25 years later: Schumacher's controversial first world title

The two cars touch each other. Schumacher's car takes off on the right side and crashes into the tire wall. The then 25-year-old had to give up, but a few minutes later he became the first German Formula 1 world champion. Hill can continue driving for the time being, but his suspension is broken. Shaking his head, the Brit gets out of his Williams in the pits. In the end he lost the World Cup by one point.

“It was a very big fight between Damon and me,” Schumacher said 25 years ago. “Winning this World Cup was a dream.” Six more World Cup titles were to follow. Schumacher is still the most successful pilot in history. Will he still be like that in just over a year? Six-time world champion Lewis Hamilton could catch up next season. When it comes to race victories, the Briton (83) is only eight shy of Schumacher's record (91). Regardless of whether his brands are surpassed in the future, Schumacher will always remain a benchmark in motorsport - someone who pushed the boundaries. The tragic season in which he won his first world title was also an example for his entire career. Two deaths overshadow the season The trained car mechanic from Kerpen drove away from the competition at the start of the season, winning in Brazil and Japan. He also won the third race of the season, the San Marino Grand Prix, on May 1st. But the victory fades completely into the background. On the black weekend, Salzburg's Roland Ratzenberger died in Imola, as did Brazilian legend Ayrton Senna in the race. “I would like to dedicate this title to Ayrton Senna. He was the best driver in the best car and deserved the World Championship.” Those were Schumacher’s words on November 13, 1994, when he took the crown in Adelaide. 19 years later, he himself experienced a severe stroke of fate. Schumacher has not appeared in public since a serious skiing accident in December 2013 and is undergoing rehabilitation following a traumatic brain injury.

Schumacher was driving behind Senna in Imola when his Williams left the track in the Tamburello corner and crashed into the wall. The three-time world champion, the sport's greatest talent, does not survive. Less than two weeks later, Tyrolean Karl Wendlinger is in a coma after a serious training accident in Monaco. Schumacher also wins the race in the principality, but is also increasingly committed to increasing safety in motorsport. Image of “Schummel-Schumi” was born However, 1994 was also the season that gave rise to the nickname “Schummel-Schumi” – among other things because of an underbody that did not comply with the regulations. The German was disqualified in two races and was completely banned from two more races for ignoring black flags. Nevertheless, he came to the final in Adelaide with a one point lead over Hill - and the double failure brought him to the finish.

“He set a standard of dominance, even if it was controversial at times,” Hill once said of Schumacher. In 1995, the Englishman Schumacher had to admit defeat again, and in 1996 he became world champion himself. “Michael was something like the whetstone for sharpening a knife,” says Hill in a documentary on the German TV station RTL , which airs on Wednesday evening (20.15:XNUMX p.m.). “He improved my game because I had to. Otherwise he would have destroyed me.”

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25 years later: Schumacher's controversial first world title

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