2023-12-31 22:18:43
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Michael Schumacher, as a current ARD documentary shows, was not only a great racing driver during his career, but also a person full of emotions.
Munich – For many sports enthusiasts, Michael Schumacher, who suffered a serious skiing accident including a head injury around ten years ago, is one thing above all: an absolute Formula 1 legend who knew how to cast a real motorsport spell on generations. In the new ARD documentary “Being Michael Schumacher”, the sporting achievements of the racing icon are duly honored. Scenes are repeatedly interspersed in which it becomes clear what an emotional and empathetic person Schumacher was during his active career.
Michael SchumacherBorn:3. January 1969 in HürthChildren:Mick Schumacher, Gina-Maria SchumacherFormula 1 World Championship title:1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
Michael Schumacher in tears: Good friend suffered a stroke before Formula 1 race
In a sequence of the multi-part TV documentary, Michael Schumacher’s manager Sabine Kehm discusses the 2000 Formula 1 season. In this, the native of Hürthen ultimately celebrated his third World Cup success. However, this triumph was not a foregone conclusion. After a good start to the series at the time, Schumacher failed to win four races in a row and had to cede his advantage to his rival Mika Häkkinen. “The fear has grown that a situation like this would arise again that we would end up losing the World Cup,” remembers Kehm. Michael Schumacher had only had to give up his title dreams the year before due to an accident or injury.
So it happened, reports Sabine Kehm, that the pressure from various sides grew increasingly. The Ferrari team boss at the time, Jean Todt, would also have given the route internally at that time, shortly before the Italian Grand Prix: “We have to win the next four races, otherwise we no longer have a chance of winning the World Championship.” What happened? Schumacher withstood the enormous pressure and celebrated his 41st career victory in a thrilling race. The winner was asked about this benchmark – which corresponded to the personal best of Formula 1 professional Ayrton Senna, who died in an accident in 1994 – at a subsequent press conference and asked what it meant to him. “Yes, that means a lot to me,” Schumacher replied and then burst into tears in front of the camera.
A Formula 1 legend with tears in his eyes: Michael Schumacher was overcome with emotion after his victory in Monza (2000). Mika Häkkinen (left) and his brother Ralf (right) provided consolation. © IMAGO / Thomas Melzer
Emotional Michael Schumacher: Many reasons and many sympathies
Michael Schumacher was comforted during the press conference by his brother Ralf and his opponent Mika Häkkinen, who also seemed to have a tear or two streaming down his face. Sabine Kehm tries to classify the background for this human emotional outburst in more detail in the ARD documentary: “He was a bit offended anyway, the pressure was very high – and then this Senna story came along, which brought everything up.”
But it’s not just the memories of three-time world champion Ayrton Senna and the general World Cup pressure that are said to have bothered Schumacher. Two other factors may have played a role, says Kehm. Once a marshal was injured during the race in Monza, Italy, and a good friend of Michael Schumacher suffered a stroke the day before the race. So there were a lot of things that had to be processed – but his emotions brought Schumacher, who was previously considered by many as rather cool and aloof, a lot of sympathy afterwards. Important to mention: Despite all the emotions, the German still managed to secure the three further victories Todt demanded. Ralf Schumacher also recently shared memories of his shared Formula 1 career with his brother. (chnnn)
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