Peak Michael Schumacher Embarrassingly Faltered Against 16 Year Old Lewis Hamilton in Competitive Racing
Follow Us
The return of Michael Schumacher to F1 in 2010 was an amazing prospect. For 3 years, the 7-time champion raced with the younger champions on the grid. While he did not achieve the heights of his peak prime era, Michael gave some really good battles with several drivers. Schumacher going wheel-to-wheel with Lewis Hamilton in Monza in 2011 was an epic sight to watch. The German driver even contested his teammate Nico Rosberg closely at Mercedes. Although, these battles were not the first time Michael raced with Lewis and Nico.
Back at his peak at Ferrari, Schumacher was the top gun of F1. Having secured the first world championship for the Italian team since 1979, the German driver was dominating the grid post-2000. As per Daily star, Michael tried competitive racing in karts again for fun during the Karting championship finale of 2001.
This was the season when 16-year-olds Hamilton and Rosberg were both racing in karts. After the final race moved to Schumacher’s family-owned kart track in Kerpen near Cologne, the German driver also wished to race in the event. Amid all the marketing spotlight, Michael lined up alongside Lewis and Nico who were going to be future F1 stars.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Though, Schumacher’s return to karting did not go as planned. He slipped back to 16th after some technical issues at the start. While Michael surged back again to 3rd, he also battled with Lewis and Nico on the way. But the legend faltered and slid off the track in wet conditions, ending the race embarrassingly. Yet, it must have been a nice time to roll back the years for Michael.
Still, it was the Ferrari legend’s mastery as he redeemed his first race retirement to get 3rd in the last race of the weekend. His future teammate Rosberg finished 4th while Hamilton was 8th. Nonetheless, these odd blips have never eclipsed the numerous glory moments of Schumacher’s career to date.
How Michael Schumacher Jumped the Ladder from Karting to F1
Michael Schumacher always revered Formula 1 as the top-tier racing category. He even once snubbed other motorsport series like IndyCar to justify F1 as the pinnacle of motorsport. But, how did he reach this pinnacle from his early karting days?
According to an exclusive F1 TV documentary, the young aspiring German racer started karting at the age of 4. Michael smashed the karting scene at local, national, and European levels to make his way up the ladder of motorsport. Schumacher was damn fast and consistent and got into car racing.
Trending
Fernando Alonso Delivers His Message to George Russell Following Ballistic Rant on Radio By the Mercedes Driver
March 24, 2024 10:17 AM EDT
F1 Rumor: Christian Horner Plans to Seize Full Control of Red Bull Empire With Drinks & Racing; Position ‘Strengthened’ by the Stakeholders
March 28, 2024 01:08 PM EDT
Sebastian Vettel Reveals Texting Lewis Hamilton Directly After His ‘Surprising’ Ferrari Announcement
March 28, 2024 01:17 PM EDT
Fernando Alonso Offered “Lucrative Multi-Year Contract” by Aston Martin After Christian Horner’s ‘Big Intentions’ to Sign Him
March 28, 2024 10:36 AM EDT
“All Spanish Aston Martin Next Year”: Carlos Sainz Could Join Fernando Alonso in 2025 as Bad News Awaits Lance Stroll, Predicts Eddie Jordan
March 28, 2024 02:18 PM EDT
Get instantly notified of the hottest F1 stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.
Follow Us
Surprisingly, it was the Mercedes Sportscar team that have Schumacher a break in car racing. During the 1989-91 period, Michael races for the Silver Arrows in their Sportscars and was quite impressive. This drew the attention of many in F1. Several people stated how Schumacher had all the ingredients for an F1 driver.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
This attention got converted to a one-off race opportunity for the Jordan team in Belgium in 1991. Michael surprised everyone to qualify 7th for the Belgian GP. Before that Spa weekend, he had never driven an F1 car at a GP circuit. While the race ended in a DNF for him, it already set in motion his F1 destiny.
After a bunch of contractual hustle, Michael Schumacher became an F1 driver for the Benetton F1 team. Meanwhile, Jordan was trying to retain the talented German, but to no avail. Rarely, anyone had seen such a rise up the ranks in F1 for a driver. And within 3 years, Schumacher took the glory of becoming a World Champion.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
WATCH THIS STORY: Inside Michael Schumacher’s Car Collection
The kind of waves Michael Schumacher made from his karting days to F1 were phenomenal. Comparatively, Lewis Hamilton too had a similar route to F1. Both drivers made their name in F1 by the age of 22. Yet, with only a few battles of 2010-12 and the only karting weekend together, there is little to compare that who is better among the two.
Edited by:
Ranvijay Singh