Michael Schumacher stored his playing cards near his chest, however former High Gear producer Andy Wilman has remembered one exception the place the driving force mentioned the collision with Jacques Villeneuve that determined the 1997 Formulation 1 title.
Talking on the Excessive Efficiency podcast, Wilman mirrored on an interview between the seven-time champion and Jeremy Clarkson that took place as a part of a challenge with the BBC within the late Nineteen Nineties referred to as Science of Velocity.
“We did this sequence for the BBC within the ’90s… referred to as The Science of Velocity,” Wilman mentioned. “Ross Brawn fixes it up, Schumacher says sure. We go over to Mugello as a result of they’re testing there… and it’s the week earlier than he goes to Japan and it’s a decider with Hakkinen. So he’s obtained loads on his plate.”
Schumacher finally sat down with the now Clarkson’s Farm presenter after Wilman had persuaded a lodge supervisor to close a bar so they may discuss in personal.
“We arrange and we discuss with Schumacher in there and he mucks about with Jeremy… He’s like, ‘That is the least scientific factor I’ve ever accomplished,'” he mentioned after enjoying a sport of reactions with the presenter.
“We ask him about bumping into Villeneuve and knocking him off,” Wilman continued. “He goes, ‘I knew it wasn’t proper. I completely knew it wasn’t proper. However I grew up in that period of Mansell, Senna, Prost, Piquet the place they performed quick and free. That was a tricky driver period… and he mentioned that was in me undoubtedly – that’s my education. So I did it and I knew it wasn’t proper.’”
Jacques Villeneuve
Photograph by: Rainier Ehrhardt
Schumacher arrived on the 1997 European Grand Prix a single level forward of Villeneuve. However in the course of the race, the Canadian driver tried an overtake throughout which the 2 finally made contact. The Ferrari driver appeared to show in on his rival, however alas, solely broken his personal automotive.
Villeneuve completed third, permitting him to win the championship whereas the German was disqualified from the drivers’ championship.
A cellphone name with F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone rapidly adopted when Wilman tried to trace down footage of the crash. “I ring Bernie… and we’d like him bashing into Villeneuve,” Wilman mentioned. “And Bernie goes, ‘You’re not having that footage, son… That’s within the vaults now. That’s historical past. Nobody desires to see that once more.’”
However because the producer fought again, Ecclestone merely needed one factor: “‘All I need is a signed fax from Michael saying he’s completely satisfied about it,'” Wilman quoted him as saying.
“Half an hour later,” Wilman mentioned, “Michael mentioned, ‘Yeah, however I did do the interview and I did discuss to them, so yeah, they get the footage.’”
Wilman paused earlier than including: “What a person. Man of his phrase.”
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