Michael Schumacher’s transfer from Benetton to Ferrari was condoned by his spouse Corinna from the very first time he talked about it.
On the finish of 1994, Schumacher introduced he would depart Benetton, run by his long-time mentor Flavio Briatore, to hitch Ferrari on a deal believed to be an enormous $30-million a 12 months. In impact, Schumi was departing a group with which he received back-to-back titles in 1994 and 1995 for one which had not received a F1 drivers’ championship since Jody Scheckter triumphed in 1979.
In a current El Método documentary broadcast on the French tv channel Canal+ Corinna Schuamcher turned again the clock: “I nonetheless bear in mind it. We have been within the backyard when Michael requested me: What do you assume if we went to Ferrari?’. I stated: Yeah if you are able to do it, that will be nice.”
After all, historical past recorded that Luca di Montezemolo condoned Jean Todt to head-hunt Schumacher from Benetton, after which proceeded to lure the likes of Ross Brawn, Rory Byrne et al to Maranello and switch the group into one of many biggest of all time.
Recalling the time, Corinna added: “Michael really has an excellent feeling about who he can depend on and I feel it was like that on the time, he stated he wished to do one thing with Jean. It will be so good if Michael might inform the entire story about that point as a result of I wasn’t at all times there.”
Todt, the previous FIA President after his Ferrari stint, stays one of many few insiders allowed contact with in any other case by no means seen Schumi. Little doubt the bond carried over from their days of Ferrari glory and, after all, the onerous instances and challenges that got here with the territory.
Corinna: The good factor for Michael was figuring out that somebody like Jean is there for us
“Jean was at all times there when we have now questions. When you recognize there’s somebody by your aspect who does one thing for you, with out penalties and thinks with you. It is a present.
“Being Michael’s pal by way of good instances is nice enjoyable, however when issues change and instantly somebody can’t do it anymore, you need assistance, or it’s trip and one thing unhealthy occurs, you actually see who your folks are. And Jean is certainly a kind of few folks,” declared Corinna.
In the meantime. Michael’s situation has remained a carefully guarded secret, stories declare he’s privately cared for by a medical group at their residence in Geneva, Switzerland.
Final month, after a go to, Todt revealed that the seven-time F1 World Champion “in good fingers” and that “I don’t go away him alone.
“Him, Corinna, the household, we’ve had so many experiences collectively. Typically success and cash modifications you however Michael has by no means modified. He’s so robust,” stated the Frenchman.
After all, Michael’s son Mick had a two-season spell in F1, ill-advised and badly mentored by Ferrari the 23-year-old was ousted by Haas on the finish of this season and dropped by Ferrari yesterday, and located refuge at Mercedes as a reserve for 2023, backing up the group’s regulars Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.
As destiny can have it, his journey to this point has (kind of) mirrored his father who too was unceremoniously ditched by Ferrari method too quickly, to make method for Kimi Raikkonen, that means Schumacher was pressured to stop on the peak of his prowess, solely to return 4 years later with… Mercedes.