Massa aware of Schumacher departure in June

25/10/2006

Talking to Brazilian TV journalists on Tuesday, Felipe Massa revealed that he was first aware that Michael Schumacher was to retire "before the Canadian Grand Prix".

The Ferrari driver, who will be partnered by Kimi Raikkonen next season, then admitted that he signed a new two-year contract "after the United States Grand Prix", at Indianapolis.

Though Schumacher officially announced his retirement straight after the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, which he won, there had been speculation regarding his future for some time, much of it concerning Kimi Raikkonen, and whether the German would make way for the Finn or stay on and battle with the former McLaren driver.

In recent weeks there has been much speculation that Ferrari, keen to get Raikkonen on board as soon as possible, rather than lose him to a rival, coerced Schumacher into retirement.