Another Schumacher has left the building... almost. Ralf Schumaker, who's been racing for Toyota since 2005, will leave the F1 team at the end of this season. Saying that he's looking for a "new challenge" the younger half of the Germanic duo still plans on racing the wheels off his F1 whip for the last two races of the season.There's no word on what the other Schu will be up to in the future, but he plans to make an announcement at the season-ender Brazilian Grand Prix later this month.
[Source: AFP]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dustin @ Oct 2nd 2007 7:00PM
Shoot, now Toyota might get a decent driver and start challenging mid-pack.
adrian @ Oct 2nd 2007 7:07PM
He was a complete waste of money.
V @ Oct 2nd 2007 7:16PM
"Schumaker" - bad.
"Schumacher" - good.
The Penguin @ Oct 2nd 2007 7:41PM
Ralf Schumacher is a very decent driver, the reason that he did so terribly was because of his crappy Toyota cars and equipment. He has scored six wins and pole positions before going to Toyota. All that Toyota F1 has been able to do is spend more money than any of the other teams to end driver's careers with their stupidity.
hashiryu @ Oct 2nd 2007 8:16PM
Ralph has never been the same since his crash at Indy. Toyota isn't half as bad as some of you asses make them out to be.
MKIV @ Oct 2nd 2007 9:14PM
The only reason this guy got a F1 ride is because of his brother's talent. Toyota has nothing to do with why this guy can't drive his way out of a paper bag.
Try again Skippy.
The Penguin @ Oct 2nd 2007 11:07PM
What is wrong with you two? Well it is obvious that neither of you have a clue as to what is happening in F1. Toyota has the biggest budget in F1, and still no victories. They have been in F1 long enough to have at least one victory, but they still have none. Williams F1 has more than twice the points that Toyota has with just a fraction of the budget. They have Toyota engines, but build their own chassis, so this goes to show how uninteligent Toyota really is. Toyota pays their drivers the most, but they still can't get the top drivers with the biggest pay. The reason is that the top drivers don't want to go somewhere where you get a very expensive piece of trash, even if you are paid $50 million a year.
You can't get a drive in F1 because your brother is great, you have to get in there on your own merits. Ralph has six victories, and finished fourth two consecutive years so he is a decent driver.
MKIV @ Oct 2nd 2007 11:21PM
Penguin,
Trust me, I know a little about F1. How long did Ferrari race before they were as consistent as they are now. If you believe for a second that a driver has nothing to do with F1 victories, you need to go back to your comic books. Toyota is the youngest team that start racing in F1 from scratch. That means they built their own chassis and engine. The other teams have been in F1 for years which allow them to tune the chassis and also had the luxury of decent drivers.
Michael, Fernando, Kimi, Lewis, and Filipe are not wining races because they have a good car. They are also great drivers. You need both combinations to win a race. Proof, current Renault situation. How about DC?? If I remember Renault is the two time defending champions but this year they kind of suck. Wonder what changed. Oh wait!! The driver. DC.... wonder what happened to him. Last I checked he's still driving but don't remember, in the recent history, him wining a race. But I could swear that he used to win races in the past. Wonder what changed there........ Hmmmm.... Let's see, can it be the car?
F1 is so close that 1% can make the difference in wining or coming in 10th.
Like I said, try again Skippy.
The Penguin @ Oct 3rd 2007 1:40PM
Yes, MKIV, like you said you just know a little bit about F1. You are a foolish Toyota fanboy, and if Toyota wasn't in F1 you would have no interest in it. I never made the claim that drivers don't make a difference, because they make a huge difference and are a deciding factor in F1. Both Ralph Schumacher and Jarno Trulli had wins in F1 before moving to Toyota, so it obviously isn't the driver's fault that Toyota doesn't have any wins. You keep saying that since Toyota is the youngest team that is the reason that they have no wins. Toyota had set a goal for themselves that they would get their first win in summer 2007 and after that win they would release the Lexus GT-F, LF-A or whatever it is going to be called. But that has come and gone with no Toyota wins. The closest that Toyota has gotten to a win was in 2005, but they have since gotten worse. So what stupid idea will you come up with next to defend Toyota in F1? I am waiting.
gary @ Oct 2nd 2007 7:45PM
He is simply the big name scapegoat for their loss of face over wasting nearly $2 Billion on their F1 team without a single win.
Noidor @ Oct 2nd 2007 8:50PM
So Alonso back to Renault, Giancarlo to Toyota, and Ralf is hoping to get the McLaren seat? Massa isn't going anywhere, Liuzzi will be without a ride next year. Hmm should be interesting. And heeey...next year no more traction control or any other driving aids!
MKIV @ Oct 2nd 2007 9:18PM
Rumor is Aloso going to Ferrari for $40 mil. Yep even with the shenanigans between Ferrari and McLaren. I was surprised to hear this.
Masa is off to Toyota if the same rumor is tru. Toyota never really had a decent driver who's capable of developing the car and be consistent. Think back before the big Schumy got to Ferrari how they fared compared to the competition. In F1, especially for a new team, a good consistent driver who's capable of developing the car is crucial. Something Toyota never had thus far and I doubt will with Masa.
Dustin @ Oct 3rd 2007 3:50AM
Jean Todt has announced that Alonso is not joining the team and Massa is not leaving.
James @ Oct 3rd 2007 1:45AM
Many factors contributed to Ferrari's recent success. First, Luca di Montezemolo returned to head the whole shebang, Then he names Jean Todt to run the Scuderia. They spend the money to lure M. Schumacher, who also brings with him Ross Brawn and Rory Byrne. Many championships later...
Until last year there was tremendous consistency and continuity among Ferrari's top management. Then, one by one, they all leave and look what happens: Kimi and Felipe get a slightly unreliable car.
Solo Racer @ Oct 3rd 2007 12:37PM
And a guy named Stepney.
f3rg @ Oct 3rd 2007 6:17AM
Isn't trying to win a race in one of the crappiest cars on the circuit a big enough challenge? What does he want--to mount square wheels on a Yugo instead?
LBuzzer @ Oct 3rd 2007 8:21AM
See ya later, Ralf! Don't let the door hit you on the way out...
I think he just got tired of being shown up by Jarno Trulli and decided to find his own sandbox. Ciao!