Seven times World Champion and one of the greatest F1 drivers of all-time, Michael Schumacher, has announced his retirement from Formula One. This is his second retirement and considering his age, is sure be his final one.
On his official website, Schumacher said: "I have decided to retire from Formula One at the end of the season, although I am still able to compete with the best drivers of the world. This is something that makes me proud, and this is part of why I never regretted my comeback.
"I can be happy with my performance and the fact that I was continuously raising my game during the last three years. But then, at some point it is time to say good-bye."
The announcement came Thursday in Japan where the teams are preparing for the Grand Prix Sunday. Schumacher, 43, had announced his retirement in 2006 but came back in 2010. However, in the last three seasons, he has managed to reach the podium just once which was at Valencia in 2012.
Schumacher attributes his latest decision to the lack of success. "During the past weeks and months I was not sure if I would still have the motivation and energy which is necessary to go on; and it is not my style to do anything which I am not 100 percent convinced about.
"With today's decision I feel released from those doubts. In the end, it is not my ambition to just drive around but to fight for victories; and the pleasure of driving is nourished by competitiveness.
"I said at the end of 2009 that I want to be measured by my success. It is without doubt that we did not achieve our goal to develop a world championship-fighting car within those three years.
"But it is also clear that I can still be very happy about my overall achievements in Formula 1."
The veteran driver also said that he felt at ease with himself after making the difficult decision. The three years after his first retirement and the three years post comeback, helped him learn a lot about himself and he valued the lessons he learnt.
"In the past six years I have learned a lot, also about me, and I am thankful for it: for example, that you can open yourself up without losing focus. That losing can be both more difficult and more instructive than winning; something I had lost out of sight sometimes in earlier years. That you have to appreciate being able to do what you love.
"I would like to thank Daimler, Mercedes-Benz and the Team for their trust. But I also would like to thank all my friends, partners and companions, who over many good years in motorsport supported me. But most of all I would like to thank my family for standing always by my side, giving me the freedom to live my convictions and sharing my joy."
Schumacher will be replaced by Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes.
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