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Sir Jackie Stewart - Triple world champion
'I think it’s the right decision at the right time and I couldn’t be happier for him being able to announce it after winning a grand prix, in a Ferrari in Italy that he’s going to retire as a racing driver. And I think he has every chance of finishing the season as world champion.'
Johnny Herbert - Benetton team-mate 1994/95
'He’s been a great champion because he’s achieved a hell off a lot, there are some dark things that have gone on in the past but at the end of the day he’s the most successful driver we’ve ever seen and now he’s got time to spend with his family.'
Murray Walker - Former ITV Sport commentator
'I’m sad to see the end of an era because this is one of the truly greatest drivers of all time that we’re going to look back at, like I look back at Fangio, and talk about for a long time to come. And Schumacher’s had this wonderful ability to weld a team around him, he’s been an inspired leader, he’s never said a word against the team in public but he’s given them a lot of stick when he feels he has to if he has to if things haven’t gone well.
'The man is a genius, he continues to be a genius and I think he’s done exactly the right thing to go out on the very highest note.'
Mark Blundell - ITV Sport
'For me Schumacher is the most complete racing driver. And when I say that I mean he does everything in the car, outside of it and gets everything done to do one thing and that’s win.
'He may not be the best racing driver in my opinion, but Friday, Saturday, Sunday afternoons he’s the most complete guy. For sure he’s the best champion. I don’t think in my lifetime we’re going to see anything else like it, for sure.'
Jenson Button - Honda
'He’s the most experienced driver in the pit lane and he’s the most successful ever in Formula 1 history so it’s always nice to have someone with that experience and who’s won that much still involved in Formula 1 when you’re racing.'
David Coulthard - Red Bull
'It was a fitting way for him to announce it with a victory. Irrespective of whether people are believers in Michael's race ethics or not, you have to recognise he's been a great champion and it's the end of an era.'
Fernando Alonso – Renault
“I think it is always good to race with great champions and with people with a lot of wins, pole positions, fastest laps and all the records Michael had. So it is always good to beat him. It is better than the other ones.”
Giancarlo Fisichella – Renault
“Formula 1 will miss Michael. I don't think we will miss Michael in the football games because even if he retires, I think he will play with us. He loves playing football. He's a great driver, he's a nice guy and he is still fit, he's still quick.
“The only time when we can talk together is in the football match for charity. And he is a very nice guy and especially when I bring my family and my children he is nice guy he talks and he plays with the children so you can see he is a father like me, a normal guy”
Jarno Trulli – Toyota
“It's been a pleasure for me to race with him, and obviously he has achieved a lot. It's not up to me to say how much, but the numbers speak for themselves. We will miss him a little bit as a driver, we will miss him in the football matches, because that has been very nice this year but on the other hand, I think it's his own life and he has to get on with it.
“He's given a lot to Formula 1, he's given a lot to Ferrari and it's normal that a lot of people will miss him.”
Tonio Liuzzi – Toro Rosso
“Yeah, of course it would be a big shame if he retires because he's the greatest champion of the last ten years for sure and to race with him has always been pretty fair and he has given us some good lessons on TV. He's always been a great guy and a great driver to talk about racing and sports with but for sure, that's life.
“Sometime he thought maybe he had to continue a bit more with his family and I agree with his decision if he will retire. It's just a decision which arises once in your life, the time when you have to say it's over.”
Ron Dennis – McLaren boss
“I have had some great moments with him and they are probably off-circuit and I think you spoil it if you share it. And I don't offend you, but I immediately remembered a particular moment that was very good fun, but I don't think he'd particularly want me to share it with you.'
Norbert Haug – Mercedes motorsport boss
“I think he has had a remarkable career. Everyone knows that. You only have to look at the statistics and he has contributed a lot to the sport. I remember very well where it all started and he was a German Formula Three driver and he came to junior team and that is just 15 years ago and its not too long since he started and so they are absolutely great memories.
“One thing I can tell you from my memories and I can tell you when I came to Mercedes-Benz and he was already a group C driver and he was getting out of the pits and he was quicker than Jochen Mass in his fastest race lap and I thought ‘that is something' and it was.”