Top 10 sports events of 2012

Michael Schumacher said farewell to his beloved Formula One with a seventh place for Mercedes at the Brazilian Grand Prix, moments before embracing newly-crowned triple champion Sebastian Vettel.

By a remarkable coincidence, seventh was in fact the place in which he qualified in his first grand prix back in Belgium in 1991, for the now defunct Jordan team, 308 races ago. The seven-time champion also had the number seven on his car at Interlagos.

After a 21-year-long stellar career, the most successful of all Formula One drivers, with a record 91 wins, Schumacher recognized that at the age of 43 his time had finally come to bid adieu to the sport.

"Nov. 25, 2012, the last day of the golden age of F1," declared one banner in the grandstands overlooking the main Interlagos track.

The former Ferrari great started out in 13th place but, despite an early puncture and four pit stops, made the most of wet and chaotic conditions to end a run of six races without a point.

Schumacher retired for the first time in Brazil in 2006 and came back in 2010.

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