Prancing Stallion in the stable

By Lap 26, Schumi was the only one not to have stopped for fuel. His gain for this extended run was five places. Having reached the 10th position, Schumi entered the pit. The stop was quick 8212; the total pit time only second to Raikkonen at 20.825s. But this also meant being short-fuelled. Now urgency was the need of the hour. Three laps after his second pit stop on Lap 42, Schumi 8212; who by now had worked into 7th position 8212; encountered Heidfeld. Schumi on the outside squeezed Heidfeld onto the grass but in the bargain the champ found himself on the gravel trap. The marshalls tried to push Schumi back on the track but it was all over for the 2004 champion.

Schumi Down Under

This was Schumi8217;s fourth retirement in the Australian GP since he began in 1996. His retirement also meant an end of a 12 race-finishing streak that began after a collision with Montoya at Monaco last year.
1996: Retired after 32 laps
1997: Retired at start
1998: Retired after 5 laps
2005: Retired after 45 laps