Michael Schumacher has previously turned down offers to become Ferrari’s F1 team principal. Could the great F1 driver have saved the struggling Scuderia Ferrari had it not been for the ski accident that put him out of the picture?
91 wins and seven times F1 world champion Michael Schumacher retired from F1 for the first time at the end of 2006. His retirement, widely reported to have been forced by then-Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo, opened the door for Kimi Raikkonen.
Michael Schumacher remained at Scuderia Ferrari from 2007 to 2009. He tested in Ferrari’s F1 car in 2007, took part in several races as a technical advisor and was often seen on the pitwall before making a sensational comeback with Mercedes F1 in 2010.
The seven-time F1 world champion has turned down an offer to become Ferrari’s new sporting director or team principal, as revealed by Jean Todt, Michael Schumacher’s former team boss at Ferrari.
Instead, Stefano Domenicali, who is currently in charge of all things F1, assumed the role from 2008 to 2014.
“Michael Schumacher was the best candidate, but he didn’t accept,” Jean Todt admitted to the German press in 2008.
Michael Schumacher has remained close to the team as an advisor to driver Felipe Massa, helping the team in their battles with McLaren in 2007 and 2008.
In Jean Todt’s final year, Kimi Raikkonen won the drivers’ title by beating Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso in a dramatic finale at Interlagos.
Under Stefano Domenicali, Ferrari came close to winning the championship three times, once with Felipe Massa in 2008 and with Fernando Alonso in 2010 and 2012.
Ferrari were unable to maintain the momentum of Michael Schumacher, Jean Todt and Ross Brawn, inevitably hampering the breakup of the legendary trio.
Even today, Ferrari has not been able to return to the form it showed in the 2000s.
The problems that existed during the Stefano Domenicali era carried over into the Marzio Arrivabene era, with a further failed title win with Sebastian Vettel. Mattia Binotto failed to lead Charles Leclerc to glory in 2022.
Meanwhile, rewinding to the end of 2012, Mercedes F1 boss Ross Brawn asked Michael Schumacher to join the team.
“It’s possible,” Ross Brawn said at the time.
“We are not discussing the details of what role Michael will play in the future, as it is not considered at the moment, but Michael’s experience in motor racing and his decisions, etc. It will be a great asset.”
“I don’t know if he wants a day-to-day operation like some of us do, but he wants to stay involved. He loves sports, he loves racing, he develops cars. And I love seeing how the team works.”
“I can fully understand that he will continue to have a strong interest in the future and that will come at some point. I hope it will be done with us.”
Had it not been for the January 2013 skiing accident, Michael Schumacher would very likely have been involved with Mercedes, and may even have returned to Ferrari in the future.
Michael Schumacher’s wealth of experience in F1 would have been an asset to any F1 team.
Being a successful driver doesn’t necessarily mean being a great team boss, but Michael Schumacher was revolutionary for F1. Not to mention what he achieved on the track, he changed the way drivers take fitness and preparation seriously.
Category: F1 / Michael Schumacher / Ferrari / mercedes