Brazilian soccer legend Pele (right) gives Ferrari Formula One driver Michael Schumacher of Germany a trophy in recognition for his achievements as an F1 driver, before the start of the Brazilian Grand Prix, the last F1 race of the season and the last of Schumacher's career, at the Interlagos track in Sao Paulo, October 22. - REUTERS

SAO PAULO, Oct 22 (Reuters):

Ferrari's Michael Schumacher raced into history on Sunday, bringing down the final chequered flag on the most successful and controversial Formula One career of all time.

It is easy to declare the end of an era, just as it is to acclaim a flawed genius. Where Schumacher is concerned, there can be no doubt about either. His time has passed, and the world may never see the like again. His status in the pantheon of greats will be argued over for years to come. As the seven-time champion reached the end of the road with a fourth place in the Brazilian sunshine, saluting the fans and saying farewell with 91 wins and records that may never be beaten, there was a sense of closure.

"Michael you are the champion, today and forever," declared one banner at Interlagos, a decaying circuit more in keeping with Formula One's past than present yet with more raw passion in the ramshackle stands than at any of the sterile new motor racing palaces. "Thanks for all the emotions."

There have been plenty of them, good and bad, since the little-known German made his sensational debut for Jordan at the 1991 Belgian Grand Prix.

Ayrton Senna was universally loved, despite the Brazilian's sometimes questionable tactics on the track, and mourned after his death in 1994. Argentine Juan Manuel Fangio was admired, Briton Jim Clark revered. Schumacher may be the greatest, although there are many who would dispute that, and he had an undeniable genius. His fame extends far beyond the world of motor racing and yet he will never rank as the most popular.

HUGE APPEAL

"For whatever reason, personality, some of the things he has done, charisma, he has not had that huge appeal which Ayrton had," Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone said this week.

"But as a driver he has broken almost every record in the book and that may never be done again. Are we going to hound him to the end?"

Everyone has an opinion about 'Schumi'. Some will shed a tear at the prospect of a Formula One without the 'Red Baron' who reigned like no other.

Others will point to the controversies, the collision with Damon Hill in the 1994 title decider and the notorious attempt in 1997 to run Jacques Villeneuve off the road.

The global scorn and outrage that followed Austria 2002, when the German took an undeserved win after Ferrari ordered teammate Rubens Barrichello to move over, will not be forgotten in a hurry.

Nor will his hollow victory at the 2005 U.S. Grand Prix when all seven teams using Michelin tyres pulled out on safety grounds, leaving just six Bridgestone equipped cars, including Schumacher's Ferrari, in the race.

This year's Monaco Grand Prix, where angry drivers branded him a cheat after what appeared to be a blatant attempt to block rivals in qualifying by stopping his car at the penultimate corner in the dying seconds, was another example of the German's penchant for controversy.

Schumacher did not become one of the world's highest paid athletes without a single-minded dedication and ruthless determination to succeed. Supremely fit, he also had a mental toughness second to none.

He was also aided by the best car, and a subservient teammate throughout his Ferrari years.