Schumacher year ends in disappointment.

Michael Schumacher's dismal season ended in equally disappointing fashion, after a spin while under safety car conditions caused the German to retire from the Chinese Grand Prix.

Schumacher has not been able to defend his seventh world title in anything like the manner he had hoped, and suffered an early blow to his Shanghai preparations when his Ferrari was collected by Christijan Albers as he made his way. Both cars were badly damaged, forcing their pilots to take their respective team's spare and start from the pit-lane, and it was while Schumacher was attempting to make his way through the field that he spun.

The race had already been called under the safety car to repair the damaged drain that ultimately caused Juan Montoya to retire, when Schumacher lost the back of the Ferrari under braking on cold tyres. Although he missed the Sauber of future team-mate Felipe Massa as he spun, the German was unable to retrieve his car from the gravel trap and was forced to call an early end to his season.

"This weird ending pretty much sums up our season," Schumacher mused, "During the safety car period, I spun simply because my tyres were completely worn and they were very cold. So, when someone braked ahead of me, I had to brake as well - and went off the track. Actually, I am not sure I would have finished the race because of the condition of my tyres, and the only positive thing is that I am still third in the championship."