F1 Insider "Not Sure Michael Schumacher Would Have Enjoyed" Modern Formula One

In a recent interview, former F1 driver and teammate of Michael Schumacher, Johnny Herbert, shared his insights on whether the seven-time champion would have enjoyed today's F1 racing environment. Herbert suggested that the increased control by engineers and reliance on technology might not have been to Schumacher's liking.

Key Takeaways:

The Shift from Driver Control to Engineering Dominance: Herbert commented that the current era of Formula One, with its focus on electric components and engineer-driven strategies, differs significantly from the past. He believed that this shift might have diminished the role of a driver's natural ability, an aspect where Schumacher excelled.
Schumacher’s Unique Abilities: Highlighting Schumacher's exceptional skills, Herbert pointed out that Schumacher's ability to find solutions and manage his car independently set him apart. He noted that in the modern F1 scenario, drivers are heavily reliant on engineers for optimal car performance and strategy.
A Mixed Reaction to Modern F1: While acknowledging that Schumacher would have appreciated the performance aspect of modern F1, Herbert speculated that the increased dependency on engineering input and reduced driver autonomy might have frustrated the legendary racer. Nevertheless, Herbert believed Schumacher would have quickly recognised and adapted to the benefits of the modern approach.

Former F1 driver Johnny Herbert recently shared his thoughts on how Michael Schumacher, his former teammate and a legend of the sport, would have fared in the modern era of Formula One racing. Herbert, who raced in F1 from 1989 to 2000 and also won the prestigious Le Mans 24 Hours in 1991, remarked:

"On the rawness of what we had all done with the combustion engine over the years in different formulae, I am not sure he would have enjoyed the driving side. The control element was almost taken away if we compare electric and the modern day car. A lot of the drivers’ raw natural ability, like he showed in those ‘sprint’ races, was taken away because it was and is controlled by the engineers as in the modern day."

The British driver continued:

"It is all about looking after the tyre. The engineers having the perfect set up, engineers telling them what to do if the brake temperatures were wrong, he was always able to do that himself. He didn’t need so much of the engineer. His ability to find solutions made him special as well."

Finally, Herbert concluded with a reflection on Schumacher's potential attitude towards modern F1's technological advancements.

"Would he have liked the electric side, the modern day F1 engineering side? Yes because it would have been purely about the performance. But I think he would have been frustrated by being told what to do! But he would have realised quickly there was a benefit to it."

Thank you Grosvenor Sport for setting up this interview.