erwin greven wrote: ↑5 years ago
Andy wrote: ↑5 years ago
Considering how Senna acted throughout his career, I'd say yes Schumacher pulled the stunt fully intentionally.
You may like it or not, the so called greats of your sport (mine it isn't anymore) all did it. Perhaps, not as obvious and blunt but they did and still do.
Just a small, late edit.
In the undying words of the late David Jefferies: “Those who risk nothing, do nothing, achieve nothing, become nothing.”
I don't like it. And because it is not true: Clark did not need it. Stewart did not need it. Andretti did not need it. Fangio, Moss... nope.
I, perhaps, should have added in my lifetime.
In my early days, circuits and vehicles were made safer. Not to todays overboarding h&s standards but certainly safer from a time when the Fangios', Mosses',Clarks' etc. raced. Before my lifetime, a stunt which Schumi pulled on Hill could well mean death, as much as the tiniest of mistakes. The evolution of safety standards has helped a lot in making drivers more agressive, more wreckless, in my lifetime.
In my lifetime, because that's what I was able to witness rather than building my opinion of the hear-say about the times before.
Secondly, How is it possible that a race such as Monaco '83 had become one of F1 greatest races if you put the same scale on it?
Surely, it wasn't the deciding title race but if you watch some of the overtakes of a (dare I say, ahem) young German driver, it makes Schumis on track achievements almost looking nice.
Thirdly, one point that usually gets slagged off but still stands, and shows up bigger than ever these days.
While Germans have a lot of compassion for the English and their history it is not like that on the other side of the channel towards Germans and their history. You have the odd ones out, undeniably but that's that. Odd ones out.
Eversince Germany had overtaken England economically past WW2, the English had a rather jealous look over the channel to the country they still held occupied in parts. This was paired, at least in the days prior to Schumachers '94 title, with some missing knowledge about the not too far away times of the Nazi regime here in Germany. I had been over in 1992 as an exchange pupil and we were received with a raised right arm and a 'Sieg Heil' by pupils of the school we went to. Back then they didn't know much more than there was a certain Mr. Hitler who reigned over Germany and was allied with Italy. And more importantly, that they won the second world war over him. This is all stuff, which had been used by the British far right along with other topics to spread their lies and win the Brexit-referendum, just a tad over 20 years past the Schmumichels '94 title.
The Schmumichels move on Hill remains a thorn in the English butt. In a year when Senna probably would have won the the title but died unfortunately, an Englishman took over in the English car the now dead ex-champion drove. And many would have loved seeing the English driver bringing home the title in the very English car, Senna lost his life in. In Sennas memory.
Now this isn't exclusively English but a theme that probably goes on in every sport and sports nation and has been taken to the extreme when Michael Dunlop won the 250cc race at the 2008 Northwest 200, 2 days past his father Roberts' death at the circuit in the same class Robert had entered.
Schmumichels blunt attempt on Hill brought out a lot of the old prejudices between England and Germany, whether conciously or unconciously. The evil (Italian-German) axis against the still occupying British. Dirty tricks against the self acclaimed fair play.
If it had been anyone else who had wrecked Hill's title chance the outcry would not have been as loud as it became. But as it turned out old themes were fed very well.
I'm sorry if any of my English as well as British mates are feeling hurt after reading above, especially the third paragraph. But there's more to it than the Schmumichels dirty trick and why it ain't received that well, even if it gets discarded.
Finally, I put my quote from above in again.
In the undying words of the late David Jefferies: “Those who risk nothing, do nothing, achieve nothing, become nothing.”
Every championship winner in their time, had followed Jeffo's quote and even future champions will. In times of Fangio, Moss and Clark risking meant different than in the days of the Sennas or Schmumichels. What unites them is that all took a risk more than once but ultimately did something, achieved something and became someone.
