F1: Schumacher At Peace With Decision, Says Brawn

Formula 1

F1: Schumacher At Peace With Decision, Says Brawn

Mercedes team boss Ross Brawn says Formula One will be 'losing someone very important' in Michael Schumacher...

Adam Cooper | http://www.speedtv.com | Posted October 05, 2012 Suzuka (JPN)

Team principal Ross Brawn (Pictured) supports Michael Schumacher's decision to retire. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

Ross Brawn says that Michael Schumacher is happy with his retirement decision – and says that it was only made in the last few days.

Schumacher announced his retirement Thursday, some six days after the Lewis Hamilton announcement confirmed that he had no future at Mercedes.

“We've had a lot of discussions with Michael over the past months, six weeks or so,” said Brawn. “And whilst Michael hadn't made his decision in those early discussions, he came to that conclusion in the past few days. In many ways, it's a sad moment, when someone of the caliber and achievements of Michael stops racing but he's happy with that decision, he's at peace with that decision, and I think that's the important thing.

“He's happy with the decision that he's made, and I think we've all got to have huge respect for him making that decision. I think Formula One will be losing someone very important, especially as this second time that Michael came back he had a slightly different approach, and I think I saw many fans who were perhaps not quite so enthusiastic during Michael's first era coming back and really supporting him.

“When he got a podium in Valencia, it was nice to see how much support he had from the paddock. But he's done a very, very good job for us, and we've repeated many times that if we'd provided him with a better car, then he would have won races. There are some races where he was certainly quick enough to win — this year alone, Monaco — so it's the passing of an era and one which is hard to imagine anyone repeating the achievements that he's managed in his driving career.”

Regarding a future management role for Schumacher within the Mercedes team, Brawn said that no decision had been made.

“We've not discussed that,” he said. “It's not something that we've explored yet. Michael's got huge experience, and everyone's got massive respect for him. It's not possible to say.

“I think Michael's going to spend a few months just reflecting on — let's say — this new opportunity he has, and I'm sure he will think very seriously about whatever he'll do, and he will do extremely professionally and effectively, but at the moment, no idea what that will be.”

Adam Cooper notched up his 27th season as a racing journalist in 2011. He has written about F1 for SPEED.com since 2005. Follow him on Twitter.