Throughout Michael Schumacher’s career, controversy has always followed him around. Some say it’s a ruthless streak that blights his greatness; others compare him to Aryton Senna in how he always needs to win, no matter the cost. Whether it’s the need to win or the need to avoid failure, there is no doubting that Schumacher polarises F1 fans around the world, as recent events in Hungary have proved. What events caused the greatest driver of the modern era to gain this reputation? Join me as I count down the Top 5 Michael Schumacher controversies.

DISCLAIMER: This unfortunately is not an unbiased article. I have never been, nor will ever be, a fan of Michael Schumacher. These are merely the five worst moments I have picked, but there have been countless incidents between 1994 and 2010. I respect the opinion that people see him as the greatest driver ever. I just don’t agree.

5. 2005 USA Grand Prix

The race at the brickyard in 2005 will always be remembered for the fact that only the six Bridgestone cars on the grid took the start line. Safety concerns generated through the Michelin tyres on the other runners resulted in a protest from all the teams the French company supplied, massively depleting the grid after the parade lap. You would think that with Ferrari, Jordan and Minardi being the only cars, the Prancing Horse would ease to the flag. That all changed during the pit-stops when Schumacher, exiting the pits, pressured team-mate Rubens Barrichello into turn one with the Brazilian ending up in the gravel, even though he was able to rejoin the track.

Even in a race that his team had sewn up from the very first lap, Schumacher needed to be at the top step, no matter the cost. This may have been missed by the media, but fans remembered it, and probably planted the seed that made Rubens look to a fairer drive for 2006.

4. 2002 Austrian Grand Prix

This was the infamous race that led to the creation of Article 39.1.  At the end of the Austrian Grand Prix, Ferrari’s Rubens Barrichello led his team-mate Schumacher going into the last lap. Just before the last corner, Barrichello began to slow and Schumacher passed him on the line for the race win, and to a chorus of boos. On the podium, in response to the jeers of the crowd, Schumacher insisted that Barrichello take the top spot on the podium. Schumacher took the trophy for first place from the Austrian chancellor and gave it to Barrichello, who then took the second place trophy. Barrichello, Schumacher and Ferrari were fined one million U.S. dollars for the failure to observe Article 170 of the Formula One Sporting Regulations concerning the podium ceremony.

Another incident at the USA Grand Prix later that year, where Schumacher gifted a win to Barrichello in reply, made the FIA ban team orders from then on. Whispers of contractual obligations to maintain Schumachers title challenges shows that any team he was in was geared towards him, and him alone.

3. 2006 Monaco Grand Prix

Michael Schumacher didn’t just save his win-at-all-costs attitude for race days, as the Monaco round of 2006 proved. The final qualifying session was overshadowed by his actions in the dying moments of the session as his rival, Fernando Alonso, was on a flying lap and was, at sector two, over two tenths of a second faster than the German. However, Schumacher stopped his car in the Rascasse corner, which compromised Alonso’s lap. When asked about the incident, Schumacher responded by saying that he “locked up the front and went wide.”

The consensus in the paddock was that it was a deliberate act and the issue was raised with the race stewards. The stewards agreed and punished Schumacher by sending him to the back of the grid. Ferrari’s Managerial Director, Jean Todt, said that he was “disgusted” by the decision. Steward Joaquin Verdegay commented, “He performed some absolutely unnecessary and pathetic counter-steering, and that lasted five metres, until there was no more chances of going through the turn normally. He lost control of the car while travelling at 16km/h. That’s something completely unjustifiable.”

2. 1994 Australian Grand Prix

The next two entries on this list are strikingly similar, and demonstrate the key part of Schumacher’s driving ego that is probably the most polarising; the self-sacrificing need to win.

Adelaide 1994, the final race of the season, was to be the decisive race between the two drivers who had captivated fans all season long. Michael Schumacher arrived at the decisive race of the 1994 season with only one point lead over rival Damon Hill, who has just beaten Schumacher in a thrilling wet Japanese Grand Prix. To all intents and purposes, the drivers’ Championship was wide open. Fittingly, Schumacher and Hill dominated the race, with Schumacher leading but constantly under pressure from Hill. At around lap 20 Schumacher made a mistake: a sudden twitch from the car sent him touching a barrier with his right side wheels, only to allow Hill to close up and to try a pass in the next corner. Schumacher knew that should Hill pass him, his title hopes are gone. He also felt that the title was rightly his, as he had, after all, dominated the season whenever he was on track. So Schumacher literally shut the door and crashed into Hill, both of them subsequently retiring. 

Schumacher took the drivers’ championship title by that one point. After the race he was quick to claim that it was not a corner fit for passing and that Hill never had the room to pass there anyway. Hill himself seemed hesitant, and at that time did not directly blame Schumacher for taking him out. Until it was Adelaide all over again.

1. 1997 European Grand Prix

The scenario of the 1997 European Grand Prix in Jerez was frighteningly similar to the 1994 final Grand Prix, with Schumacher leading the title hunt by a mere one point over Canadian Jacques Villeneuve.

The latter, on pole, was beaten by a brilliant start from Schumacher who took the lead by the first corner. That order maintained until soon after the second set of pit stops Villeneuve started closing in on Schumacher in ferocious rate. Whether Schumacher had some sort of a problem with his car, or whether Villeneuve was simply on a newer, better, set of rubber is unknown to this day, but realistically what is known is that Villeneuve started closing in on Schumacher, knowing that he has to make a move if he was ever to be World Champion. 

Coming to Dry Sack corner on lap 48 Villeneuve ambitiously took the inside line, braking very late and taking Schumacher partly by surprise. It can be clearly seen in the TV replays that Schumacher soon acknowledged Villeneuve on his side; first Schumacher turned away, giving Villeneuve some room and then, at what looks like an intentional move, turned into him, hitting Villeneuve’s side pod with his right front. The contact sent Schumacher straight to the gravel, but also slowed down Villeneuve enough to enable him to make the corner. Without that contact Villeneuve would have gone wide and would have opened Schumacher a gap giving him a chance to take back the lead at the exit of the corner. Nevertheless, Villeneuve cruised to finish in third place and with Schumacher out of the race; Villeneuve was crowned the World Champion by a three points lead. 

Schumacher quickly tried to blame Villeneuve for the incident. “I braked on the maximum, he braked even later”, he said and added, “He used me a little bit as a brake… If I had not been there, he would have gone a little bit into the grass.” He also dismissed any criticism saying he did not make a mistake and that “In the same circumstances, I wouldn’t do anything different.” 

The FIA saw it differently.

Stripped of all points and position in the championship, Schumacher’s reputation was tarnished forever. Nearly a decade later he had a staggering five World Titles sewn up, but that black mark of Jerez, and arguably Adelaide, are still there for the world to see.

It seems the German’s achievements are always overshadowed by one argument or another. For Michael Schumacher draws controversy no matter what he does, whether he wins or loses. Formula One fans love him or hate him, but never ignore him. He is always the centre of the story, and he has the ability – which the F1 money makers love so much – to draw endless attention from race fans all over the world.

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