How Schumacher helped Hamilton dominate F1 with Mercedes
How Schumacher helped Hamilton dominate F1 with Mercedes
The likes of Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton may not have enjoyed their title-winning glories at Mercedes were it not for the intervention of Michael Schumacher early in the team's development, the Formula 1 legend's manager Sabine Kehm has revealed.
Schumacher raced alongside Rosberg for three seasons as the famous name returned to the F1 grid, although he was unable to add to his record haul of 91 race wins, and only secured one podium in that period.
The Silver Arrows have won the drivers' and constructors' championship in each of the past five seasons, matching a record set by Schumacher's Ferrari side of the early 2000s.
Although Schumacher was not around when the team's upsurge in form came about, Kehm has recounted how the pressure put on Mercedes officials by the German great ensured that it would eventually materialise.
Kehm told F1's 'Beyond the Grid' podcast: "Very quickly it became very clear that it would not turn out the way that he had hoped for because, in the first year, the resources were not really there and it was clear that they would not be given as well.
"So that was obviously a little bit disappointing but then at some point it was [decided] 'we have to cope with it and have to go on' and I think Michael fought a lot to convince the right people to really give more money into it and really make it a big team again.
"He really made it very clear that if you want to do it you have to do it really full throttle.
"At the beginning it was a bit undecided, we came back but not really, and they were kind of operating a little bit as a middle team and not really as a top team.
"I think the way that Michael kind of addressed this to some people helped them to really see that it makes no sense to do it like this.
"Already in his last year, you could see that the things were coming and coming and it was quite obvious also to him that if he had stayed another year, that would already be a much better year for him as well."
MORE: 'Ferrari move too soon for Leclerc'
MORE: Hamilton hints at Mercedes 'weak spot' for 2019
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Horner outlines Ricciardo target to save F1 dream as major Newey announcement made - GPFans F1 Recap
- 2 hours ago
Mercedes reveal shock RED livery to celebrate historic milestone
- 3 hours ago
Ricciardo makes five-race admission in bid to survive F1 axe
- Yesterday 21:57
Red Bull is 'burning' after Horner and Marko display
- Yesterday 20:57
Red Bull announce strong statement over Newey departure claims
- Yesterday 19:57
Verstappen 'to meet Mercedes over SHOCK 2025 move as Red Bull exit clause revealed'
- Yesterday 18:57
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860