Why, oh why, is Michael Schumacher still competing in Formula One? It is a question more and more people interested in motor racing are asking right now, especially after his 9th place at his home Grand Prix at Hockenheim yesterday.
To be fair to the seven times former world champion has not had the most competitive car to drive. The Mercedes is clearly behind the Red Bulls, Ferraris and McLarens but this is not the whole explanation why he finds himself languishing in ninth place in the drivers' championship, behind teammate Nico Rosberg, and a staggering 119points in arrears of current leader Lewis Hamilton.
Schumacher is arguably the greatest F1 driver in the history of the sport. There are plenty of arguments for Fangio, Clarkand Senna but, statistically, the German stands head and shoulders above the rest.
It would be interesting to see how Schumi, after his three-year absence, would fare if his Merc was as fast as the big three, but it is doubtful, on the evidence of what we have witnessed this season, that he would be challenging for the lead.
Perhaps more pertinently, there are those coming in to the sport who view Schumacher as some old driver who is not very good, rather than the indomitable legend that he was.
He has the money and the fame, but maybe, like so many other sportsmen and women, he cannot find anything else in life to replace the sheer buzz of F1.
Whatever the case Schumacher has already vowed to carry on next season. I hope for his case this is the right decision. I fear, however, that his decline will simply gather speed.
