20 years on: The Monza win before Schumacher's retirement

Twenty years ago, as the sounds of the Tifosi could be heard from outside of the press conference walls, Michael Schumacher announced his (first) retirement from Formula 1, fresh from winning the 2006 Italian Grand Prix.

It was an emotional and defining moment, as the seven-time World Champion made a heartfelt statement to fans after lots of speculation, bringing an end to the most successful partnership F1 fans had ever seen at that point.

It’s often said that Ferrari is like another religion to some. It’s the product of passion, resilience, courage and identity, all wrapped up in a beautiful and unmistakable red livery. It’s the stuff dreams are made of – and one man who is synonymous with the Scuderia is Schumacher.

Changing the opinion of the Tifosi

When Schumacher joined Ferrari in 1996, he was a well-established entity in F1. With two drivers’ titles under his belt from his time at Benetton, and clearly a generational talent, the Schumacher-hype was high – yet when he joined the Scuderia, some fans were still not sold on the idea.

Schumacher was clear from the start that there was work to do at Ferrari, explaining that “this is the kind of motivation that I was looking for” and that he wasn’t after an “easy job, where I sit in the car and I win every race or people expect me to win every race.”

Then came the 1996 Spanish Grand Prix, where Schumacher took his first win in that famous shade of red during torrential rain.

It’s often regarded as one of his finest victories, and was a real showcase of his talents. It gave the Tifosi a real insight into the future of Ferrari, and later that year, he’d also win in Belgium and Italy, with the latter being a real turning point for the fans and Schumacher himself.

Ferrari had won in Italy before – 10 times before Schumacher’s ‘96 achievement – but this was different. Before his signing, the Prancing Horse had won just twice in the last five seasons and the Tifosi’s belief was at a low, but now things were on the up and a victory in front of the team’s home crowd was a huge turning point.

“I have never seen so many emotions,” Schumacher said in the press conference after the win, “so many people enjoying themselves. It’s fantastic, and you can only see that in Italy.”

From there, Schumacher kept winning. He was able to help build an organisation around him that brought the team into a new generation. Alongside Team Principal Jean Todt, he snapped up two former Benetton colleagues, Technical Director Ross Brawn and recently-retired Chief Designer Rory Byrne, and from there kept adding to the Maranello trophy cabinet.

Today, the Schumacher name is synonymous with Ferrari. His legacy from his time at that team, taking an astounding 72 wins whilst with the Italian constructor, will forever see the two as one of Formula 1’s greatest pairings.

“Michael brought back the respect Ferrari needed,” Brawn said in a recent interview with Ferrari. “Before that era, success was expected, but not always earned. Michael changed that.

“The achievements, and the way they were achieved, restored enormous pride inside the factory and renewed the respect people had for Ferrari outside it. He lifted Ferrari to a new level and made people feel proud to be part of the organisation. If I had to summarise his legacy, it would be that.”

It’s that heritage that fans, and the Scuderia themselves, still chase today. The Tifosi are some of the most energetic and enthusiastic followers in all of sports, and will flock to Monza in their tens of thousands.

Wearing red, whether that’s team gear or their own designs, you’ll struggle to find a grandstand at the Italian Grand Prix that isn’t plastered in national flags, images of the Prancing Horse, and hand-written banners. It’s an incredibly serious love that runs deep through generations.

Why Monza is magic

Although the Imola circuit is closer to Ferrari’s Maranello base, Monza has always felt like the home event for Ferrari as the host of the Italian Grand Prix. It’s nicknamed the Temple of Speed, but it's also a temple of sorts for the Tifosi. Winning here in red is every Ferrari driver’s dream, and it’s one Schumacher managed on multiple occasions.

That first one in 1996 was special for a variety of reasons, but it was followed by another win in 1998, with Schumacher's then-team mate Eddie Irvine making it a Ferrari 1-2 in front of the waves of passionate Italians. More first-place finishes from pole came in 2000 and 2003.

Then came 2006, and Michael’s final win at the Temple of Speed. He started second, took the lead during a smart pit stop strategy, and cruised to the finish line in first, much to the delight of the Tifosi. As he stood on top of the podium, joined by Jean Todt, the crowd below cheered their hero, but just minutes later Schumacher announced his retirement from racing.

It was the perfect place to do it, fresh from victory and with the full support of the Tifosi surrounding him in a beautiful bubble. Monza became a place for Schumacher to physically feel and see how much people worshipped him for the golden years.

It was that relationship with the historic circuit that makes it the perfect place for The Schumacher Lounge, a dedicated hospitality experience that is held in collaboration with Schumacher’s family and the Keep Fighting foundation.

“Michael Schumacher’s relationship with Ferrari became something far greater than that of a driver and a team,” James O'Brien, co-founder of The Schumacher Lounge in Monza, said about the iconic racer.

“The Italian fans recognised something in Michael. His absolute commitment, his relentless pursuit of perfection and his willingness to carry the enormous weight of Ferrari’s expectations made him one of their own. His victories at Monza became much more than sporting achievements. They were shared moments between Schumacher and the Tifosi, and that connection remains incredibly powerful today.”

Of course, Schumacher couldn’t stay away and returned to racing with Mercedes for three seasons, with his final podium being at the 2012 European Grand Prix in Valencia.