Jerez 1997. If there was anything he could changed, this race was it.
He should have just kept his line and than JV would have probably rammed him. His biggest regret should have been when he took out Damon Hill in Australia in 94, or when he ran an illegal car from the beginning of the 94 season. Not just the fuel flow but Traction Control.
Any proof for that statement? I heard the rumors at the time but never saw anything proven about that. Also, it's a bit unfair to say MS "ran an illegal car". The team (Flavio Briatore, the designers, engineers and mechanics) would first have to design, build and set up the illegal car for their drivers to then knowingly drive. IF it is true, then all are to blame. Not just Schumacher.
He was banned a few races that year but one was not for illegal equipment but rather illegal behaviour. He passed the pole sitter at the British GP on the parade lap. The FIA dinged him for that. Of course, the fact that Lady Diana was in the audience probably influenced the decision of the FIA a bit.
He was a big cheat his entire career and despite his racing abilities should not be given any honor IMHO...he is just the sort of athelic that we should not encourage our children to mimic...
He knew damn well that the Benetton had Launch and Traction Control on it from the beginning of 94. They got caught after Imola when the FIA got a copy of there software. Why the hell else could he out acclerate a Renault V10 with a FORD V8. The Zetec was not that much of a huge leap compared to the HB of the previous year. He used it and Tom Walkinshaw approved it. They also ran there fuel rigs with missing Filters in order to speed up Fuel Flow and it got them when poor Jos V got caught on fire. Why do you think MS's fuel stops were so quick in Brasil. The guy had an incredible talent, but through his whole career he never minded crossing the line.
it was years ago. he admitted that incident to JC on top Gear. it was around 98 i think. try seaching youtube.
To be accurate, that Ford Zetec hadn´t many things in common with the Ford HB (the direct sucessor of the good old Ford Cosworth). The biggest difference were the pneumatic valves in the Zetec. And Benetton already had these engines in 1993.
In the same interview in the "Sueddeutsche Zeitung" in which he also admits that the real reasons for retiring this year was that he no longer had the mental power to perform at the top level (which puts all the rumors about having been forced out or having had 2 more years in the tank to rest). http://www.blick.ch/sport/formel1/artikel49935
Yeah it could put them to rest... unless old LM and JT got tired of the "big bad Luca pushed the 7 time world champion out, and poor Jean was helpless and Michael didn't want to duke it out with Kimi" notion, so after months of those rumors spreading around, they told Michael to make somthing up and put it to rest in an interview. Hehehe....
The British GP stewards, who were of course British, black flagged him, not the FIA. They did it to help Damon Hill. Of course, it happend several times before and after that the pole sitter was passed on the parade lap, but not by Schumacher. Hill did it the next weekend I think. It was all quite silly.
