Michael Schumacher and his second coming in F1 didn’t really go as planned. Having rejoined the sport back in 2010 with Mercedes, the 7-times world champion would go on to have 3 very disappointing seasons with the Silver Arrows. He never looked like the all conquering driver everyone knew him to be. Michael did have a few moments of brilliance, but the team’s current chief strategist James Vowles believes it was a pity that he couldn’t convert it into a victory with the Brackley-based outfit.

Vowles reflected on his time with Michael and said that everyone at the team wanted to see him on the top step of the podium at least one time.

The best chance that Schumacher got to achieve a win was at the 2012 Monaco Grand Prix. He put in a phenomenal lap to take pole position. But unfortunately had to start in P6 because of the 5-place grid penalty he carried over from the previous race in Spain. That whole scenario left Vowles, and the team gutted for the German.

Mercedes and Vowles desperately wanted Michael Schumacher to win

Vowles said, “I was over the moon for him. I think it was one of the best laps he had probably ever done in his life to put that car in Pole.

“But I was heartbroken for him. This is a guy we all wanted to win a race because he deserved it frankly. And he put so much effort into the team and so much of his life into the team that it was payback to him. I still feel now that he didn’t get all the results that he deserved.”

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Mercedes also regretted that they couldn’t give him a better car and that it was a pity they didn’t get to the levels they are on now sooner. “We all wanted him to win but it didn’t happen. And a couple of years later we couldn’t stop winning,” said Ron Meadows, the sporting director of Mercedes F1.

Unfortunately, for Schumacher despite a P6 start he wouldn’t get much joy that race. The German got in a tangle with Romain Grosjean at the start of the race and lost places. Having suffered no major damage, Schumacher continued on, but the pace just wasn’t there.

Eventually, by lap 63, Michael retired from the race due to a fuel pressure problem. It seemed as though Schumacher’s second coming would end without him tasting champagne.

But the German pushed through for one final hurrah in Valencia, Spain, two races later. It may have been a scant silver lining, but at least he got something to show for all the hard work he put in at Mercedes. His memory in F1 is carried on by his son Mick Schumacher, who sports the number 47, dedicated to his dad.

THROWBACK: Ayrton Senna Spins Michael Schumacher Into Retirement During the 1993 South Africa F1 GP