Succumbing to Rival’s Evil Plan Costed Michael Schumacher F1 Championship 25 Years Ago

“If you no longer go for a gap that exists, you’re no longer a racing driver” – Ayrton Senna. The Brazilian F1 Legend, Senna was Michael Schumacher’s racing idol. And Schumacher was able to achieve the feat that Senna was destined for but wasn’t able to. However, years later, Schumacher’s rival’s evil plans are highlighted costing the German a championship 25 years ago. What was this plan?

Every racing driver has their flaws and weaknesses. No one is perfect. It’s about making your flaws look beautiful. Michael Schumacher on the other hand took it to a whole different level. Michael Schumacher’s aggression was both his strength as well as his flaw. The same aggression that helped him win 7 titles was also the reason why he lost some championships. 

Schumacher was known for his aggression and doing whatever it took to win a race or a championship. Incidents had already happened during the 1994 and 1997 championship finales. Jacques Villeneuve’s engineers revealed how Schumacher was forced by the rivals to turn up his aggression as they put the German under pressure. They knew that Schumacher would lose his cool under pressure.

According to the book Michael Schumacher: The Edge of Greatness, Jock Clear, who was Villeneuve’s engineer said, “Jacques and I worked out quite early on that Michael would lose if you put him under a huge amount of pressure. He lost the 1998 world championship to Hakkinen by stalling on the grid. I mean, who stalls on the grid for heaven’s sake?”

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It was revealed how the pressure got to Schumacher during the 1998 championship and he stalled the car on the track. Jacques Villeneuve himself orchestrated a move during the 1997 championship finale based on Schumacher’s behavior.

Jacques Villeneuve on what went on his mind during the 1997 championship finale

Jacques Villeneuve and Michael Schumacher went into the 1997 championship decider with only 1 point between the two. Whoever came out on top would take the title home. Villeneuve revealed how he tried to surprise Schumacher and went on his inside and braked later than the German did. Schumacher, who wasn’t expecting the move, was shocked to see Villeneuve on the inside and turned into him. However, it would lead to Schumacher retiring from the race.

According to Formula1.com, Villeneuve talking about how he planned the move said “Into Dry Sac, the hairpin at the end of the back straight, I could brake 10 meters later than Michael and I knew that was where my opportunity would present itself. I also knew that I’d have to surprise him; I’d have to come from so far back that he wasn’t even looking in his mirrors.”

What do you make of the plans made by rivals to put Schumacher under pressure?

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