Schumacher talk dominates Monza

If the flood of reports from the past few days are based on anything other than speculation, the seven times world champion will retire from Formula One at the end of the season.

Yet the decision of the most successful driver ever to step down is destined to be made public in a team press release after the race, and with only Jean Todt available to follow up the announcement with his usual Q&A session.

Schumacher could well be driving tomorrow his final race in front of the Tifosi, Ferrari's avid fans, but without allowing them to bid him farewell in a manner worthy of his stature.

Former world champion Jackie Stewart, for one, was highly critical of the situation.

"The whole question of Michael's future is the biggest story in international sport today," he told the Guardian.

"And it looks as though he'll be talking to a relatively small group of motor racing journalists [if he announces his retirement].

"But the whole story is bigger than just a motor racing story. Either way, it's being crassly and flippantly handled."

Others moved to downplay the importance of Schumacher's retirement to the sport. Asked what Formula One would be like without the German, commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone interjected: "Same as with him!"

"If Tiger Woods stops, golf will continue," he was quoted as saying in the Independent. "Formula One continued when poor [Ayrton] Senna died, when everyone said it couldn't.

"But Michael is a superstar and that's good. People have said to me that Formula One is boring because he wins everything. So presumably when he's not here, if he leaves, people will be happy.

"But we'll miss him, because he is a superstar. When somebody says Schumacher, they think Formula One, which is good. It's good for the brand."

Ferrari's technical director Ross Brawn was also adamant life will go on at the team in the post-Schumacher era but admitted that it just won't be the same without him.

"It won't be the same team," the Briton said, while not speaking specifically on whether Schumacher is indeed retiring now, or in the future.

"It will be a different team, but it doesn't mean it will be a worse team. It will just be a different team.

"Any driver of the calibre of Michael brings something to a team that he is involved in, and Ferrari will be different. But when that day comes, Ferrari will go forward."

"Everybody will miss Michael, whoever they are," Brawn added. "When he does retire, it will be a big event for everyone, and I think someone of his ability, someone of his experience, and someone of his involvement will be very badly missed. But F1 goes on, Ferrari goes on..."

And then there are Schumacher's fellow drivers. Toyota's Jarno Trulli, for one, admitted Schumacher will be missed - though not necessarily on track.

"We will miss him a little bit as a driver," the Italian said. "We will miss him a lot in the football matches."

Then again, Schumacher could still prove the pundits wrong and announce tomorrow that he will continue racing next year.

In which case, the biggest story in international sport will have to wait for another season.