Since we’re between 2 weekends without a Grand Prix, this week we’ll highlight the career of one of the most famous Formula 1 drivers of all time; Michael Schumacher. He was active for 19 seasons, drove over 300 races and won the world championship 7 times. Let’s take a look how it all started and continue from there.
Substitute during the 1991 Belgian Grand Prix
A week before the 1991 Belgian Grand Prix, Bertrand Gachot driver for Jordan must appear in court for his trial. He was arrested in December 1990 and charged with actual bodily harm and possession of a prohibited weapon. Gachot had claimed self-defence and was expecting a mild sentence, but he was sentenced for 18 months in prison. Eddie Jordan was looking for a substitute for Gachot and with some money coming from Mercedes, Michael Schumacher was signed.
Schumacher manage to qualify in 7th, but in the race he couldn’t complete lap 1 due to a failing clutch. While not completed any lap in the race, he impressed the paddock with what he showed over the weekend.
From Jordan to Benetton
While having an agreement to drive for Jordan the rest of the 1991 season, Schumacher signed with Benetton to finish the season with the team of Flavio Briatore. In 1992, still driving for Benetton Michael won his first race at the circuit where he drove his first race a year earlier during the Belgian Grand Prix. This was his only win of the season but Schumacher finished on the podium 8 times in total. At the end of the season Schumacher finished 3rd in the world championship.
After a season with Martin Brundle as his teammate in 1992, Schumacher continued driving for Benetton in 1993 but this year with Riccardo Patrese as his teammate. Just like the year before Schumacher also won 1 race in 1993, but reached the podium 1 time more than the previous year. He finished the season 4th in the championship.
Two world championships with Benetton
In 1994, the year we lost Senna due to his crash at Imola, Michael Schumacher would become the world champion for the first time. Schumacher who actually witnessed the accident of Senna, because he was driving directly behind him, was really impacted by the death of the Brazilian driver.
Schumacher had a great start to the 1994 season with 6 wins and 1 second place out of the first 7 races. At the 8th race, the British Grand Prix Schumacher received a penalty for overtaking Damon Hill in the formation lap of the race. In the end Schumacher was disqualified from the race for ignoring the penalty and the black flag he received. Later it turned out that this cost him dearly; he got a two race ban and would miss the Italian and the Portuguese Grand Prix that year.
Arriving at the last race of the year; the Australian Grand Prix at Adelaide Schumacher held only a 1 point lead over Hill. During the race Hill was trying to overtake Schumacher, but Schumacher closed the door and steered into Hill. The German driver was out of the race, Hill managed to get back to the pits but had to retire his car due to the damage. Schumacher became the world champion that year.
In 1995 Schumacher successfully defended his title and this year it wasn’t as controversial as the year before. He won 9 out of 17 races and was on the podium a total of 11 times. Schumacher finished the championship in first place, with 102 points, 33 points more than Damon Hill finishing in second place that season.
Next week we’ll continue with Schumacher’s career, diving into the first years he drove at Ferrari.