bbc
"Michael Schumacher will head into retirement at the end of this season as the most successful Grand Prix driver of all time, but whether he will be regarded as the greatest is another matter altogether.

On pure talent and accomplishments alone, Schumacher belongs in the same bracket as the very best in the history of the sport - the likes of Juan Manuel Fangio, Stirling Moss, Jim Clark, Jackie Stewart, Gilles Villeneuve, Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna.

But greatness is about more than ability and trophies. It is also about character and integrity, and that is where Schumacher's claim falls down.

Many of Schumacher's greatest races - breathtaking against-the-odds performances such as his victories at Barcelona 1996, Belgium 1997, Hungary 1998 and Canada 2003 - will go down in the annals of the sport.

Turning Ferrari, with the help of a few key lieutenants, from a legendary name famous mostly for failure into the most efficient winning machine in F1 history is another remarkable achievement.

And many other, less well known, snapshots of his genius have been afforded to those privileged to have watched him from close quarters at Grands Prix..."

BBC SPORT | Motorsport | Formula One | Schumacher's tainted legacy

BBC SPORT | Motorsport | Formula 1 | Schumacher's career in photos

 

Schumacher was (and still is) a machine behind the wheel. His ability to drive a car is about as close to perfection as humanly possible. He's also a great humanitarian and an all-around good guy. I can't wait to see what he'll do in 2 weeks time in Valencia.

 

+1+1+1+1

....But greatness is about more than ability and trophies. It is also about character and integrity, and that is where Schumacher's claim falls down.

WTF is this pile of horse doo-doo and why would fe Ayrton Senna be considered to have had more character and integrity?????

 

he did what he had to do to win. this PC crap doesn't apply to racing drivers, not ones that are champions anyway.

 

 

Look at David Coulthard.

Just saying.