For ages (well since it was obvious Michael wasn’t going to win last year) I’ve been of the opinion that Michael had a master plan about last season. Once he knew he was going to loose he thought that the best thing would be to loose with grace, then come back with a vengance the next year and win, and promptly retire.

He would then be able to
a) Retire on a win (the only world champion to have ever done so – except the one who died posthumously, but that probably doesn’t count)
and
b) Hold his head up to those who might argue that he retired before he’d given the young guns enough of a chance – the sport needed to see him taken down.

Now there have been rumours that Michael is going to announce in the next few weeks his decision about next year but he’s in a bit of quandry about it. He really needs to decide on the Ferrari’s performance.

If the car is really really fast then he can announce his retirement knowing that it’s a good bet he’ll win.

If the car is really really not going to win then he can announce his retirement. In many ways if Ferrari don’t get it right this year (and can’t even come close to winning) then they won’t be able to even come close next year either.

But if it’s something in the middle then he would want to sign up for an extra year or two. To make sure he wins one more time before he retires.

The problem is that he’s not sure. It’s difficult to tell. Which is why, I think, he’s now suggesting he might not announce anything until the end of the season.