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“Michael Schumacher was the best candidate of all”: When 7-time World Champion refused to join Ferrari as executive

Somin Bhattacharjee
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"Michael Schumacher was the best candidate of all": When 7-time World Champion refused to join Ferrari as executive

Michael Schumacher is arguably the greatest Ferrari driver of all time, winning five Titles during his time in Maranello. 

Schumacher’s journey towards being an all-time great in F1 began when he won two Championships with Benetton. However, he truly set the highest standards after he joined Ferrari in 1996.

He won five Titles with Ferrari and became the most successful driver in F1. He had the most number of race wins in history until Lewis Hamilton broke that record in 2020. Schumacher remained with the Scuderia until 2006, after which he decided it was time for him to leave the sport.

The German driver returned to F1 in 2010, signing with the newly formed team Mercedes. This time his main goal wasn’t to fight for wins or Championships but to help the Silver Arrows find their feet in F1. He remained with the Brackley-based outfit until 2012, after which he retired once again, this time for good.

His career after leaving Ferrari in 2006 however, could have been very different had he accepted a role on the Italian team.

Also read: “That backfired” – When $285 Million Lewis Hamilton got rejected by Red Bull

Michael Schumacher was offered the job of Sporting Director of Ferrari

Schumacher being one of the best of all time, had one of the sharpest minds in F1. His input in deciding the team’s strategies and plans for a season could have been incredibly valuable for anyone.

In 2007, Ferrari offered the seven-time World Champion a role as Sporting Director of the Scuderia. According to AMuS, he turned down this offer and decided to stay away from F1 as a whole.

Until 2006, Ross Brawn and Jean Todt were the main bosses at Ferrari. The next year, however, Brawn moved to Honda and Todt decided to take up bigger responsibilities within the Maranello outfit.

Todt is a great friend of Schumacher’s, and he felt that there was no one better for the job than him. As a result, he offered him the role, only for him to turn it down.

“Michael Schumacher was the best candidate of all,” Todt said. “But he has not accepted.”

Todt and Schumacher remain very close friends to this date. Ever since the latter’s tragic accident in 2013, the former FIA President has been one of the few people who have regularly visited and stayed in touch with his family.

Also read: Why McLaren prefers to pay off $21 Million to Daniel Ricciardo than keep him for 2023 season

About the author

Somin Bhattacharjee

Somin Bhattacharjee

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Formula 1 Editor Somin Bhattacharjee fell for the sport as well as Fernando Alonso on the same day — during the Spaniard’s thrilling victory at the German GP in 2010. Over the years, the passion magnified manyfold, and metamorphosed into a writing career in 2021. Though holding a bachelor's degree in marketing, Somin discovered his true calling in writing. He has penned over 2,700 articles for TheSportsRush, presenting a diverse range — news reports, opinions, and exclusives. A true Tiffosi, Somin never gives up on a chance to defend the Ferrari boys as a fan. As a sports writer though, he remains objective to the core and relishes opportunities to follow and engage in dissecting the action during races. That’s where the real thrill lies for him. Beyond the racetrack, Somin plays different sports including soccer. He enjoys exploring other sporting events and proudly supports Spanish soccer club Real Madrid.

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