Schumacher 'never even sweated' during F1 races
Schumacher 'never even sweated' during F1 races
It's the oldest debate in the sport: who is the greatest Formula 1 driver of all time?
Giancarlo Fisichella is unequivocal as to whom he thinks the greatest of them all is – and it's the man whose car he once rode on the back of, returning to the pit lane after he broke down four laps from the end of the 1997 German Grand Prix.
"Michael Schumacher," said Fisichella, when asked the question directly in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, as the three-time GP winner turned 50.
Schumacher and Fisichella became good friends over their years racing against each other and the Italian was utterly devastated when the seven-time world champion suffered a life-changing brain injury when skiing in the French Alps in December 2013.
"Unfortunately, I've never raced in the same team, it would have been useful to see his telemetry, but we shared so many great moments at races and with the drivers' national team," he told the Italian newspaper.
"Sometimes he would get out of the car or finish a football match and he didn't even seem to have sweated."
The German was known for being an ice-cool figure behind the wheel of an F1 car but that is surely pushing it!
As for Fisichella, he did eventually race for Ferrari on the grid, beginning at his home race in Monza in 2009 as he replaced the injured Felipe Massa for the rest of the campaign for the Scuderia.
Schumacher had been retired for over two years at that point but there were attempts to try and get him clearance to make his return.
But he was forced to call it off to the severity of the neck injury he had received in a motorcycle accident earlier during that the year.
Perhaps in another universe, the stars would have aligned for the two men to pair up but it didn't stop them from building a lasting friendship.
And Fisichella is in no doubt about just how big an impact his 'amico' had at the highest level of motorsport.
Fisichella: Schumacher gave me so much and rewrote history of F1
"He was a great football fan and we regularly kicked a ball together," Fisichella told Rai Italia in a previous interview.
"As a colleague, he was an incredible opponent, and he rewrote the history of Formula 1.
"Having raced with him, he has given me so much, and the few times I came in front made me even more proud because he is a great champion. It is a cruel fate that someone who as a race so often risked his life is badly injured while skiing."
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Horner Red Bull saga in new 'evidence' update as big F1 star left 'very angry' - GPFans F1 Recap
- Yesterday 23:57
Cocky sporting legend CHALLENGES Hamilton in stunning claim
- Yesterday 22:57
Ricciardo boss in 'super disappointing' claim amid RB stars' performance
- Yesterday 21:57
F1 team 'set to announce MEGA signing' in major Red Bull challenge
- Yesterday 20:57
Horner in BRUTAL Wolff swipe amid Verstappen to Mercedes links
- Yesterday 19:57
Hamilton car camera captures Verstappen's TRUE feelings toward F1 rival
- Yesterday 18:57
Related news
Schumacher's personal collection to be sold in MEGA-MONEY auction
Rare drunk Schumacher story revealed by fierce F1 rival
F1 legend claims he ‘destroyed’ Schumacher mentally in AWKWARD relationship
Former F1 star makes HUGE Schumacher and Hamilton claim
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