“Until It Was Too Late”: Michael Schumacher’s Ignorance of F1 Costed Him Dearly

What is that one word that comes to your mind when someone says, Michael Schumacher? F1 GOAT? Ferrari? Maybe Legacy? Michael Schumacher inspired many of the current F1 drivers. However, as it is said, nobody is perfect and neither was Schumacher, whose ignorance of F1 cost him dearly. But how and why? What was Schumacher’s F1 ignorance?

Eddie Jordan and many other F1 pundits consider Michael Schumacher to be the reason behind Ferrari’s revival. It is believed that Schumacher had a great ability to manage and care for people. However, in the book, Michael Schumacher, the edge of greatness suggests that the German, throughout his career, didn’t care about his own legacy as the 2006 Monaco GP incident was highlighted. The 7X champ didn’t care about what he was leaving behind for people to remember him by. 

We all remember the 7 titles but we also remember the 1994 crash with Damon Hill. We remember the collision with Jacques Villeneuve and we also remember the infamous incident at the 2006 Monaco GP. Michael Schumacher locked up on his final qualifying run while being on the provisional pole and parked his car on the exit of Rascasse. This prevented anyone from improving on their fastest lap. 

The Book, Michael Schumacher, the Edge of Greatness read “Schumacher never paid much attention to Formula 1 before he got his first drive 1991 and throughout his time in the sport he did not seem to develop any interest in either its history or his place in it. He was proud to live in ignorance of such things. The consequence of that attitude was that he had no sense of his legacy. Until it was too late.”

Read More: “Michael Schumacher’s Nightmare”: Ex F1 Champ Once Narcissistically Threatened the Red Baron to Grab Limelight

For the same incident that accused Schumacher of not caring about his legacy, the Former F1 champ called the German a cheap cheat. But what was it all about?

Keke Rosberg called Michael Schumacher out for the 2006 Monaco qualifying incident 

2006 was the year when the Monaco qualifying incident happened for which Michael Schumacher was sent to the back of the grid. The same year was also the rookie year for Nico Rosberg, son of the former F1 champ Keke Rosberg. Rosberg Sr. advised that Schumacher’s parking his car up at the 2006 Monaco Qualifying was the dirtiest thing to ever happen in F1 as he called him a cheap cheat.

As per the book mentioned above, Keke Rosberg said, “Does he think we are all fools and idiots? It was the cheapest dirtiest thing I have ever seen in Formula 1. He should leave Formula 1 and go home. I hope he is man enough now to get out of the Grand Prix Drivers Association and never mention safety again in his life. He’s a cheap cheat.”

Watch this Story: Why Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello Wore Red Wigs in 2000

What do you make of the legacy left behind by Michael Schumacher?