When Michael Schumacher Met His Lookalike and Hollywood Legend Sylvester Stallone

Back in the day when Michael Schumacher was a Formula 1 legend in the making, a Hollywood legend, Sylvester Stallone visited him. In 1998, Stallone visited Schumacher ‘on his set’ when the German was at Ferrari.

It was reportedly because Stallone wanted to do some research for his upcoming film ‘Driven’. Stallone visited many races and, according to some fans, he would even stay afterward, chatting with the drivers.

While Stallone’s film Driven was a failure, both critically and commercially, Schumacher in Ferrari wasn’t what we remember him as today.

Michael Schumacher in 1998

In 1998, Michael Schumacher had been at Ferrari for two seasons. The Italian giants signed him on with a hope of ending their title drought that stretched back to 1983.

Schumacher was considered the right driver to bring back Ferrari’s glory. After all, he had won two championships with Benetton, establishing himself as the torchbearer of F1 after Ayrton Senna.

The German took Ferrari to second place in the championship in his first year and came close to a title in the next few years.

But in 1998, he found the biggest rival of his career, Mika Hakkinen, who beat him to the championship that year. Although Hakkinen had a faster car, Schumacher’s title bid was strong. He lost the last two races of the year and was notably involved in an incident with David Coulthard during the Belgian GP.

However, 1998 was the last season of Schumacher’s struggles at Ferrari. He helped Ferrari win the constructor’s title in 1999. And from 2000, well, we all know how Schumacher changed history as the calendar changed its century.

There were some reports that Stallone was preparing for an entry into F1. And as tough as it sounds, it could’ve happened; Hollywood actors have driven race cars before as well.

Steve McQueen and Paul Newman are two of the biggest Hollywood names associated with racing. But more recently, Michael Fassbender also raced in the LeMans with Porsche.

Which celebrity would you like to see in a Formula 1 car?

Also Read: Remembering the Day Michael Schumacher Passed the Baton to Sebastian Vettel