citação:With that blatant move Michael Schumacher lost not only his Championship, but did serious damage to his re****tion. Had he moved aside and let Villeneuve through cleanly, Schumacher would still have been a worthy runner-up. He would have been remembered for his entire season of brilliant drives which enabled him to mount a challenge for the title in a car that was ultimately inferior to the Williams. His fans and supporters could have comforted themselves in believing that he was beaten, not by a better driver, but only by a better car. Instead his season's accomplishments are now forever overshadowed by this one last desperate and decidedly unsporting move. Critics who questioned his previous Championship titles now have all the ammunition they need to knock Schumacher down. It was a sad display, unfitting of a World Champion. What could he have been thinking? How would he ever have justified that move, had he succeeded in knocking Villeneuve off the track?
Damon Hill, who is a true gentleman and has always shown remarkable restraint when discussing his '94 collision involving Schumacher, had this to say, "He showed his true colours today and he got what he deserved. I said before the race I didn't think that he'd try anything like that again because it would spoil his image. But I was wrong. At least he is consistent."
From around the world the press are unanimously critical of Schumacher's move. And the strongest condemnation seems to be coming from the Italian press (as reported on
www.Nando.net):
"To see a world title vanish after waiting 18 years is sad enough. But to see it go up in smoke by that 'prank' from Michael Schumacher is...unfortunately much worse. It's shameful," La Repubblica newspaper said.
Even La Stampa newspaper, owned by the Agnelli family, which also controls Ferrari, said Schumacher was at fault. "(Schumacher's) image as a champion was shattered, like a glass hit by a stone," the paper said in a front page article.
"For Ferrari, after 18 years, it would have been a title to hide," Gazzetta dello Sport added.
"Villeneuve...son of the adored Gilles, emerges in a magnificent light as a man who knows how to fight and as a champion who knows how to win," Gazzetta said.
Jacques and Michael were called before the stewards after the event. It was decided by the stewards to say it was a "racing incident". Unfortunately for Michael, the FIA did not think this was a "racing incident" and has called Michael for a special meeting on Nov. 11 to determine if and what the penalty for that type of behaviour should be.