Michael Schumacher is known for being one of the most ruthless drivers on track, having caused controversy throughout his career with on-track moments.
Whether it was parking his car intentionally to prevent his rivals from setting the fastest lap in Monaco during qualifying for the 2006 race, crashing into Jacques Villeneuve at the 1997 European Grand Prix, or causing a collision with Damon Hill to take the 1994 title at Adelaide, he has seen his fair share of incidents.
Schumacher made his F1 debut at the 1991 Belgian GP with Jordan and immediately impressed by qualifying in seventh place. His race was shortlived because his clutch failed on the way to the grid, but it was enough to impress Benetton team principal Flavio Briatore.
The German had originally signed a race-by-race deal with Jordan but switched to Benetton because they were able to offer a salary. After replacing Roberto Moreno, the German was placed up against established three-time world champion Nelson Piquet.
Former F1 driver Marc Surer recalls how Schumacher once caused the Brazilian to effectively lose interest in the championship when speaking to Champ1.
Marc Surer recalls how Nelson Piquet ‘lost interest’ in F1 because of Michael Schumacher
Piquet’s start to the 1991 season was difficult, having retired in three of the first four races he contested and taken one victory in Canada.
Up against Schumacher for the final five races of the season, Piquet only managed to out-race him once at the Portuguese Grand Prix when he finished fifth and the German in sixth.
This caused him to lose interest according to Surer, as it was clear that Schumacher was going to be the future of the team.
“There was Flavio Briatore the manager of Benetton and he had an eye on Schumacher right away,” said Surer.
“He was up against Nelson Piquet and Piquet threw in the towel at the end of the year because Schumacher had given him such a hard time that he lost interest in F1.
“So you have to say Briatore did the right thing [signing him]. If he had continued with Jordan, I don’t know what would’ve happened.”
One stat that could prove Michael Schumacher is better than Lewis Hamilton
Hamilton has broken records during his incredibly successful time at Mercedes, most recently breaking the record at Silverstone for most victories at a single circuit.
Schumacher secured five titles at Ferrari while Hamilton achieved six at Mercedes, however, the German has the advantage in races where they both won and took home the fastest lap.
While both are regarded as the all-time greats of F1, there is only one stat that indicates who may have been better between Schumacher and Hamilton. Schumacher has finished inside the top three of the Drivers’ standings on 12 occasions compared to Hamilton’s 11 to date.
The 2025 season could be an opportunity for Hamilton to match Schumacher and potentially overtake him from 2026, provided Ferrari is competitive when F1 adopts new rules.
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