‘Schumi could’ve won more if he hadn’t joined Ferrari’

One of the many reasons the Tifosi love Michael Schumacher. He really wanted to be in the Scuderia and wasn't loyal only to whoever was making the fastest car at the time. He turned around mediocre fortunes and gave Tifosi something to cheer about again.

All the best,
Andrew.

 

When I see articles like this, all I can think is "writers have to write". So they come up with lame-a$$ articles like this.

Pure nonsense.

 

Not exactly new news - but thank you Eddie for reminding us

Ofcourse he would've won more WDC's but MS was fired up for a real challenge.
And it was certainly a long and tough challenge

 

'96 to '99 - Williams then McLaren were the cars to have.

 

What other teams could he have joined really, if the objective was to win more titles?
Williams fell flat after the 1997 season having lost both Newey and Renault. Before that, I'm not sure Schumacher would have been welcomed and they also do not seem to have been the kind of team to care for their staff.
McLaren weren't a better team, they just had two fortunate years allowing even Hakkinen to become a 2xWDC.

Ultimately, Schumacher was just another part of the pussle. An important part, definitely, but without the team he was part of at Ferrari he would have struggled far more. Kind of like Vettel at Ferrari vs Hamilton at Mercedes. Talented driver in chaotic team vs talented driver in highly organized team.

 

"...and if my aunt got some, then she would be my uncle" (Old french colloquial expression for saying that something is just a useless speculation)

Rgds

 

It's the Pony Express syndrom. If he went from Benetton to Williams to McLaren to Ferrari...... Jump on the fastest horse and ride it until it's spent. Who cares. It's history at this point. If Eddie is so smart why was he driving for Ferrari during those lean years? And just when Ferrari was getting it together Irvine went to Jaguar. LOL.

 

Regarding Irvine, he was chasing money at that point. Sure, he said he had the opportunity to be #1 on a well-funded team, but he was more interested in the funds that would be going into his pocket.

 

And Shu wasn't? $60M over 2 years when he joined ferrari. Highest ever.

 

Eddie was also pretty busy away from the circuit

He also had a fine taste in cars and one afternoon we were both moaning about the price of a spare part for the 288.
I should've filmed it

 

Of course, if he had moved to Williams, then McLaren, then Ferrari and later Renault he would have won everything.

Easier said than done.

 

Yep. And Chris Amon none with 7 or 8 teams.

Timing is everything in life.

 

Yes, but Schui wouldn't have been helping to develop the dream team and dream car if he hadn't been at Ferrari during those years. When you had more or less unlimited testing, the most determined drivers could get ahead.

 

For sure, although 4+ years to develop a car is a long time and shows Ferrari was certainly in a mess !

 

Hmm, Interesting...

 

Ohhhh, if it were that simple. You don't necessarily......nay, rarely......get to just walk up and "choose" rides....

 

I'm well aware of the above. My response was only to your "He kept chosing the wrong team !!" which sounded as if he could have just decided that he was going to whatever team he deemed best,and poof, it would be done. My point was just to counter that implication.
In your example above, everything pointed to Chris having made the right decision in going to Ferrari. I believe/believed he did. No, it didn't pan out.
You say "Instead of Fittipaldi, it could have been Amon winning the first WDC title for McLaren: he had the talent".
Very easy to say in hindsight, but, would Chris have still been with McLaren long enough to do so? We'll never know.

We're in agreement.
I've stated on numerous occasions over the years that part of being successful in racing is being able to be in the "right place at the right time". This in response to many that, with whatever motive, posed the notion that the only reason "so and so" (mostly Hamilton these days) is as successful as they are is the "luck" of being with the best team. "Chosing" the right team counts, like Chris's chosing Ferrari when it appeared to be the right decision, but "luck" (as per Johnny Rutherford, where preparation and opportunity meet) plays a part in that decision. (Hint-hint, Vettel to Ferrari, Hamilton to Mercedes)

 

I don't know if he was wrong in joining in 1966...
(although we must keep in mind that he became leader of the team after the Bandini fatal accident, so he occupied that role unexpectedly quickly)

...but with hindsight (ah, that is a luxury, hindsight...) his timing with Ferrari makes you wonder...

Chris certainly wasn't right when he left at the end of 1969, because in 1970 he got a Cosworth but struggled with the March 701, whereas the Ferrari that he left behind won quite a number of races in the hand of Ickx and Reggazoni. Chris always said that he left at the end of 1969 because, when testing the new "Flat 12" in the summer of 1969, that engine always broke and it was serious parts that did. But, once developped and dependable, that "Flat 12" became the engine to beat.
Meanwhile, Amon has got the Cosworth that he wanted...but not the right car nor the right team, so he left for Matra, then his own team...

During 1973, when Ickx left Ferrari rather exhausted after having been unable to "turn the tide", Amon was one of the very few drivers that Enzo Ferrari recalled; the contract was ready but could not be signed because one sponsor objected and Chris was reluctant to "betray" his own team. As we all know, the 1974 Ferrari 312B3 was a title contender in 1974...

Rgds