Ralf Schumacher taking a Hiatus

The word is that Ralf Schumacher will shortly announce that he’s taking a year off from Formula One, but many are suggesting that the sabbatical is actually a swan song for his career.
 
If true, the decision isn’t exactly voluntary. Schumacher hasn’t been able to find a ride for next season, even though the opening race is less than three months away. Schumacher did a test drive for the new Force India team earlier this month, after which is said that, “it could be this is my last drive in a Formula One car.” 
 
Departure from the series normally ends participation in the series. Only past Champion Alan Prost has come back from a year off to race again and, in Prost’s case, to win the Championship. But this Schumacher is in a different league: six in 180 starts, 27 podium finishes.
 
Reports of the decision originated with the German news agency DPA, but Schumacher himself has not yet confirmed them.