Stewart: Schumacher Should Retire While on Top

World Champion Michael Schumacher should retire if he wins his record breaking sixth Formula One World Championship this year, according to three-time title winner Sir Jackie Stewart.

Schumacher, 34, insisted ahead of Sunday's United States Grand Prix that he is not ready to retire yet, even though he has seen his rivals catch up with his once dominant Ferrari team this year.

The German driver scored his 70th victory at Indianapolis and has already driven in 192 Grand Prix â€" the eighth highest in history - but Stewart believes the German driver should get out while he is still ahead.

"He has to retire sometime," said Stewart. "I think sportsmen and sportswomen have to choose carefully how long they keep doing it. There's nothing worse than a falling star. Michael Schumacher never even won a pole position until the race after Ayrton Senna died: You know, the king is dead, God save the king - the new one soon arrives.

"Michael is currently the best - but nobody is irreplaceable and nobody is up on the pedestal for too long. And, for sure, he will be toppled like everybody else."

Stewart retired at 34 - the same age as Schumacher - and has gone on to play a major role in the development of the British motorsport industry through his involvement in the British Racing Drivers' Club.

He believes Schumacher is astute enough to realise that he could do a similar thing in German motorsport - which before him had never had a world champion driver - and should now concentrate on developing as a person.

"It was the best decision I made in my life," said Stewart of his retirement in 1973. "It let me get on and do other things in my life and develop myself in other areas, which was very enjoyable also. Financially, Michael is very secure long-term. He is probably the highest-paid sportsperson in the world, even more than Tiger Woods. He's made enough money and you've got to move on in life and develop yourself.

"I would like to see him retiring in good order, in good condition and health and going on to do lots of other things the world could offer him, because he's got a wonderful name and he's got a good brain."