Schumi’s title hopes deflated

Michael Schumacher retired from the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday with his title hopes looking ever more distant.

The German’s third retirement in five races this season came as a result of a tyre nightmare at the Circuit de Catalunya. Schumacher made an unscheduled stop on the 44th of 66 laps with a deflating rear left tyre while he was in third place.

His front tyre then failed two laps later, sending him ploughing through the gravel. He cruised lamely back to the pits and drove into the garage.

“I don’t know what happened,” he said. “I may have picked up some debris, although I didn’t see anything. For something to happen to that front left-hand tyre is unusual.”