The day Michael Schumacher was disqualified from the World Cup

A few weeks ago, Jacques Villeneuve, former F1 driver and title champion in 1997, attended MD in the paddock of the Italian F1 GP, in Monza, a circuit where a few days later he will ride the Alpine A521 from eventually. year in honor of the 25 years that his title was on October 26. The Canadian took the crown with a Williams powered by a Renault engine, and for this reason, the French company will put him at the controls of the car driven by Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon last year, with the Asturian accompanying him on an important day.

Before, Jacques remembered for MD that course where he was champion. He stayed on a certain moment that is already the history of F1: “Without a doubt, I keep what I experienced in Jerez (1997 European GP), where I took the championship in the last race. When the work of a full season and you risk everything on a card in the last race, and more than that after a very difficult year, the energy and what you feel when you achieve it is incredible. I will never forget it”, pointed out the Canadian at the age of 51 (April 9, 1971).Jacques is referring to one of the tightest and most controversial finishes that everyone can remember.

That F1 European GP at Jerez was the 17th and final race of the year 1997. Jacques came in with 77 points, one less than Michael Schumacher, and both played it out in a race where who would finish first will win the crown. It’s only Villeneuve’s second season in F1, but he duels without flinching with a two-time champion like Schumacher, F1’s new star since Senna’s death in 1994, who in 1997 settled into his second year in Ferrari. Jacques didn’t waver on his wrist and he showed it by taking the pole ahead of Michael. They came out 1st and 2nd in a showdown that would determine the title. The tension is at its highest. And there will be one of the most famous images in F1 history, the accident between the ‘Kaiser’ and the Canadian.

The fall

Late in the race, after his second stop, Villeneuve had 25 laps to catch Michael and overtake him. He just needs to stay ahead. He caught up with her and that’s when what many expected happened. Michael closed his eyes and they came together. “When he saw me inside, he turned to the left and when he realized I was there, you could see him turn very aggressively. He stepped into the gravel and got stuck. In the next lap, I saw him on the wall, with his hands on his hips and I remember seeing his face, his anger, he was sweating and Michael never sweats,” Villeneuve said years ago for F1. Michael was stuck in the gravel and Jacques would finish third as the new F1 champion.

“Jacques has nothing to lose. He tried to pass me, just like I would. I braked as hard as I could, and so did he. I don’t think I made a mistake”, pointed out the German after the appointment.

Disqualified and driving education

Days later, the World Council of the International Automobile Federation estimated that the incident was deliberately caused by Schumacher in a “natural and accidental” manner. Michael was excluded from that World Cup, they took away his runner-up position and forced him to participate in a road safety campaign in seven European capitals, because the then president of the FIA, Max Mosley, was considered that “a reformed sinner is the best speaker and Michael will have a lot of impact especially on the youth”.

“I made a mistake. I don’t want to admit it, but I can make mistakes too”, the ‘Kaiser’ later admitted.

“What happened on the track in Jerez happened under pressure with a world title involved and I’m sorry. Now I have to accept the consequences and it is not easy”, he added in front of hundreds of journalists.

“The last few weeks have been very difficult for me. Two or three days after the Grand Prix I began to understand what had happened. I can’t sleep, which is strange for me. I am a person, like everyone else. Losing second place is very difficult. Looking at the Grand Prix recording, I kept asking myself: Why did I do this?

Despite what happened, the German was able to get out of that hole. Then came his dominance at Ferrari, with 5 red titles (2000-2005) which would leave him with 7 crowns as the most successful driver even today, a record he shares with Lewis Hamilton.

Successes and glory, but also mistakes

His achievements and glory remain above his shadows, although there is much to remember. One of them happened three years ago, in 1994, in Adelaide, Michael won his first title after a tie with Damon Hill. Exactly, Damon spoke after the accident with Villeneuve: “I said before the race that I didn’t think he would dare to try again a maneuver like in Adelaide, because his image would be ruined. But I was wrong. In that he proves to be very consistent”, commented the Briton with irony.

Apart from these accidents, the day that Michael deliberately parked his car at La Rascasse, in Monaco 2006, to hurt Alonso in qualifying will also remain in the memory. Long before his two-race suspension for disrespecting the black flag at the British GP in 1994. The champions were also wrong.