Ralf Schumacher recounts Michael’s anger at Spa 1998
Michael Schumacher’s worst blow in F1 was clearly the colossal 1998 Belgian Prix, when David Coulthard slowed in front of him in the rain, causing an accident and the German’s retirement. His brother Ralf, interviewed by Eddie Jordan in the System For Success podcast, recounts this moment.
“I remember seeing the scene” replied Ralf, who would like his brother to be able to talk about it. “It’s very difficult. There’s a part missing that could still speak, or respond, to that. It was something very special. But it could have been very dangerous.”
“Fortunately it was wet, because on a dry track it could have been more dangerous. At that moment, under the influence of emotion, you see things differently. I think this has happened to everyone of us who have been in a car, they know that.”
“Flavio, with his cap on backwards, was smoking in the pits. Eddie, you were jumping in the pit lane… I think Formula 1 was much more alive at that time. Emotions were allowed. That’s part of the history of Formula 1.”
Michael played the role of the “enormous brother”
Jordan continues by recounting that Schumacher then got angry with him, for having issued an instruction freezing Damon Hill’s victory in front of Ralf: “DC hid in the tent, understandably, with his helmet.”
“Michael came after me, suddenly! In all the years Michael tried to help you, he never really got involved. Suddenly, with the chance to win this road, he got angry with me. Why is that?”
Ralf explained it to Jordan: “He’s my big brother and he thought this route was for me. Remember the conversation on the radio? Damon doesn’t remember it! Regardless… We talked about it after the route. He was a bit of my manager at the time, it must be said. Without Michael, I wouldn’t be here.”
‘Michael thought he was part of a conspiracy’
David Coulthard remembers the anger of Schumacher, who thought he was the victim of orchestrated aid in favor of Mika Häkkinen: “Michael thought it was part of a plot to help my teammate Mika. It was just an accident. It was just one of those things that happens.”
“I wouldn’t be honest in acknowledging that he was a great driver without addressing the fact that there were some downsides, from my point of view, to Michael’s approach of wanting to win at all costs on track.
“I have no problem admitting that I raced against the man who rewrote the history books. He is the most successful man in the history of our sport.”
“My understanding of the limit is perhaps closer to that of other drivers. He could be very ruthless, he could be cold, he could be distant. I think that’s probably the right thing to have, at this point. level, to succeed at this point.”
