Michael Schumacher should not have returned - Bernie Ecclestone
Last updated on .From the section Formula 1
F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone says Michael Schumacher should never have returned to Formula 1 after retiring in 2006.
Schumacher won seven world titles in his first career, but returned in 2010 with Mercedes and managed just one podium finish in three years.
"People new to the sport - people who have joined the F1 fan fraternity just recently - will remember Michael now, not as he was," said Ecclestone.
"They don't see the hero that he was but the human that can fail."
Ecclestone added: "I would rather he had stopped as a seven-time world champion, rather than stopping now."
Schumacher first retired from the sport in 2006 after losing an intense, season-long battle with Fernando Alonso for the title.
The German returned in 2010, aged 41, linking up with Ross Brawn - who he worked with at Benetton and Ferrari - at the new Mercedes team.
However, he finished behind team-mate Nico Rosberg in the drivers' championship in each of the three seasons with the German team.
Despite Schumacher's disappointing comeback, Ecclestone said his departure will be a loss to the sport.
"He enjoyed racing and was there helping to do good things for Formula 1," said Ecclestone when speaking to the sport's official website Formula1.com.
"We will miss Michael, because even though he wasn't winning races in those three years, he is still very popular."
Schumacher's countryman Sebastian Vettel won his third world championship in Brazil, but Ecclestone said that while the young German is today's "yardstick", he is unsure whether Vettel can go on to break Schumacher's record title haul.
"A seven-time world champion - that's not easy. He is not half way there.
"Times are simply different today and that doesn't only go for drivers. The whole environment is different.
"It will be a question of how good his team will stay - or how bad the others are.
"When Michael won his five titles with Ferrari it was because Ferrari did a better job than any other team - that is the same with Red Bull at the moment. Whether they can continue, you don't know."
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Maybe take your own advice Bernie. In trying to gain new fans, you're turning away existing ones. Too many lucrative races nowhere near established fanbases with no crowds (and often no champagne) and shipping live races off to pay TV.
Where in this article or the interview can I find the words "a mistake"? Your BBC F1 headlines are so misleading. Random words are chosen purely to catalyse controversy rather than convey a story.
Please get better. F1 deserves better.
That seems to me a positive thing, not the opposite... if anything it made Schumi look a little bit less arrogant... as opposed to others
And by the way, the man bowed out in style - with a nice gesture towards Vettel.
When are we bowin' out Bernie? Time's ticking...
Only, without the wisdom or good looks.
People new to the sport will remember Bernie now, not as he was. They don't see the Brahbam team leader and F1 top dog that he was but the frail human who continually spouts nonsense.
I think Schumacher maybe lost a bit of speed but not much. He was still good enough to win world titles in a good car.
I enjoyed watching Schumacher race again
Comments like this just reinforce that Ecclestone has completely lost touch with most fans of his sport.
I'm not old enough to remember Fangio & Clark but I know they were legends. As usual it sounds like he's actually interested in China and India rather than the history!
a) BBC Sport frontpage, b) up on this page a little to the right - both clearly say "Schumacher's comeback 'a mistake'". The words 'a mistake' are nowhere to be seen (even if they are the inference) so why are they in inverted commas? I sound like i'm being a stickler, but it really is just basic writing skills is it not!?
I trust you won't find it amusing anymore.
But to say it is a mistake is wrong. At the time of coming back MS said he couldn't find adrenalin rush like he could in F1 and he wanted an extra 3 years in the sport. In that light is it a mistake?
Would he liked to have achieved more? Of course but I doubt he regrets decision
Personally, I respect Schumacher a lot more because of his second stint. It showed a real passion for racing, and while he made some foolish mistakes (Rubens into the wall) he came across much more relaxed and likeable.
Mercedes was hardly a competitive team, either.
"it is a bigger mistake for Ecclestone to not have retired yet. The man is going to ruin the sport"
BE built the sport, it was dying on its feet (wheels???) when he took over. When he does retire it will begin to decline once more as infighting & political machinations take their toll.
Bizarre!
MS may not have made it to the podium in his 2nd F1 career, but there were times he was close and you cannot control what goes around you.
The question about retirement is more fitting to you and we are certainly a quarter of a century overdue!
He turned a carthorse back into a thoroughbred - and then some. Since he left it has started to take on some of the characteristics of a carthorse again.
So, he couldn't do it a second time with the Merc, so what! Some carthorses will always be carthorses. Lewis is about to discover that truth.