Autosport n. 51 20/12/2012

Danke Michael: The Fans' Farewell to Schumi

http://www.amazon.it/Danke-Michael-Farewell-Schumi-ebook/dp/B00AQCA47Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1355933456&sr=8-1

Coppia vincente? O Schumy vincente?

Nonostante, la sconfitta di ieri, in questo week end Michael ha dimostrato di essere sempre un grande. Molti lo hanno criticato e continueranno a farlo probabilmente solamente perchè a 43 anni suonati è ancora capace di dare quelle emozioni e risultati che giovani di belle speranze si sognano a parte Vettel che comunque, non sarà mai all'altezza di Schumy.

La Mercedes ha perso una grande occasione non dando a Michael ne un team valido tecnicamente ne una macchina all'altezza del suo valore tre anni buttati al vento che potevano sicuramente portare all'ottavo titolo mondiale. Pazienza! Noi aspetteremo e chissà forse lo rivedremo in pista nel 2014.

TI ASPETTIAMO SCHUMYhttp://f1grandprix.motorionline.com/race-of-champions-schumacher-e-vettel-coppia-vincente/

Una intervista di Michael durante la ROC

http://www.facebook.com/groups/316669121697953/



Oggi, hai dato il meglio di te e con te c'era la tua compagna della vita ................... ti abbiamo seguito come sempre e per sempre sarai il nostro unico ed inossidabibile CAMPIONE .................. MICHAEL TORNA CI MANCHI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SESTA VITTORIA CONSECUTIVA

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/104840


 Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel claimed their sixth consecutive Race of Champions Nations' Cup victory for Team Germany.
The duo dominated the event, which was held for the first time in Bangkok's Rajamangala Stadium, winning every head-to-head tie in which they competed.
In the final, Schumacher defeated Formula 1 rival Romain Grosjean in the first heat after the Lotus driver lost a lot of time with a lurid slide at the last corner in the KTM X-Bow.
Vettel then defeated World Rally Championship ace Sebastien Ogier in the second race to clinch the Nations' Cup title.
Speaking after the victory, Schumacher vowed to return in 2013 in search of a record-extending seventh crown.
"For sure, we're going to be here, that's a must," said Schumacher. "Actually, my lucky number is seven so we are going to push hard!"
Team Australia, represented by four-time Australian V8 Supercar champion Jamie Whincup and five-time 500cc motorcycle champion Mick Doohan, had a strong run to the semi-finals before being knocked out by Germany.
But Team Germany did have its only major scare of the evening against Australia, with Vettel understeering into the barrier driving the 570bhp Lamborghini Gallardo Super Trofeo before recovering to win.
In the other semi-final, Team France defeated the All Star team of Le Mans legend Tom Kristensen and two-time MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo.
In the group stages that preceded the semi finals, France and the All Stars qualified from a group that also contained the Americas and British teams.
Team Americas, represented by IndyCar champion Ryan Hunter-Reay and Production World Rally champion Benito Guerra, only missed out on a semi-final slot on a best time tiebreaker after matching the All Stars team's three group stage victories.
British pairing David Coulthard and Andy Priaulx only won twice, with both drivers losing wins to penalties for touching the barriers.
In the other group, the ROC Asia-winning Team India finished third with two wins for Karun Chandhok and Narain Karthikeyan, with both drivers struggling after having no prior opportunity to learn the track's chicane, which had been revised overnight.
Team Thailand finished bottom of the table with one win shared by Charoensukawattana Nattavude and Tin Sintrai.
The Race of Champions itself, in which drivers compete individually, takes place tomorrow.http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=480698525314715&set=a.348395121878390.90431.333408786710357&type=1&ref=nf

Le parole di Michael dopo la vittoria di oggi alla ROC

Michael: "This is a historic day. It was already very special to win five times in a row but this new record just feels great. The Race Of Champions is a nice event with a nice set-up, there are great guys here and tough competition. We were pretty scared of the guys on Team France but in the end they lost time in the final heats so we were lucky to be consistent the whole way through."

http://www.raceofchampions.com/News/general-news/team-germany-win-sixth-roc-nations-cup.aspxhttp://www.raceofchampions.com/News/general-news/team-germany-win-sixth-roc-nations-cup.aspx

Michael: "questa è una giornata storica. Era già molto speciale per vincere cinque volte di fila, ma questo nuovo record appena si sente grande. La Race Of Champions è un evento piacevole con un bel set-up, ci sono ragazzi grandi qui e dura concorrenza. Siamo stati abbastanza paura dei ragazzi del Team Francia ma alla fine hanno perso tempo nella manche finale, quindi siamo stati fortunati ad essere coerente in tutta la strada attraverso."

 

 

Queste le dichiarazioni di Michael dopo la vittoria GRAZIE CAMPIONE

Anche in questo 2012 vincitore della ROC in coppia con Vettel

 Grazie Michael per le emozioni e la vittoria che ci hai regalato oggi. Non c'è molto da dire solo che semmai ce ne fosse stato bisogno, hai dimostrato ancora una volta di ESSERE MIGLIORE E NON SOLO IN F.1. Molti tuoi detrattori continueranno a darti del bollito ma, tu non lo sei perchè campioni come te superano anche il tempo !


GRAZIE DI TUTTO MICHAEL GRAZIE DAL PROFONDO DEL CUORE DI CHI HA VISSUTO LE TUE IMPRESE.

Ma sarà veramente un addio oppure è solo un arrivederci?

 In questo week end il nostro campione sarà impegnato nella ROC ............... è stato duro per noi che con tanto affetto ed entusiasmo abbiamo seguito, gioito e pianto la sua carriera, accettare il suo addio alla F.1.
ma, sarà davvero un addio definitivo? Nel 2006 quando Michael disse basta, lasciai aperta una piccola speranza e dopo tre anni tornò di nuovo in F.1 dando il meglio di se con una macchina sicuramente non degna del suo valore. Anche ora, voglio lasciare aperta la stessa speranza..................... perchè sappiamo benissimo che chi come lui e come tanti altri campioni della f.1, chi nasce con le corse nel sangue non può fare altro anche a dispetto dell'età che avanza.
Se deciderai di tornare, noi saremo qui ma, saremo qui anche se la tua vita di sportivo prenderà altre strade. Ma, se ti dovessero offrire di nuovo la possibilità di tornare, non accettare subito e soprattutto, non dare adito a progetti come quello Mercedes che non aveva basi tecniche sufficenti per essere realizzato.

Caro Michael nel ringraziarti ancora una volta per tutto quello che hai saputo fare per la f.1 e la Ferrari, un GRANDE IN BOCCA AL LUPO PER QUESTO WEEK END.

GRAZIE DI CUORE CAMPIONE

Mi congedo da tifoso ciao d grazie Michael

http://www.passionea300allora.it/2012/11/30/mi-congedo-da-tifoso-ciao-e-grazie-michael/

I was there: Brazil 2012 .....#DankeMichael

I was there

Brazil 2012

 

It is extremely hard for me to explain how I feel today and how I was feeling during “my last race”.

Racing is a state of mind and I’m trying to be still in it. But to speak about racing you need a race or at least a racer and when for 21 years you follow “THE RACER” the day after his last GP you realize you can keep on following F1, but your heart won’t be able to be thudding again. Those feelings that only a fighter that has never backed down can give you won’t came back anymore. I’ll keep them in my heart and they be my reason to live.

So sorry if I’ll write more about my feelings than about the race, but, be sure, I was there, my heart was there and if I’ve to synthesize the Brazilian GP 2012 I could only do writing “STAND UP FOR THE CAMPION” and I don’t mean the winner of the world championship.

I’ve left my home on Wednesday and twenty hours later, on Thursday,  I’ve reached Sao Paulo. I’ve spent my first day in Brazil just collecting my tickets at Hotel Transamerica and having dinner.

My very first day was on Friday. At 7:30 in the morning I was already at Interlagos. Why two and a half hours earlier? Simply to … make everything perfect to celebrate as much as I could the driver of F1 of all times.

I’ve begun fixing my banner in my stand, that, as usual, was in front of Schumi’s garage. Security wasn’t too happy for the banners I have announced but they had to accept them, as they’ve realized I’d have fighted until my death to protect them. So I fix my “NEVER GIVE UP, MICHAEL, YOUR FRIENDS WON’T LET YOU DO”, that has been realized by a friend of mine and that I’ve brought with me to every race this year. Some meters left to mine they fix a German Flag, then my Russian friends arrive with their banner: “thank you for these three years” (where thank you is written in eight different languages). My Italian friend was also next to me and she fixed her “it was magic having you back”.

My stand, such as the others I’ve to say (in stand A there’s a huge “Michael we love you”) is full of banners reading which you can’t imagine we’re not speaking about the leader of the championship or about the driver that contends it to him, but simply about “THE LEGEND” or as he prefers “the FIGHTER who never backed down”.

FP1 is ready to begin.

You sure will remember my memories of Abu Dhabi (the whole autograph session next to Michael’s table). You won’t remember, as I haven’t written about, that a few days later I’ve met Michael again for the Nazionale Piloti football match and the gala dinner, talking with him and taking pictures together.

After Abu Dhabi and Padova how could I feel so excited for a race, that is even the last race? I wasn’t excited, I was sad, really very sad. I turned my i-phone on and I’ve seen a picture of my drivers helmet … there was something new. Michael has wanted on it “Life is about passions. Thank you for sharing mine”. I breathe deeply, trying not to cry. I’m mad, I know, but for a good reason: Michael is really the most special person in the world. We’ve to thank him and he thanks? Well, as I’ve written in my t-shirt (I was obviously wearing it) I’m really proud to be a Schumacher fan.

Now free practice really begins. It’s ten o’ clock and after taking my usual pictures of Michael getting into his WO3 I turn on my Fan Vision (the small TV from which I follow the race even from Schumi’s car) and I watch.

Hamilton is the fasted followed by the two Red Bull driven by Vettel and Webber, then Button, Alonso. Schumi is eleventh.

We stop for two and a half hours and it’s two o’clock. FP2 is on. The first three are the same as FP1: Hamilton is the fasted followed by the two Red Bull driven by Vettel and Webber, then Massa and Alonso followed by SCHUMI … Sixth …I can be very happy, but I feel so sad … I keep on trying stopping my watch and the time keeps on running: my first day is out and I’ve only two days left.

And Saturday arrives. I join the track even earlier than the day before, at 7. I’m the first behind the gates and I can easily fix my banner . A few moments later I can see a different banner I’ve not seen on Friday. It says “Thank you Michael Sc” from Argentina. Yes, now I’m sure. Italy, Russia, Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Philippine … are physically on the stands but the whole world is there and through my i-phone I can share their support for Michael.

When my Russian friends arrive they have a new banner with … “Michael F1 is nothing without you”. They fix it while … I’m crying…. I don’t know why … I just wish to shout to Michael THANK YOU so loud to lose my voice forever.

While my tears go down my face I’ve an idea. I can call Globo TV that is filming on the track and I can record something dedicated to Michael to touch his heart as much as a bomb.

Free Practice three at eleven o’ clock stops my thoughts and my tears.

Button is the quickest, followed by Vettel, Webber, Hamilton. Alonso is 8^th, Michael is fifteenth.

At noon time a journalist by Veja approaches my friends and me to know more about our love for Michael. My Russian friends go first. Then I go and speak to him, I don’t even think at what I’m saying … I talk about a passion that has started in 1991 and still grows up more and more, I show some of the great quantity of pictures I’ve with me, I tell him I’ve even stopped working to follow Michael this months and … I ask him to call Globo TV …. He shares my idea, he calls them and … they arrive.

Now it’s only Michael (behind TV) and me (together with his fans all over the world that I’m representing).

I open remembering Michael’s “Life is about passions, thank you for sharing mine” and I say to Michael that we need to thank him for sharing his life with us, as in these 21 years he has been our life. I tell him that I speak in the name of his fans from Italy, Russia, Germany and Kerpen, Argentina, Hungaria , Chile, Brazil, facebook groups and I thank him with my heart in my hands … I’m looking for the video as I can’t remember what I’ve really said, I can just make you be sure my whole heart is in that video.

TV stops filming and I cry. The journalist tries to calm me and says well done, we’ll send it on soon.

But I’m crying because I wish more…..

I wish … the whole track to … blow up … shaping a big heart in the sky to thank Michael and to show him how strong is our love for him.

And it’s two o’ clock. Qualifying session ….  

Q1 is ok, Michael goes through as Grosjean, Petrov, Kovaleinen, Glock, Pic, Kartikeyan, De La Rosa are out.

In Q2 it doesn’t work and Michael is out (14^th place) together with Di Resta, Senna, Perez, before him and Kobayashi, Ricardo, Vergne after him.

It’s Q3 … My heart isn’t thudding anymore … my brain is over. … my last qualifying session …

Hamilton gets the pole position, Vettel is 4^th, Alonso 8^th.

I ran away and a little bit later I know Maldonado has got a penalty so Michael will leave from 13^th.

Suddenly I feel excited again.

Now I know what to do to farewell Michael “in my way”.

I go next to the tickets seller and I buy a second ticket of B stand that is in front of the starting grid. From there I can shout to Michael during his last picture, his last parade … his last departure.

It’s useless to write I haven’t slept on Saturday night, I’ve simply watched my pictures, my videos, … thought of my 21 years following Michael all over the world … and at these three MAGIC years … at these last months during which I’ve spent most of my time following him even where the wheels have never rolled before.

I keep on praying to stop the time passing, but it keeps on passing unrelenting. Even If I don’t want … the sun rises … and … it’s the final countdown.

At 6:30 I leave my hotel. I arrive really early at the track, I’m alone in front of stand B (the other fans are in stands A and M), I’ve one of the banners of Friday with me and I’ve to fight as Michael as taught me to take it with me inside.

At the end, as a miracle, the security believes me. He allows that banner plus other two and he even helps me.

One of my banner is the one of Friday, the second says “Michael we love to see your races, your fight, your passion We will always support you”. The third “Michael these were wonderful three years.  The car was fake but you never give up. That’s why we love you. You are the greatest racer of the world”

I manage to fix the three banners, to tweet to the team to tell that the whole track is full of banners for Michael.

I miss the pictures of the team with Michael in front of his garage, his jokes, his tears … I’m very sad for that … but I’ve missed it just because I wished to organize the farewell Michael deserves.

Now it’s 9:30, I’ve achieved my job and I turn on my I-phone. There’s an interview taken to Michael … I can’t believe he thanks us and says he’s really touched.

Now I feel I’ve done what I wished to and what he deserves.

At 12:30 it’s the drivers’ parade time..

The drivers appear. I’m just in front of Michael with my small banner “Never give up ..” shouting to him … he smiles … my heart … stops….

When the drivers’ parade is about to finish the truck stops suddenly, the drivers are about to fall one upon the other … I’ve Michael’s face in my camera’s zoom … he smiles … I take a picture … I really feel in heaven.

And we arrive too quick at 1:30 p.m. The cars are moving to the starting grid …. It’s going to rain … even the clouds agree with me and they want to farewell Michael crying as he deserves even their feeling.

At last my driver arrives … I can’t believe … I begin to cry again …, in his car there’s something new. On the right you can see “Thank you good bye Michael” and even more … he arrives showing a flag with thank you written on .

Dear Michael,

every little thing you do is magic, I’m really proud and proud to be your fan. Nobody is like you.

Michael stops his car at position 13^th, I’m just upon him, a few meters upon his face. I take a picture of him, one of him with the team, one of the flag.

Then he enters in the car for the last time, he closes his visor … a last picture.

Then I stop.

I move my banner “Never give up” upon his head and I simply try to fix his giving gas to his engine inside my heart FOREVER.

Wow … what a feeling his last departure  … It’s hard to let you feel how I was feeling, under the rain, his engine in my heart, … just Michael and me … no pictures … no people .. no sadness … the whole world was out.

But such a feeling was to finish early. As in 2006 Michael has a puncture and he has to pit. He rejoins last and he begins his fight.

To be true I’ve to say he hasn’t been the only fighter of the race, as Vettel has had a problem with Senna at the first lap, he’s lost his radio power during the race and he’s had a problem with intermediate tires. Seb has moved to the back up to forward positions.

At lap 40 the best show of “my race”: a great fight between Michael and Kimi … how I love these moments … how today I miss them … Michael, how will you live without? What kind of experience will give to you and to us such adrenaline?

At the end Alonso goes over Massa for the second place, Sebastian goes over Michael for the sixth place and the race is over.

Button has won the Brazilian GP 2012 with Alonso and Massa on the podium.

Vettel has won his thrid world championship and even the DHL award for the fastest lap.

Michael Schumacher, seven titles, car number seven arrives seventh closing his career with a race I’ll never forget.

He gets out of his car, really covered by photographers, he congratulates with Sebastian Vettel and he runs quickly away towards his garage where “his team” is waiting for him.

Yes, in the happy moments as in the tough ones Michael has always tried to build up “HIS TEAM” . He has never said “I” or “me” to share a good result, only “we”, “the team”, “thank you guys” …. And “I” or “me” just to say it’s my fault.

He’s been as brave as a lion in coming back. Now Michael’s comeback is over …

He’s come back as he has believed in a project, he has always considered it “his project”, he’s tried to build up “his team”, “his car”.

What he has wished hasn’t happened, but what Michael has built WILL survive.

It’s Monday night now. I’m in my plane from Sao Paulo to Rome, It’s impossible for me to close my eyes without crying … so I’m trying to write my feelings before they fly away and to share them with my friends, living all over the world, the ones Michael’s allowed me to meet in these years.

I don’t know if I’ve been able to make you really feel what I’ve felt.

I can simply add that I’ve felt to be in a dream: my dream has started in 1991 and it hasn’t stopped yesterday …. My dream will go on and on as Michael’s example, his loyalty, his passion will live in each of us FOEREVER.

Thanks Michael, with you from the beginning to the end … as I’ve been able to, but, be sure with all the passion I’ve had, with all my heart and as promised …. keeping my tears inside my eyes as, I know, … I won’t lose you … you’re inside my heart forever

#DankeMichael

#Proudtobeaschumacherfan

Interlagos, November 26^th 2012

                                 Rita Xiumè

 

 

I was there: Abu Dhabi 2012

http://bensweeneysf1blog.wordpress.com/i-was-there/

Intervista dopo gara ... GP India 2012

La fine di un'era

http://bensweeneysf1blog.wordpress.com/2012/10/27/end-of-an-era/

La vita senza F1

http://youtu.be/Yiw8kRoZgEU

Schumi sommerso dai tifosi li ringrazia dall'India

UN MESSAGGIO A MICHAEL

Un'altra opportunità per scrivere un messaggio a Michael, verrà inserito in un libro che gli verrà consegnatoa Francoforte il 10 novembre p.v.
http://www.michael-sebastian.com/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1351002328&archive&start_from&ucat=2%2C11

MICHAEL SI DA ALL'IPPICA (intervista a Gazzetta dello Sport del 18/10/2012)

COSA FARA' DA GRANDE IL NOSTRO MICHAEL?

http://f1grandprix.motorionline.com/schumacher-la-mia-vita-dopo-la-f1-ho-cosi-tante-opzioni/


nell'attesa di saperne di più vi posto questo link...........................................................!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SCHUMI NON HA ANCORA PIANI PER IL FUTURO

MICHAEL SCHUMACHER DIVENTERA' LEGGENDA

Anche " TUTTO SPORT" riporta la notizia già anticipata dalla Bild. De della festa in programma a Francoforte con la quale Michael Schumacher sarà UFFICIALMENTE  LEGGENDA  della F.1 di seguito vi riporto il link della notizia inviatomi gentilmente dalla nostra amica Barbara Buzzi.

GRAZIE BARBARA!http://www.tuttosport.com/formula1/2012/10/16-219162/F1%3A+Schumacher+vince+premio+%26%23171%3BLeggenda+dello+sport%26%23187%3B

MICHAEL SCHUMACHER SI RITIRA DEFINITIVAMENTE: E' IL PIU' GRANDE PILOTA DELL'ERA MODERNA?

http://www.gazzetta.it/sondaggi/votazioneDispatch.do?method=risultati&referrerAction=vota&idSondaggio=11216

301 MESSAGGI (O QUASI) DAI TUOI TIFOSI

https://dl-web.dropbox.com/get/Public/301%21%21.pdf?w=cef67623

CIAO MICHAEL.........QUELLO CHE VORREI DIRTI IN QUESTO MOMENTO

Ciao Michael, è da un pò che volevo scriverti ma, per problemi personali non ho potuto. Ho appreso la notizia del tuo ritiro e francamente, per me è stato un fulmine a ciel sereno. NO! non me lo aspettavo........................! Speravo..... ho sperato fino all'ultimo che non arrivasse mai quel momento.
Il tuo ritorno in F.1 per me è stata una gioia grandissima anche se, devo confessarti che NON HO AVUTO MAI FIDUCIA DI CHI TI AVEVA OFFERTO UN PROGETTO CHE ALLA FINE SI E' RIVELATO UNA TRAPPOLA SENZA USCITA.
Ho  avuto fiducia solo ed esclusivamente in te; nel tuo valore, nella tua determinazione e nel tuo coraggio nel rimetterti in gioco in un mondo, quello della F.1 che non perdona ! Che costuisce i suoi eroi distruggendoli poi con altrettanta facilità. Sono rimasta ferita e disgustata dal modo in cui Mercedes ha trattato un 7 volte volte campione del mondo..........................................
Sono dispiaciuta per come ti hanno dato un ben servito che nel modo più assoluto non meritavi!  Caro Michael devi sapere che anche per me è giunto il momento di salutare la F.1 ...... Si questa F.1 non mi appartiene più la seguo dal 1977 da quando avevo 12 anni ma, non è più la F.1 dei miei CAMPIONI DEL CUORE - GILLES VILLENEUVE E MICHAEL SCHUMACHER. Il tuo ritorno aveva riacceso in me questa passione che ora nel tuo ritiro vede la sua fine. Non ti vedrò più salire su una F.1, non ti vedrò più sorridente malgrado tutto ai box mentre ti prepari per le prove e per la gara ma, dal mio cuore stanne certo, non uscirai mai!
Ho un gruppo su FB dedicato a te che resterà aperto perchè il rapporto con i tuoi veri tifosi è indissolubile ed incancellabile come le emozioni che ci hai regalato quando eri in Ferrari ed anche in questi tre anni.
TI VOGLIO BENE MICHAEL! E QUALSIASI COSA FARAI RICORDATI CHE NOI SAREMO SEMPRE I TUOI ANGELI.
TI ABBRACCIO FORTE CAMPIONE. CON AFFETTO Eugenia

SCHUMI MAI DIRE MAI

Cosa resta del mito Schumacher? La rentrée sterile l’ha demolito o piuttosto umanamente rafforzato? E poi siamo sicuri che il Kaiser ne abbia abbastanza?

                                                               di Marco Donnini
Sull’addio a fine stagione tra Schumi e la Mercedes è stato spiegato tutto. Non c'è nulla da aggiungere, la situazione è chiara. È solo questione di tempo. Non è più l'ora delle notizie, questa, ma delle riflessioni.
Da focalizzare, semmai, è solo il versante dei bi­lanci agonistici ed esistenziali di questa esperien­za. In altre parole, è stata davvero un fallimento, tanto da sbiadire la sua immagine? E per quali motivi, per la prima volta nella sua vita, Michael non è riuscito a fare la differenza, cucendosi ad­dosso la macchina? Di più. L'eptacampione, che in queste 3 stagioni e in 53 gare non ha mai rischiato di vincerne una, s'è mostrato davvero bollito? E il confronto col compagno di colori Rosberg s'è rivelato complessivamente imbarazzante?
Di certo c'è solo il punto di partenza. Michael Schumacher era tornato per vincere. Il "cosa" era trattabile. Minimo alcuni Gran Premi, massimo l'ottavo titolo.
A fine 2010 il quotidiano svizzero Blick stimava che l'introito annuale del ritorno di Schumacher per la stagione - appena terminata con uno spa­ventosa collisione con Liuzzi a Abu Dhabi -, era stimabile in circa 21 milioni di euro pagati dalla Mercedes, un terzo dei quali coperto dagli spon­sor, più un movimento complessivo attivo di ca­pitali - comprendente sponsor personali, attività promozionali, marketing, introiti di merchandi­sing e indotto vario - stimabile attorno ai 50 milio­ni di euro annuali.
Quando ha rinnovato per il 2012, in tempi di cri­si mondiale, di pensoso buon senso Mercedes e con un palmarés recente non irresistibile, il Kai­ser è passato a un contratto di 8 milioni di euro annuali più quasi altrettanti garantiti dagli spon­sor personali. In poche parole, relativamente a questi tre anni, Schumi passa alla storia - e mol­to probabilmente ci resterà per sempre -, per es­sere il pilota non vincente meglio pagato di tut­ti i tempi.
Detto questo, le sue antiche parole dell'inverno 2009: «Torno ai Gp per puro divertimento» si ver­niciano d'una patina di simpatica paraculaggine, smentibile solo se si riconosce che oltre a correre in Formula 1 anche ritirare i bonifici in banca, in fondo, risulta essere piuttosto divertente
Spinte motivazionali profonde
Però c'è dell'altro. Schumi resta un personaggio dal magnetismo mediatico unico. Uno che, volen­do, qualsiasi cosa fa, guadagna. Pure senza corre­re. Quindi i soldi non possono essere stati la molla esclusiva o prevalente della sua rentrée.
E qui si entra nell'esistenziale. Il movente preva­lente del ritorno è stato un altro. Dirsi che non è finita. E crederci. A un'età in cui hai già indagato la vita e la vita stessa comincia a indagare la tua prostata, combattere il tempo. Prolungare qua­si faustianamente la giovinezza in una volontà di potenza esprimibile in una rassicurante competi­tività ritrovata.
Sì, l'ha fatto per questo e per un altro motivo. Per­ché ha fegato. In fondo nei due anni precedenti, piuttosto che godersi la vita, s'era vestito da cen­tauro con una monopezzo in pelle, sparandosi a trecento all'ora sulle piste di mezza Europa in sel­la a una derivata di serie. In poche parole, la cosa più pericolosa concepibile nel motorsport, a parte correre il Tourist Trophy e le altre classiche stra­dali. E mica per soldi: per una merendina. Rischiando di rompersi l'osso del collo e andando­ci anche ragionevolmente vicino.
Un uomo, non più un ragazzo
Eccolo, è fatto così l'uomo maturo che ha deciso di entrare gioiosamente in questo triennio spigo­loso, periodo lucido e argentato come una Mercedes, ma che somiglia pure a un tritacarne.
Lui è ben diverso dal ragazzo perfettino, agoni­sticamente scorrettino ma strategicamente e velocisticamente micidiale che aveva vinto 7 titoli lasciando la maggioranza della gente ammiratissima ma un po' frigidina. Perché Schumi parlava ore e ore senza dire niente. E mai in italiano. Vinceva e basta. Con tutto il rispetto per lui, le leggende e gli impiegati, sembrava un impiatgato della leggenda. Un travet con l'ufficetto in zona mito.
A Gilles Villeneuve ogni ferrarista gridò "ti amo! ", a uno come Michael Schumacher in versione pre 2006 ciascun tifoso medio al massimo dell'eccita­zione gli ha sussurrato "ti stimo".
Le cose cambiano quando l'ultraquarantenne si rimette al volante della Mercedes. Perché stenta a vincere. Anzi, con la WO1 e la W02 manco se lo sogna. A volte battaglia a coltello nella pancia dal gruppo con gente che anni prima non avrebbe vo­luto come autista di famiglia. Le prende spesso e malvolentieri da Rosberg, si segnala per un'inedi­ta propensione all'imprecisione aggressiva, oltre a confermarsi all'occorrenza scorretto per il solo gu­sto di esserlo, come nella stretta da manette rifila­ta a Barrichello all'Hungaroring 2010.
Però andiamo oltre. I mesi, le stagioni passano e Schumacher lentamente non peggiora. No, no, mi­gliora. La forbice del distacco in prova col fortissimo Nico Rosberg invece di allargarsi ingloriosamente, costantemente si restringe. Non è possibile, per la cervellotica struttura delle qualificazioni, produrre statistiche omogenee e correttamente leggibili, ep­pure risulta chiaro che alle batoste di 15-4 del 2010 e di 16-3 del 2001, nel 2012 Schumi risponde a Ni­co accusando un onorevole 7-8 - nel weekend in cui annuncia il ritiro - che profuma di una clamorosa­mente raggiunta quasi parità. Poche storie, Schumi ormai guida bene, anche sul giro secco. Ogni anno, dei tre, è andato meglio rispetto all'altro.
Una F.1 che è cambiata
Il problema è a monte. Non è più uomo squadra, ma quelle della F.1 attuale non sono più squadre in cui un solo uomo possa ribaltarne i destini.
Nella seconda metà degli Anni '90 in Ferrari Schumi volendo era disponibile a percorrere 15.000-20.000 km all'anno, quasi come un tester tipo Larini o Ba­doer. Nel Circus dell'austerity mondiale un pilota più di 1.500-2.000 km di prove primaverili, se tutto va bene, proprio non può fare. E Dio sa quanto Mi­chael avrebbe avuto bisogno e voglia di girare in­definitamente per togliere ruggine a se stesso e se­condi alle sue malriuscite Mercedes. Non è andata così. Solo ore e ore al simulatore e niente più, da qui la storia di una sua sindrome da test virtuale, con tanto di nausea. E poi il suo sfogo contro le gomme Pirelli, alle cui mescole - di burro fuso, pro show Tv - mal si adatta. Lui, che negli anni d'oro era abitua­to a tre-quattro stint a vita persa con coperture ul­trasoffici, da polverizzare in run di gara vissuti qua­li qualificazioni cucite una sull'altra. Su, diciamolo: a tratti, in "questa" F.1, Schumi si è sentito confu­so come un camaleonte in una vasca di Smarties.
Momenti belli e commoventi
Certo, poi ci sono le cose belle. Quelle che hanno commosso anche chi non lo sopporta. Le fiamma­te che, guarda caso, ha mostrato sulle piste della sua era, Montrèal compresa. Le corsone disputa­te puntualmente a Spa, quando sente l'odore delle conifere delle Ardenne, partendo perfino da ultimo, piuttosto che il controsorpasso a Biassono rifilato a Hamilton, a Monza, l'anno scorso, dopo una difesa strenua, ché se l'avessimo visto su un film di Stallo­ne ci saremmo alzati e avremmo abbandonato sala, cinema e pop corn, perché nelle corse vere cose si­mili mica possono succedere. Certo, c'è pure la po­le presa ma scippata di Montecarlo, nell'unico e ul­timo pomeriggio 2012 in cui la sua Mercedes W03 era valida come avrebbe dovuto ogni dì.

Prodezze, emozioni, folklore, nostalgia. Se la F.1 piatta e monotematica di questi tre anni - che gira-gira, oltre a mostrare i sequel dell'eterna doppia sfi­da Ferrari-Red Bull, fa fatica a raccontare storie for­ti e vere -, ha vissuto momenti belli e caldi è a uno come Schumi che deve dire grazie. Anche per la fe­sta dei suoi 20 anni in F.1, poi quella dei 300 Gp cor­si, più il ritorno sul podio a Valencia.

No, il suo non è stato un fallimento agonistico e tan­tomeno un declino anagrafico. Ha guidato e guida bene, eccome. Con errori e incertezze che contrad­distinguono una militanza in mezzo al gruppo, al­tro che sviste per poca vista. «A Singapore - com­menta Arturo Merzario -, credo abbia toccato una delle 14 manopole che bisogna girare su questa F1 pazzesca e paradossale; per farlo s'è distratto ed è successo il patatrac. Per il resto sul pilota Schuma­cher 43enne, nulla da dire. Anzi, se negli anni d'oro mí sapeva odioso, adesso mi piace».
E quel suo giustificarsi nel dopo-crash finalmente parlando italiano, con Stella Bruno che lo pungola usando il microfono come un cotton fioc da girare dentro un'orecchia infiammata, è un altro dei pezzi antologici del nuovo-vecchio Schumi: «Tu no, ma io ho capito quello che è successo». Una risposta co­sì vale mezzo ingaggio della Mercedes a Hamilton.

L'appannamento è della Mercedes
Quando hai una monoposto da esser primo, fai più fatica a sbagliare. Anzi, non sbagli mai. Eccolo il punto. La verità è che la Mercedes ha floppato tre macchine di fila e con le ex BrawnGp dalla W nel prefisso non avrebbe cavato un ragno dal buco ne­anche Alonso. Una catastrofe che per una grande Casa ha precedenti recenti solo nella Toyota, con una differenza che per Schumi si è rivelata deva­stante: la Stella d'Argento una gara iridata è riu­scita a vincerla, in Cina, e per giunta con Rosberg. Giusto, meritato. Però va anche detto che se lo ri­corressero altre 20 volte con le stesse macchine, quel Gp la modesta W03 non lo rivincerebbe mai più. C'è poco da fare, è andata così. Quest'anno la W03 di Schumi ha assommato più ritiri di qualsia­si altra monoposto, raramente per errori commessi da lui e molto spesso per mancanza d'affidabilità, in un'era in cui in F.1 la macchina in gara non si rompe più a nessuno. Eppoi, calma, siamo sicuri che smet­ta davvero? Nelle parole pronunciate alla conferen­za stampa di Suzuka, in fondo, ha detto chiaro so­lo che ritirandosi è contento d'essersi tolto un peso dallo stomaco. Ma le motivazioni sono intatte. Non sono parole da ex pilota. A farlo fuori è il mercato isterico della F.1, non certo l'anagrafe.
Uno che s'è stufato di correre usa altri concetti. Ci va giù bello pesante, con argomentazioni dettaglia­tamente conclusive di una parentesi esistenziale che il tedesco s'è ben guardato dal chiudere giu­rando che resterà chiusa. E attenzione, perché con uno così non è finita finché non è finita.
In ogni caso, almeno per ora, vale la pena di atte­nersi ai fatti. La verità è che Schumi, con gli sprazzi che ha sfoggiato e pur con quello che si è ritrovato e in questi ultimi Gp ha per le mani, ha dimostrato di poter stare nell'empireo dei campioni per sempre, abitato da gente come Andretti, Fittipaldi e Man­sell. E, a differenza di cinque anni fa, ora sappiamo che magari se ne va il pilota, ma l'uomo c'è, c'è dav­vero. E l'Uomo resta. Danke, Kaiser. • (da Autosprint 16 - 22 ottobrte 2012)

AUDEMAR PIGUET E MICHAEL SCHUMACHER

I nuovi nati dalla collaborazione del nostro Michael con Audemars Piguet, è solo un sogno, ma i sogni si sa son desideri e, a volte si avverano

http://www.forbes.com/sites/arieladams/2012/10/17/michael-schumachers-relationship-with-audemars-piguet-watches-comes-to-fruition/

http://www.audemarspiguet.com/en/latest/2012/10/17/royal-oak-offshore-chronograph-michael-schumacher

http://youtu.be/gqHNhm8QZrg

 

IL VIAGGIO DELLA NOSTRA AMICA RITA PER IL GP DI SINGAPORE

My trip to Singapore 2012

I have dreamed about my trip for many years and last week my dream has become true. I’ve gone to Singapore Gran Prix. For me it was a very special moment, a night race, my first one after many races alive, but also my birthday week end.

I’ve begun my trip leaving home on Wednesday, flying Lufthansa from Catania to Rome, Frankfurt, Singapore for almost 24 hours, i’ve landed at Singapore Changi airport on Thursday afternoon. I was feeling really excited, my first visit in Singapore and a visit to support my driver outside Europe, really far from home.

My first visit to the track has been on Friday. At noon I’ve tried to verify where was my seat in my stand. I’ve really felt disappointed when I’ve realized that the track has sent me the wrong tickets. I’ve always chosen the grand stand tickets in front of Michael Schumacher’s garage. My seat this time was in sector A19 in front of Pastor Maldonado’s garage …

For me it was simply … panic.

It was raining, or better there was a storm, however I’ve decided to go to the tickets shop to try to buy the new tickets. I’ve asked simply to change my seat but it wasn’t possible, so I’ve bought new tickets. Now my seat was in sector A9, in front of Schumi’s garage.

I wasn’t in late for free practice 1 but I had to run.

As I arrive in my seat I realize that my view now was the view I’ve dreamed about for years, I could see Michael wearing his race suit, his helmet, his gloves and entering in his WO3. I was finally happy and satisfied. So I’ve turned my fan vision tv on and I’ve connected it with Schumi’s board camera. That’s another thing I love to do. I usually follow Michael’s races from inside his car, so I really “feel” his race, I drive with him, I come close to the barriers, I move my neck and I pass through the finish line.

Free Practice 1 begins at 6 o clock p.m. local time. It’s evening in Singapore and you can realize how unique is the track, lights and colors are so special and your feelings become very special too. You feel like at your first race and if you think you’ve followed many races you can realize how special is Singapore. “Nothing else comes close” you can read …. and it’s true. You can almost touch the cars or at least feel them.

In FP1 Michael finishes 14^th.

FP2 starts at 9:30 p.m. with the track is completely dry. Schumacher finishes 11^th.

The first day is over. I try to go to my hotel but it’s hard to go to sleep. The feeling I have is unique, I wish just keep staying in my seat waiting for my driver…. But I go to bed.

And it’s Saturday. It’s really hot and damp. Free practice 3 begins at 6 p.m. with the installation laps. Michael ends 10^th.

At eight o clock the qualifying session begins. I feel very excited. The atmosphere is unique and I can “feel” my driver’s garage. In Q1 Schumi marks 1:49:994 and then 1:49:546, he passes in Q2.  Q2 begins. Schumi seems to be out of the top ten and in three minute FP3 is over. He goes out his garage and marks a huge 1:47:823 … Wow! He’s 9^th and he’s in Q3.

Q1 begins. The Mercedes choses to stay in the garage to keep a fresh set of tires for the race. Hamilton gets the pole position, then Maldonado, Button, Alonso.

And it’s race day!

In the morning I go for a walk at Marina Bay Sands. What a unique place! I even have a rest on a boat …

At four o clock I reach the track.

Everybody in my stand is waiting for his driver, I’m also waiting for mine … dreaming about a Singapore 2013.

The drivers parade begins. For me it’s always a very special moment. Michael has many fans in the stand and many photographers are around him, it’s hard to take pictures. He seats in his car, he smiles, he greets us in the stand.

And finally the starting grid. Schumi is just in front of me, so I take him a few pictures. Then I go down next to him and shout him all my support and that of all his true fans. He smiles and enters in his WO3.

The green light is on, my heart is in my throat … the race starts.

His first pit is at lap 12 and at lap 13 he marks purple in sectors 2 and 3….. I’m dreaming.

At lap 38 when Schumi is eleventh the safety car comes in.

At lap 39 …. The disaster.

Michael has a problem in decelerating his car and he crashes over Vergne. I look at the crash from my fan vision broadcasting from inside his car.. He goes out. Both drivers are fine. Schumi apologizes.

My race is over!

What has happened? Can this crash influence Michael’s contract? Is there a chance for Michael in 2013? I hope so.

Everybody knows that Vettel has won the race, followed by Button and Alonso.

I’m still on my stand, I’m not able to follow the podium celebration under fireworks …. I can’t celebrate. I simply go.

Three hours later I’ve known of the penalty that the stewards have give to Michael … ten positions in Suzuka.

The stewards do their job, I can understand. But I’m a “die hard” fan and I’ll support Michael forever, whatever happens.

The newspapers have written a lot against my driver, however this is my dream, the last one that I’ve shared with my dad before his recent death.

So no dark memories, just happy feeling inside.

Today it is Friday my dark memories have won. Is it possible that my dream is out? 21 years spent following a person you really admire, a very special person, a unique pilot but above all an excellent man and now everything suddenly stops?

2012 has already stolen my my dad that has died on 29^th of march, can 2012 stole me also “MY KING”? Why? I don’t know, but I’ll accept.

I can just say … if Michael stops I hope to come to Brazil to support him until his last race, that’s the maximum I can do for him to let him know that I’m proud and proud to wear his t-shirt “I love Schumi” and to shout him once again “Simply thanks Michael, thanks for existing, thanks as for you my dream has become true. Nothing can change the certainty that you won’t go out of my life as you’re in love with your “tifosi” as we’re in love with you. Whatever your future will be I’ll be with you: NEVER GIVE UP!”

Singapore, September 23^th 2012

   RITA XIUME'                                                                                         

IL VIAGGIO DELLA NOSTRA AMICA RITA PER IL GP DI MONZA

My trip to Monza 2012

After his pole position in Montecarlo 2012 on the 26th of May Michael Schumacher has said on the radio just in front of me “Wow, what a feeling” …

Yes, Michael, that was a unique feeling, one of those you can never forget, a pole and a pole like that in front of my astonished and pleased eyes that were able just to cry tears of a huge happiness. But you have to agree with me that when you’ve arrived in Monza this year (also in the past, I agree, but this year it was more special) you could have repeated this phrase and you could have said it during the whole week-end.

The atmosphere you breath in Monza is unique, the track is unique, the fans are unique and Michael was simply and always the best.

My trip has began on Thursday from home. I haven’t been able to reach Monza for the autograph session, but my friends of the fans group were there and my heart was totally with them.

There was a huge crowd around all the boxes, but a huge and huge around Michael’s one. Schumi once was “the king of Monza”, but I can say he is still “the King of Monza” according to the hearts of his true fans. People were asking for him even in front of Raikonen’s box as Michael’s one was too small for that crowd. People from everywhere just asking for him. With my friends we’ve given to him a cup with stars on it and on the bottom “Michael! Sempre e comunque. Monza 2012. 1° classificato nei nostri cuori” (“always and anyway Michael - Monza 2012 - 1^st ranked in our hearts”) and a T-shirt of our group A fan has given to him a book with 300+1  messages that I’ve helped to collect all over the world and put together just to tell Michael how strong is our love for him and how much we need that he keeps on staying with us.

I arrive in Monza on Friday morning for free practice one and I can immediately see how many flags and banners are just for my driver. In Italy everybody is for Ferrari, or better everybody is for Alonso. But when you arrive in Monza you realize that not exactly everybody is “red”. There are a huge number of Michael’s fans and even the “red” ones still love him a lot. So what a beautiful surprise to see Michael first at the end of FP1.

My feelings this year were double. I was really happy to be in Monza again. I’ve been everywhere (I’ll even fly to Singapore) to follow Michael since 1991 – nine GP and tests only in 2012 – but this could have been Michael’s last Monza and you can imagine my last Monza. What would be F1 without Michael? Like a TV that doesn’t speak anymore  or like the sun if he loses his heat and his light. My heart was really divided into two parts and the one that has already decided to go to Brazil if that should be his last race was really desperate. But there is another part, the one that has met Michael in Monza and has looked at his eyes, at his smile …. He will never leave us … he can’t … he won’t !!!!!!

That’s what all the people that have waited for five hours outside the paddock on Friday and Saturday evening have immediately felt looking at him, hearing him speaking with his loved “tifosi” and even creating problems to “traffic” inside the paddock due to the huge crowd that was simply asking him to stay .

An we’re on Saturaday. In the morning Michael’s car suffers of everything, but in the qualifying session Mercedes does a perfect job and our cars end Michael P4 Nico P6. Well done. I cross my fingers for the race and like Michael I dream of …. a podium.

And finally the race day. Like everybody in Monza, like every true fan I wait for Michael outside the paddock, immediately after the tunnel. It’s almost ten o’ clock in the morning, he’s to arrive …. You can hear the crowd shouting “Schumi, Schumi …” We shout more and more …. And finally he appears on his motorbike, a pair of grey jeans, his Petronas shirt, his helmet, his sunglasses and … his HEART beyond everything. He hears the crowd shouting for him, he hasn’t fear … he’s alone among the people (his team helps him only in the last few meters) and he comes out with a SMILE that I’ve never seen on his face, a smile that for a while let my heart become one again and erases the part that isn’t sure of Michael’s future. He goes beyond the crowd control barriers, he disappears. The crowd is still shouting “Schumi don’t leave …”.

It’s too much even for him … He stops. He gets down his motorcycle, takes off his helmet and reaches the crowd …

The KING and his subjects … like ones … together  …. forever.

The race is to come, it’s half past twelve and the drivers parade begins. I’m on my tribune, always the same, in front of his box, I take some pictures then I stop. It could be his last parade in Monza, I just need to fix my memories in my heart. So I simply … dream … looking at him. With two friends of mine I’m behind a yellow banner made for him. When he passes we shout “Schumi here …” pointing to us and the banner, he moves his face up, looks towards the banner and towards us and … he sends a kiss.

It’s impossible to write about what I feel. To be a fan of Michael Schumacher isn’t easy, he ‘s an extra pilot, he’s an extra person … he’s simply THE BEST. I’m “simply” proud and proud of the pilot and of the man.

And the races begins. No crashed, luckily. Michael can’t reach the podium he deserves, but he fights as strongly as he can and I appreciate his battle with Kimi a lot, just a few meters more and he would have overtaken him.

It doesn’t matter. He end 6^th. For me, as always, he’s the winner.

I can’t wait for a podium ceremony without him , I’ll wait in 2013  when he WILL win in Monza.

Everything is over, I collect my feelings in my heart, say “see you in Singapore” and go to the airport.

Will there be a Monza 2013? Will I write my memories again next year? Or my dream sadly out?

Like I’ve told to Aldo Costa shall I need to go to Brazil 2012 and unchain myself to Michael’s WO3?

I don’t know, I hope my dream starts now, F1 has to hope so. But I’m sure that I’ll follow my King everywhere, even where the wheels have never rolled before.

RITA XIUME'