Schumacher bids fond farewell to Formula One

Sao Paulo, Oct 23: Ferrari's Michael Schumacher said farewell to Formula One today with a stirring drive from last to fourth place against the odds in his final Brazilian Grand Prix.

''The race was rather chaotic, I guess that's the right word for it,'' he told Germany's RTL television.

''We had an insanely quick car today. We probably had enough speed to lap everyone, to be honest. We did that sort of anyhow,'' he added.

''All in all, I'd have to say it was a class finale with the car, with the speed we've got. But it just wasn't meant to be today, for me.'' Schumacher started 10th and was fifth when he suffered a puncture as he passed the Renault of Italian Giancarlo Fisichella. He then fought his way from the back of the field with one of the most stirring drives of his 16-year career.

He leaves Formula One with seven titles, 91 wins and a string of records that may never be beaten.

Today's race was won by team mate Felipe Massa, the first Brazilian since the late Ayrton Senna in 1993 to win his home race.

''I'm really happy for Felipe that he could be the next Brazilian after Senna to win here,'' said Schumacher, runner-up in the championship to Renault's Spaniard Fernando Alonso. ''And naturally I congratulate Fernando as well.'' Asked about the puncture, and whether an impact with Fisichella might have been to blame, Schumacher was unsure.

''I was told that it happened but I couldn't judge it myself because I didn't see it or even really feel anything,'' he said.

''I just noticed that at some point my tyre wasn't working any more.''

Reuters