Just as Schumacher insists he has no responsibilities other than to his family and his team, so Ferrari seem to believe they have no responsibility beyond short-term success.
This has left them politically isolated to such an extent that some people are beginning to doubt they have a future at the pinnacle of motorsport.
Despite their millions of fans, within the sport Ferrari have few friends. Those they retain, including Bernie Ecclestone, the sport’s current commercial rights controller, and Max Mosley, president of motor racing’s governing body, the FIA, are hugely influential.
But there is a growing sense that by doing a separate and potentially hugely lucrative deal with Ecclestone to race under his aegis after the current Concorde Agreement expires at the end of 2007, the Scuderia have jeopardised, rather than safeguarded their long-term future.
There are several reasons behind Ferrari’s actions, including an estimated loss of $100m last year that required them to show the Italian authorities proof of an increased revenue stream.
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But the disgust of the other nine teams at what they perceive to be Ferrari’s selfishness has solidified their determination to break away from Ecclestone’s control and establish a new series, with a fair distribution of all the income — with or without Ferrari.
McLaren chief Ron Dennis made it clear last week that his team is committed to going down that road, and the five main motor manufacturers involved — Daimler-Chrysler (Mercedes), Renault, BMW, Toyota and Honda — are certain to join them.
Smaller teams, such as Jordan-Midland, now controlled by the Russian-born billionaire Alex Shnaider, may fall in with Ecclestone.
But sooner or later Ferrari might find that if they set their face against the rest, they will have nobody to race in 2008.
By then, Schumacher will have retired, presumably still declining to accept he has any responsibility for whatever came next.