Mercedes Credit Michael Schumacher for a Major Share of Their Success

7-time world champion Michael Schumacher is considered a legend in his own right and the Mercedes F1 team is truly grateful for his contribution to their success. Currently, the German giants are sitting pretty, on the back of multiple drivers’ and constructors’ titles.

Thought-provokingly, team principal Toto Wolff admitted that a “large share” of their success has been attributed to Schumacher’s involvement. With his and motorsport boss, Norbert Haug’s efforts, the team’s budget was increased and it boosted their efforts to improve the car.

The German legend called time on his career at the end of the 2006 season, ending a 15-year successful career, which yielded 7 World Championships and 91 races throughout his career. However, Michael Schumacher decided that his hunger for racing was not quite sated yet, and returned to the grid in 2010 with Mercedes.

During his tenure, Michael Schumacher and Norbert Haug convinced the Mercedes board to increase the team budget and provide more resources, ahead of the 2013 season.

What did Wolff Say About Michael Schumacher?

Speaking to Motorsport-Total, Wolff said, “Michael has a large share [in Mercedes’ success].”

According to the Austrian, without Brawn GP, Haug’s dream of his team and Michael as the star driver, things would have played out differently. In 2012, Mercedes approached Wolff and managed to convince him to jump on board the project as the team principal.

Wolff even admitted that there was a gulf between the board’s expectations and Mercedes’ realistic chances of success, so the board approved of the budget increase, after much debate

Wolff joined Mercedes and helped create their recent, dominant success, but states it couldn’t have been done without Daimler chairman Dieter Zetsche’s investment.

In conclusion, Toro Wolff said, “We have repaid this trust, not only with the success on the track but also with the financial incentives that came with it. The price-performance ratio of our commitment is very good today.”