F1 News: Did Michael Schumacher Intentionally Sabotage Irvine's Championship Bid?
In a revealing insight into the dynamics of Ferrari's Formula 1 team in 1999, it has emerged that Michael Schumacher may not have wanted his team to win with anyone but himself. This intriguing aspect of Schumacher's career is highlighted by former team boss Eddie Jordan's comments on his competitive nature.
Key Takeaways:
- Team Dynamics in 1999: Following Michael Schumacher's leg-breaking accident at Silverstone, Ferrari's focus shifted to Eddie Irvine, who was originally the second driver. Irvine unexpectedly contended for the championship against Mika Häkkinen.
- Schumacher's Return and Intentions: Schumacher returned to assist Irvine in the championship fight, yet Eddie Jordan, former team boss, doubts Schumacher's intentions, believing he did not want Ferrari to win with any other driver.
- The 1999 Championship Outcome: Despite Schumacher's support, Irvine lost the championship to Häkkinen by a slim margin. Jordan and Häkkinen both suggest Schumacher's preference for being the sole champion for Ferrari.
In 1999, the Ferrari Formula 1 team underwent a significant shift following Michael Schumacher's severe accident at Silverstone, which resulted in a broken leg and him missing seven races. This incident led to the team relying on Eddie Irvine, who was the clear second driver behind Schumacher. Irvine, against the odds, took the championship fight to the last race against Mika Häkkinen.
Schumacher's return for the penultimate race in Malaysia was seen as a move to support Irvine. However, Eddie Jordan, on his Formula For Success podcast, expressed skepticism about Schumacher's motives.
He stated:
"Michael came back and told everyone he came back to help Eddie Irvine win the title. But he didn't."
He continued:
"He didn't want Ferrari to win a championship with any driver other than himself. I believe that, and Irvine believes that too."
In Malaysia, Schumacher demonstrated his superiority by taking pole position and ultimately letting Irvine win, giving him a lead over Häkkinen going into the final race. However, at the Suzuka final, despite taking pole, Schumacher didn't win the race, and Irvine finished third, leading to Häkkinen securing the title.
Jordan's view was that Schumacher did little to help Irvine in Suzuka, indicating a preference for being the only champion for Ferrari. Häkkinen, years later on the Beyond The Grid podcast, echoed this sentiment, saying:
"I don't think Michael wanted Eddie to win [the title]. [...] Knowing Michael, he wanted to be number 1.
"It wouldn't have looked so good if Eddie had won the 'gold medal'."
The following year saw Schumacher clinching Ferrari's first Drivers' World Championship title in 21 years, with Irvine having moved to Jaguar.