WATCH: OTD - Michael Schumacher announces his retirement from Formula 1 in 2012 with an emotional message

On October 4, 2012, at the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka, Michael Schumacher, announced his retirement from the sport for the second time. The seven-time world champion, known for his dominance during the early 2000s, delivered an emotional message to the world as he revealed his decision to leave the racing scene at the end of the 2012 season.

Michael Schumacher's announcement marked the end of an illustrious career that spanned two decades. In his retirement statement, he expressed contentment with his performance during his final three years in the sport, after his return in 2010.

WATCH his retirement message here: 

On 4 /10/2012 Michael announced his retirement from F1: "it is time to say Goodbye and this time, it might even be forever..." #TeamMichael pic.twitter.com/ydRQN5rtwW

— Michael Schumacher (@schumacher) October 4, 2017

"I can be happy with my performance during the last three years, as I have seen that I can still compete with the best drivers of the world. But then, at some point, it is time to say goodbye—and this time, it might even be forever," he said, his voice laden with emotion.

Lewis Hamilton replaced Schumacher in Mercedes

At 43, Schumacher’s second retirement came after a challenging comeback period with Mercedes. While his initial return did not meet expectations, plagued by misfortune and mechanical issues, his 2012 season showed flashes of his former brilliance. One notable highlight was securing pole position at the Monaco Grand Prix, proving that even after years away from the sport, he still possessed the skill and competitive edge to compete at the highest level.

However, with McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton set to take Schumacher's seat at Mercedes for the 2013 season and no other competitive options available, the German icon chose to step away. During his press conference, Schumacher spoke candidly about his decision, stating, "It is not painful. It is a relief to me... when the battery is going low the first time, and then it is doing so again... now is the time to change that."

The announcement was fittingly made at Suzuka, a circuit where Schumacher achieved immense success, with six victories and two title wins, including his 2000 championship that initiated Ferrari’s era of dominance.