The 1994 Spanish GP was an utterly strange one for Michael Schumacher and Benetton. Having sealed pole position in the race, the German looked to be far out in front from Williams’ Damon Hill.

However, with a third of the race gone, Schumacher started facing problems with his gearbox. Sauber aerodynamics consultant Willem Toet offers insights into how the Benetton driver managed the situation.

Writing in a post, Toet stated, “Michael radioed in to say that he was having intermittent gear selection problems. The team pitted the car a little earlier than they might have (still some fuel in the car) so they could have a quick look.”

Michael Schumacher dropped to third place at one point in time during the race

“Red oil was visible at the rear of the car. Red oil. That’s hydraulic oil and Benetton were using that to actuate gear changes. The car was stuck in 5th gear. 5th gear. Imagine trying to start from the traffic lights in 5th gear in your road car. Quite a challenge. Michael managed it masterfully.”

Driving in fifth gear for the entirety of the race, Schumacher naturally lost some pace and few track positions. However, with other drivers pitting in, he gained back up the places and maneuvered expertly round the tricky corners to build decent lap timings.

Trending

Liam Lawson’s Surprise Contract Clause Threatens Daniel Ricciardo’s RB Seat

April 24, 2024 11:15 AM EDT

Daniel Ricciardo To Be Replaced by Liam Lawson After Miami, F1 Pundit Dishes Out Harsh Verdict After Australian’s “Amateur Mistake”

April 17, 2024 11:14 AM EDT

What Is Azzurro La Plata and Azzurro Dino? Significance of Ferrari’s Historic Change to a Blue Livery for Miami GP

April 24, 2024 04:52 PM EDT

“[Charles] Leclerc Doesn’t Care About Ferrari”: F1 Insider’s Brutal Blow to Fred Vasseur & Co. Has Racing Community Lashing Out

April 24, 2024 05:00 PM EDT

F1 Rumor: Christian Horner and Wife Geri to Publicly Reveal All Details on Leaked Chat Scandal

April 22, 2024 04:10 PM EDT

Get instantly notified of the hottest F1 stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

Toet continued, “He dropped to 3rd at one point but his lap times improved when he was running alone and with the pit stops of others, he pitted in the lead for his second and final pitstop.

“There is no doubt in my mind that his sports car experience and his use of speed displays allowed him to get the best out of the car.”

Damon Hill won the race, but it was an incredible effort for P2 from Schumacher

“It was actually “lucky” that it was stuck in 5th gear – 6th would have been too slow to accelerate out of the slower corners and 4th would have been too slow on the straights to allow for “competitive” lap times,” concluded Toet.

Technical glitches and internal problems in the car leading to retirements are commonplace in F1 these days. However, despite a serious issue with the gearbox, it did not stop Schumacher from continuing to race.

Perhaps this is one aspect of what makes him a true racing legend – the resilience to keep fighting until the end. This story, among many others, strives to prove why Michael Schumacher was a great champion of the sport.