Mar.20 (GMM) Retirement is the right option for Ralf Schumacher, according to former F1 rival David Coulthard.

Despite Mercedes signing him up to stay in the DTM series in 2013, 37-year-old Schumacher surprised the racing world late last week when he announced he is hanging up his helmet.

Schumacher, whose older brother is the famous seven time world champion Michael, is instead moving into management, taking up a shareholding in the RSC Mucke Motorsport team.

Also hanging up his helmet late last year was Coulthard, the 41-year-old who raced in the German touring car series alongside Schumacher at Mercedes since 2010.

"I was surprised (about Ralf Schumacher's decision)," Coulthard told the Kolner Express newspaper, "because I thought he wanted to stay on for another year.

"But I know from personal experience how hard it is to compete against these DTM guys. For me it (retiring) was right, and I think also Ralf has realised that it is time to go."

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