Schumacher retirement speech

"It has been a very special day and to finish it in this style as we have been doing today, looking at the championship as well, but much more at what’s going happen somehow in the future.
I mean there has been a lot of discussion for sometime which concerns my future and so on, and I think all the fans and motorsport interested people, they have a right to be explained what’s going to happen.
I’m sorry, it may have taken longer than some of you wanted but you have to find the right moment and we feel this is the right moment.
To make it short, this is going to be my last Monza race. At the end of this year I have decided together with the team that I’m going to retire from racing.
It has been an exceptional, really exceptional time what motorsport in more than 30 years has given to me.
I really loved every single moment of the good and the bad ones. Those moments make life so special.
In particular I should thank my family starting with obviously my Dad, my passed-away Mum and obviously my wife and my kids who at all times supported what I was doing.
And without their support, without their strengths to survive in this business and this sport, and to perform, I think it would have been impossible.
I can’t be thankful enough to my family, but as well to all my mates at the Benetton time and obviously especially at the Ferrari days when I have made so many friends.
I have so many great guys in that team and it has been a really tough decision to decide to not work together at this level with all my friends and engineers and everybody.
They are just so great.
But one day the day has to come, and I felt at a point that this is the moment.
As well, in terms of timing the decision I thought that it was fair to find that moment that Felipe [Massa] has a chance to decide his future, because I think he is a very great guy.
He has been doing a very great job to the team, very supportive, a great team-mate and there was a moment for him to decide his future and there was no point for me to take my decision any later than his decision has been taken.
And this was the conclusion.
As well, of in a way my future replacement, it’s a driver that at some stage the team will tell, but I always was pleased and I know a long time ago, to hear that he was the person.
And now I would just like to concentrate on this last three wins and make it, or finish it in style, and hopefully win the championship.
We have done a big step today for that and I really look forward.
I want to thank everybody who has been on my way, or supporting me at all stages, there has been a lot of people.
Thank you very much."