From Massa’s Sao Paulo tearjerker to Alonso’s Abu Dhabi donuts – 6 emotional F1 driver departures

After loads of hypothesis, RB have confirmed that Daniel Ricciardo shall be changed by Liam Lawson for the rest of the 2024 season – ending the Australian’s second stint in F1. Because the mud settles on the information, we’ve picked out a choice of poignant driver exits from current reminiscence, together with some that had been swiftly reversed…

Schumacher steps down from the Scuderia

Michael Schumacher dropped a large announcement halfway by means of 2006 when the then 37-year-old revealed – moments after claiming victory in entrance of the Tifosi on the Italian Grand Prix – that he could be retiring from the game come the top of the season.

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Schumacher was already a seven-time world champion at this level, vying to make it a record-extending eight in a fierce battle with Renault rival Fernando Alonso, and had claimed 90 of the 91 victories he would finally end his profession with.

Throughout an emotional post-race press convention, on the house of the Ferrari group he had achieved a lot with, Schumacher managed to maintain his composure in entrance of gathered journalists whereas explaining the choice and the way it felt after a prolonged stint on the prime.

There could be a second farewell for Schumacher in 2012 when, on the finish of a difficult return to the game with Mercedes, the legendary racer introduced the curtain down on his F1 journey for good amid loads of touching tributes at that 12 months’s Interlagos finale.