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When Envy for His Teammate Got Michael Schumacher a 20 Times Return on His $1,000,000 ‘Investment’

Somin Bhattacharjee
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When Envy for His Teammate Got Michael Schumacher a 20 Times Return on His $1,000,000 'Investment'

Before going on to becoming Ferrari’s greatest driver ever, Michael Schumacher truly announced himself to the world of F1 with Benetton. However, he also had his fair share of controversial moments with the team, including the time when his jealousy towards his teammate made him pay a huge sum of amount, just to see his salary. According to The Race, he did get a massive return on his initial investment, but it created one of the most bizarre sagas in F1 history.

In 1993, Schumacher’s teammate at Benetton was Riccardo Patrese. Before Schumacher signed for Benetton, his contract stated that he had to be the better-earning driver in the team. This would be applicable unless Schumacher was paired with an iconic driver like Ayrton Senna or Alain Prost.

However, things behind the scenes at Benetton started to unravel when McLaren started stirring the pit. The Woking-based outfit wanted Schumacher on the team, so they leaked secrets about Patrese’s contract to the future seven-time world champion.

Michael Schumacher paid a million dollars just to see his teammate’s contract

As per The Race, Schumacher was earning $2,000,000 from Benetton in 1993. However, as per McLaren’s reports, Riccardo Patrese was earning $3,000,000. This angered Schumacher, and he became desperate to seek out the truth, for which he needed to have a look at this teammate’s contract.

Michael Schumacher’s team offered Patrese a sum of $1,000,000 to show them his contract with Benetton. The Italian driver’s relationship with Benetton was already irreparable, so he decided to cash out by bagging a million dollars.

Admittedly, Patrese’s earnings were more than Schumacher’s, and he reached the figure reported by McLaren mainly through personal deals and sponsorships. Still, Schumacher wasn’t happy about the fact that Benetton didn’t inform him about his teammate earning more. As far as he was concerned, it was a clear breach of contract on their part.

Michael Schumacher’s huge return on investment

Looking at the past now, one could state that Schumacher’s $1,000,000 payment was more of an ‘investment’. That is because it landed him a $20,000,000 deal instead. Benetton boss Flavio Briatore didn’t seem to have control of the situation and was worried he would lose Schumacher.

Hence, he decided to offer Schumacher a contract with a salary that was 10 times more than what he was earning in 1993.

Schumacher did decide to continue his journey with Briatore and Benetton and helped the team reach new heights by winning the 1994 and 1995 world championship titles. Ricciardo Patrese, meanwhile, took Schumacher’s $1,000,000 and decided to retire from Formula 1 at the end of the 1993 season.

About the author

Somin Bhattacharjee

Somin Bhattacharjee

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Basketball Editor Somin Bhattacharjee first discovered the game during the 2014 FIBA World Cup. Not long after, he turned to the NBA and found himself drawn to the Golden State Warriors — right at the start of Stephen Curry’s rise. Over time, the admiration turned into full-blown support for the team, one that continues even as the Curry era approaches its twilight. A true hoophead, Somin also follows EuroLeague basketball closely and enjoys exploring the game beyond the NBA. Though holding a bachelor's degree in marketing, Somin discovered his true calling in writing. Since 2021, he has penned over 3,000 articles for TheSportsRush, covering everything from breaking news to sharp opinion pieces and detailed exclusives. He thrives on writing about in-game moments and the reactions that make basketball a uniquely emotional sport. Beyond basketball, Somin plays different sports including soccer and remains a passionate fan of Spanish football giants Real Madrid

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