On August 27, 1995, Michael Schumacher fought to victory in the Formula 1 race in Belgium in Belgium. 30 years later we look back on the hussar ride of the later F1 record world champion in the rain of Spa.
In his fabulous Formula 1 career, Michael Schumacher not only collected numerous memorable victories, but also won many of his races even under the most difficult conditions in the rain: on August 27, 1995, both came together in a spectacular way at the Grand Prix of Belgium.
Schumacher was definitely not launched as a candidate for victory in the eleventh season race-World Cup favorite or not.
Because one day before the Grand Prix on the legendary route in Belgium, the then Benetton driver had flown from the route at 170 km/h and crashed into a stack of tires. The mechanics made his car under high pressure so that he was ready for qualifying again.
The feat was achieved, but when the rain onto the rain, the stricken Schumacher had a surprisingly heavy manner, ended up in 16 almost three seconds behind Pole-Setter Gerhard Berger in Ferrari. Even teammate Johnny Herbert, whom he had always left behind for three years, became fourth. WM rival Damon Hill meanwhile put his Williams to eight.
Schumacher (left) and Hill in direct duel on the track
Schumi, who was treated until night because his neck muscles were affected by the serious impact on Saturday morning, needed a little miracle to stay ahead in the championship fight:
Schumacher with lightning start in Belgium
The start of the Belgium GP runs directly for the Benetton pilot: When Schumacher passed the legendary Eau-Rouge-Senke, he is already 13th, Herbert Schnuppert, according to problems with the Ferraris placed in front of it, even in the meantime. After two smaller slips, however, Schumacher sits on his neck and is already fifth after a few rounds.
After a while, however, Hill, who inherits the place of Williams colleague David Coulthard, is enthroned after a while, which is just as well as Berger shortly afterwards. At the end of a pit stop series, however, Schumacher is suddenly the leading in Belgium. Then it starts to rain.
Unlike Hill, who gets rain tires like the entire field, Schumacher stays outside on Slicks despite his team. In retrospect, a gold -plated decision.
“I knew what the slopes endured when it rains and took the risk,” said the German later. He still has no chance against Hill’s rain tires – actually. Because Schumacher can keep the British two long laps on the Ardennes course. This later scolds like a pipe sparrow on the blockade maneuvers of his great rival.
Hill in the pit stop dilemma
Hill doesn’t get far when he is finally in the lead again, because the route dries off, so that the Williams driver has to go to the box again to raise slicks again.
But spa would not be spa, wouldn’t another rain shower lurk. Hill has to change the tires again, Schumacher pulls away. At least short.
Because due to the conditions, the race management ordered the Safety Car on the route, entirely to the displeasure of Schumacher. “I have experienced a lot of worse conditions, so I don’t quite understand the decision,” said the German.
But Schumi is lucky. Because Hill is too fast in one of his five (!) Stop (Schumacher: two stops) in the pit lane, he has to serve ten seconds.
Schumacher: “Was the most complicated race”
In the end, Hill is still second, but can no longer get to Schumacher, who crowns triumphals from starting place 16 to the winner in the Belgian rain. Nobody managed that anymore.
“In terms of the circumstances, it was my most complicated race,” said Schumacher later that he hadn’t even dared to dream of driving on the podium.
Schumacher’s second success in Belgium (after 1992) should not remain the last: After 1995, further victories followed in 1996, 1997, 2001 and 2002 – each with Ferrari. The change of the German to Scuderia had become known in the week before the Belgium GP described.