fair to Massa who was performing okay and had no idea what his future will be. I guess Michael could have stayed on, if Ferrari hadn't sign Kimi but Ferrari need a strong driver to replace Michael in time to come and Kimi was the one the team decided on. If they did not sign Kimi, Kimi will go to Renault which will not be good news.

anyway, my thoughts and feelings about Michael.
i started watching F1 in year 2000, if i didn't remember wrongly. i wasn't such into F1 at the beginning. it was my siblings who were into it and i just watched along with them. if you ask me then, seeing the drivers go round and round nice meh? i would reply no, but i still continue to watch coz i didn't want to be like the others who are into soccer. now, my reply will be yes, don't underestimate wat's in that rounds that those drivers undergo. it's rounds of teamwork, hardwork and money. that's something that i understood while i watch F1. even though in the F1 car, there's only a driver in the cockpit driving the car, but he can't do it alone to win the race without the help from his race engineer and his mechanics. what made me see that teamwork was Michael Schumacher and the Ferrari team.

the drive he has, the passion he shows, his fighting spirit is a motivation for me. i was at my lowest point in life for the second quarter of this year. it may sound absurb but Michael Schumacher was my motivation power then. Ferrari didn't do that well, but was improving at that point of time. their race performance was so so and Michael had a few retirements. in spite of that, Michael continued staying positive, the positive mind that things will go well eventually for them. and i used the same positivity he has to keep me going. his words and actions are motivation, encouragement for me - to never give up, nothing is lost, hardwork does pay off.

i don't go out often because i don't want to or no one asks me. but anyway, F1 is one of the thing i look forward to. it's not just watching the qualifying and/or the race on the TV only. i now look at the relevant news of Michael Schumacher and Ferrari, their practice timings, the post press conference. when the race starts, i also look at the timings while watching the ongoing race on TV. my mum says i'm as though part of the team. haha. anyway, a race weekend for me means i have got somthing to pass my time. do i sound loser-ish? maybe. but this has become a habit. my parents know that if we go out on a race day, i have to be home 30min before the race starts coz i will not want to miss any F1 race, seeing Michael racing. it's quite fascinating how i became so into F1 or Michael actually. no idea. i even have no recollection when i started support him. interesting...

it never crossed my mind that Michael has such an impact on me. i always thought he was only a F1 driver who i supported and that was it. nothing else more. but it's until today, when the news he's retiring broke, i felt a tinge of sadness due to some thoughts. it's then i finally realise his influence on me other than a mere F1 driver. with his retirement announced, i'll have one wish unfulfilled, which is to watch Michael Schumacher race in a F1 car live in action. although i have to say, maybe it won't be something that i'll regret in time to come, but still, unfulfilled wish. i'll still support Ferrari, with Kimi as my favourite driver after Michael retires. but, i know the Flying Finn won't have the same influence power Schumi has on me and F1 for me won't feel the same without Michael racing in it.

I wasn't watching at the era when Damon Hill, Nigel Mansell, or the late Aryton Senna rule. I started watching at the era when Michael Schumacher rules. For that, he will always be the greatest F1 driver i known so far. This blogskin, from being a mere support for Michael Schumacher, is now my little tribute to him for his years in F1. Thank you Michael, for what you have taught me unknowingly. Teamwork. Passion. Fighting Spirit.

some links.
Michael's Press Speech
Official Ferrari Statement
Michael Schumacher - the end of an era
Michael overwhelmed by emotions
James Allen on Michael Schumacher

strummed at Sunday, September 10, 2006