Schumacher 'touched' by Renault's success
Outgoing world champion Michael Schumacher has handed his crown over to Fernando Alonso - and was pleased to see it find a familiar home.
Alonso rewrote the record books by becoming the youngest world champion in Formula One history, courtesy of his third place in yesterday’s Brazilian Grand Prix.
Schumacher won the first two of his seven world titles with Benetton, before the team were bought by Renault and the German has fond memories of his time there.
He was happy to see the Enstone-based squad end their search for another world championship, the first under the Renault banner.
The Ferrari driver said: “I very much would like to congratulate them. They have done a very good job over the whole season, Fernando and the guys around him.
“I have just met one of the mechanics [Jonathan Wheatley] from my time there. He is now the chief mechanic, and he was close to tears.
“It is really touching to see them after they have had to wait 10 years to again win the championship. It was really nice and I am happy for them. They have done a good job. The time when I was thinking about the title is over already because it was some weeks ago.”
Schumacher has won the last five world titles but is adamant he feels no envy seeing a rival lap up the championship-winning celebrations.
However, the German is not intending to be watching such celebrations from afar next year, when he wants a Ferrari resurgence.
“It was so clear it would happen maybe now or the next race,” he said. “I am not sad, it is more that I look forward to next year and try to fight again - and hopefully I will be able to do so.
“From a personal point of view it is nice for me to see some of the guys I worked with at Benetton looking so happy. I look forward to fighting with them again next season.”
Alonso has won his first world title a year earlier than Schumacher managed, after a rapid rise through the Formula One ranks.
Schumacher and Alonso are both the only world champions from their respective countries and the Spaniard has reached the top after learning from the sport’s most successful driver.
Schumacher is famed for building a team around him and Alonso’s four seasons at Renault have seen him follow a similar path, helping him move from Minardi backmarker to world champion in five years.
He said: “It was a little bit depressing at the beginning of my career because I arrived from winning in all the categories before Formula One and in the Minardi I was nearly last in all the races. It was a little bit frustrating.
“Then, unfortunately, at Renault there was no place for me and I was test driver for one year. From 2003 to now I have developed myself and my driving style. I have grown up with the team to now be in this position.”
Juan Pablo Montoya led home a McLaren one-two at Interlagos yesterday, with Kimi Raikkonen coming home second.
