The Italian Grand Prix will live vividly in the memories of Formula 1 fans across the globe, whether they welcomed the long-awaited announcement or not.

It is much like previous moments that have captured our attention and imagination, where it seemed the world really stopped for a moment to listen what was being said. We paused and heeded carefully, hoping that Michael Schumacher could provide us with an explanation that was logical, understandable and human.

Shuey had a busy weekend, but can't complain about the way it ended

The admiration of this man was so great, that prior to the race even renowned F1 columnists of the likes of Peter Windsor refused to look at the facts and realize that the impending retirement was almost certain.

Many of those who disliked the German, did not celebrate as loud as they would have expected to. As cynical as that may sound, no longer will there be someone to blame for the decreasing audience figures or any conspiracy theories. But these are not fallacies, and are in some respects partially true.

Having watched Michael’s long career, it would do his achievements little justice to promulgate a summary of sorts. As a result, it is more suitable to present a macroscopic view of his career and, his legacy.

There are only a few men in the history of this sport who would match the ability of Shuey to transcend the limits of his car. We will remember him for his striking dexterity to drive at the limit, his almost supernatural consistency and for his qualities as a leader. If you have been following F1 for a while, you will recall the Belgian Grand Prix in 1995, the Spanish Grand Prix in 1996, Monaco in 1997 and the Japanese Grand Prix in 2000, all of which were fantastic displays of driver perfection.

As you would expect, many people will remember him for his record-breaking achievements in victories, championship titles, pole positions and many other categories. But as any devout Formula 1 fan knows, statistics do not always tell you everything about a driver.

Journalists and columnists across various sports media often describe Shuey as a man who loved winning. This is true, but it is a matter of fact that every racer or race car driver loves winning. What set the German apart from most of his colleagues in the pitlane is that he had an almost obsessive passion for winning. It was the driving force behind his success and unfortunately, often led to dangerous and unacceptable driving maneuvers on track. Memories of dramatic championship finals in 1994 and 1997 quickly come to mind. But without going into the details of the incidents, losing is undoubtedly painful, particularly after a long season of hard work. For Shuey, this seemed to have always been the basis for his calculated attempts to eliminate imminent threats to the victory of a championship. But this is simply not a good enough excuse, because his competitors probably worked just as hard as he did.