EDDIE JORDAN SAYS that Michael Schumacher’s entire career is based upon a lie he told the Irishman 20 years ago.
Schumacher made his debut in Formula 1 for the Jordan team at Spa in Belgium in 1991, replacing the jailed Bertrand Gachet, qualifying in seventh place but failing to finish the race.
The German, however, made enough of an impression on the Benetton team to earn himself a race seat for the rest of that season before going on to become the most successful driver in history.
Jordan, however, told The Sun that things could have been very different.
“I asked Michael if he’d been to Spa before and he said ‘yes’,” he revealed. “But he’d only been as a spectator and not driven the track.
“I suppose it is too strong to say he lied but when you ask someone if they’ve been to the track before you know it means have they raced there.
“Had I known he’d not raced there before then I probably wouldn’t have put him in the car as Spa is such a technically demanding and difficult track.
“If I had not raced him who knows what would have happened in his career.”
Answer: A less egomaniacal team manager would have picked him up, in all likelihood.
A timeline of Michael Schumacher’s career, as he prepares for his 20th anniversary race at the Belgian Grand Prix:
1991: Makes his debut for the Jordan team at Spa in Belgium. The German qualifies in seventh before being forced to retire in the race. He competes for Benetton for the rest of the season.
1992: Wins his first Grand Prix, also at Spa, for the Benetton team.
1994: Wins eight Grands Prix on his way to the title; famously clashes with Damon Hill in the final race.
1995: Retains his title.
1996: Moves to Ferrari, comes third.
1999: Breaks his leg at Silverstone while leading the Championship, so it’s another year before he…
2000: …secures Ferrari’s first world title since 1979.
2001: Retains his title.
2002: Retains his title.
2003: Retains his title.
2004: Retains his (hang on a minute)… oh… here it is… title.
2006: Wins the… Sorry, wrong, he announces his retirement.
2009: Almost makes a shock return with Ferrari, deputising for Felipe Massa.
2010: Makes a full-time return with the Mercedes team, where he remains to this day. The less said about his middling performances the better.
