As well as the future with Raikkonen and MassaFerrari President Luca di Montezemolo vowed on Sunday that his Formula One team will do their utmost to ensure that
Michael Schumacher retires from motor racing after lifting the drivers' title for an amazing eighth time.
Schumacher
trails defending titleholder
Fernando Alonso by two points with three races remaining in China, Japan and Brazil after winning Sunday's Italian Grand Prix.
The Spaniard, penalised for blocking Brazilian Felipe Massa of Ferrari in Saturday's qualifying, had to start from tenth on the grid, instead of fifth, and was forced to retire with a blown engine after running third with nine laps remaining.
Schumacher won and then confirmed his intention to retire at the end of the year when
Kimi Raikkonen, who finished second for McLaren, will replace him at Ferrari.
"I haven't been to a race on a Sunday for eight years,” Di Montezemolo said. “I came here fundamentally for Michael, because obviously I knew. But today is a weird day: it's beautiful on one hand because it's always hard when you're obliged to win, and at Monza of all places. It's a clear, perfect victory, won with a hard-fought battle between two extraordinary drivers, and that has demonstrated once more Michael's strength.”
"On the other hand I'm sad: you see, Schumacher for us has been more than just a driver. He has been a man especially at difficult times - when you win it's easier - and has always been close to the team, as we have been to him.
”
"It's intelligent of him, having had the courage of making this choice in a day when he's demonstrated once more he is the best driver in the world. So on one hand I'm happy because, while he was going to announce his retirement today, I'm glad it's on such an important day, for him and for Ferrari. In Canada we were 25 points behind, while today we've won some very important ones.”
"On the other hand I must say I'm sorry. I even got a bit emotional. But we told the team we must do everything to make Michael win the championship to let him retire as the best driver in the world."
Di Montezemolo admitted he wanted Schumacher to continue racing for an additional season, but he said the seven-time world champion was determined to end his racing career.
"Truth be told, I was hoping he'd do perhaps one more year," the Italian said. "Then there was all the talk - do we announce it at Monza, or at the end of the year? - it was becoming too big. It's better now that it's been announced. Now we need maximum concentration in the next races like we've had in this race.”
"Michael has known for many, many months, or I should say for one year, that the choice was to partner him with (Kimi) Raikkonen. We obviously spoke to him like we did when it was time to choose other drivers because the team must agree on things."
But the Ferrari President was adamant his team would recover from the loss of Schumacher with the arrival of Raikkonen.
"I think when you change and lose the best driver in the world, there is a risk. Having said that, I think Raikkonen is, as far as temperament, coolness, maturity, experience - despite his 25 years of age - are concerned, a good choice for Ferrari, who also need drivers who can defend themselves against the pressure."
Finally, the Italian said he is confident Schumacher will continue to be involved with the team - although he would not elaborate in which role.
"I don't see him sitting behind a desk," di Montezemolo quipped. "But he will definitely stay in the Ferrari family one way or another. He's an intelligent guy who understands and has great experience in Formula One. But that doesn't mean he'll compete with either Luca Badoer or Jean Todt."
Source AFP
