Michael and Ralf Schumacher are undoubtedly the most successful brothers in the history of Formula 1. The older brother Michael is one of the greatest motorsport legends of all time, but also Ralf Schumacher left his footsteps in Formula 1 with 27 podium. The brothers even cheered an impressive 16 times on the podium – for the last time 20 years ago, on July 31, 2005.
Between 1997 and 2006, Michael and Ralf Schumacher drove together in Formula 1 for ten years. All five world championship titles of the older brother in Ferrari fell during this time, which went into the history of the premier class of motorsport as “Schumi era”.
During this time, Ralf Schumacher rarely fought for Grand Prix victories, but at least drove into the points with Jordan, Williams and Toyota.
The Schumacher brothers even managed to stand together on the winner podium in Formula 1 16 times. The first time at the start of the season 2000 when Michael Schumacher in Melbourne won on the way to his first Ferrari title and drove Ralf to third place.
The last family party on the podium then took place on the Hungaroring when Michael finished second on July 31, 2005 with just 0.6 seconds on Ralf Schumacher.
Alonso ensured the wax release in 2005
The 2005 season meant the end of the undisputed Ferrari regulation in Formula 1. Already in a row, Michael Schumacher had already achieved the red in a row, which is still the longest series in Formula 1.
In 2005, however, a certain Fernando Alonso was prepared to break the Ferrari dominance. Under the legendary team boss Flavio Briatore, the Spaniard drove from Sieg to victory in the Renault, and also triumphed in the Schumi home game on the Hockenheimring immediately before the Hungarian weekend.
In Budapest, the trend should still be reversed in the direction of the record world champion. Michael Schumacher grabbed the pole position in qualifying and was able to stay in the lead in the race. He also benefited from the fact that Fernando Alonso collided with brother Ralf shortly after the start and had to stop an early pit stop.
Alonso in the end experienced a Sunday with eleventh place, but always drove onto the podium in subsequent six races and was the world champion for the first time at the end of the season.
Schumacher’s Ferrari era ends in 2006
But back to Budapest: It was only in the second half of the race Kimi Raikkonen in McLaren-Mercedes, who was the third title candidate this year in addition to Alonso and Michael Schumacher, this year and finished fourth out of seven season victories.
Schumi himself was powerless in the second half of the race and had to stretch in the final phase of defending the second place against his younger brother, who was strongly pressing in the Toyota.
Ralf Schumacher (left) put a lot of pressure on his brother in the final phase
After 70 laps, the two drove over the finish line as second and third. It should be the last time that Michael and Ralf Schumacher were able to cheer together on the Stockerl.
“I hoped to drive to win, but also took such a big step forward. For morality and motivation, it was important to start the result,” said Michael Schumacher with second place in Hungary. In autumn 2005 he was depressed as third in the driver’s ranking behind Alonso and Raikkonen, at the end of 2006 it was finally over at the Scuderia Ferrari.