Sorry Michael, but this isn't an opinion from one of your greatest fans. You're one of the most gifted drivers that F1 has ever had the pleasure of, you are also a master tactician and possess a phenomenal presence of mind and second sense for driving conditions. All this, and I'm not a fan?? No, I'm not. And for one good reason. You've been a cheat.

After having watched the Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday, it occurred to me that maybe your cheating is a subconcious thing because you don't seem to realise what you have done/ still are capable of doing.

When you had your run in with Montoya (superb up and coming talent) and he held is line, forcing you to run wide, your after race comments were "I'll have to have a word with him. He couldn't stay on, so he forced me off, just because he didn't want me to get past" (I'm paraphrasing, but it's definitely the gist).

Well, excuse me Michael, but you have Jacques Villenueve and Damon Hill in particular who would like to talk about the exact same thing with you. And in their case, it cost him them the Grand Prix title. I can remember you pushing him off the road, in an outrageously cynical move, and although his car limped round for longer than your's did, you were thumping the fence with glee when you heard he'd had to retire, leaving you the champion.

I cannot abide this sort of behaviour or attitude in ANYONE who uses the world of sport as their way of earning a living.

I certainly can't abide it in someone who is so brimming with natural ability, that it cheapens that skill.

And funnily enough, being German doesn't come into it. My admiration for anyone who is at the top of their chosen sport, transcends race, colour or creed. And yet I've had it flung at me because of old histories - I'm not aiming this point at you nor claiming that you're responsible for this attitude, it's just t
hat if I'm having a rant of an opinion, I might as well bung this little gripe on.

My apologies for any readers who thought that they were going to get a glowing opinion on his masterful skills in wet weather, his cool, calculating, almost utterly professional approach to the sport, or listed glories from the days at Benetton or Ferrari. You might be disappointed and if you're a particularly loyal fan then you might well have the urge to rate this somewhat helpful, that's up to you.

But this is my opinion on one of the greatest Formula 1 driver's, who's tarnished himself by cheating with cynical tactics.

A real grand prix.