We have all made sweeping sporting judgements that are quickly proven to be spectacularly wrong. Here is my latest.
In late July of this year, I was sitting in the press room at a sweltering Spa-Francorchamps watching the free practice times for the weekend’s FIA European Formula 3 round filter in.
While the usual suspects were at the sharp end, eighth spot was occupied by a name that demands you stop and pay attention: M. Schumacher.
This, of course, is Mick Schumacher, the 19-year-old son of seven-time world champion Michael. But whereas Michael’s name was a near-permanent fixture at the top of the standings, the Spa weekend saw Mick once again struggling to hit the front.
This was becoming an all-too-familiar pattern. Approaching the halfway stage in his second season of European F3, Mick was yet to win a race and sat eighth in the championship standings.
There is no shame in that – European F3 is an intensely competitive series – but it certainly does not suggest a future F1 star.
With this in mind, I suggested to a colleague that Schumacher Junior should call time on his racing career. Given the enormous shadow cast by his father, Mick could only hope to establish himself by winning races and titles at the junior level. With neither of those things looking likely, he would be best to call it quits and focus his attention elsewhere.
While I have been wrong many times before and no doubt will be again, this error in judgement could prove to be my crowning glory.
Despite having his first victory, Mick was still just eighth in the standings at the season’s halfway stage. Few title challenges are launched from so far down the table with half the races already run.
But over the following weeks we were reminded of an old adage that has been revived for a new generation: never, ever rule Schumacher out.
The first victory opened the floodgates and there were further wins at Silverstone and Monza, placing Schumacher fourth in the standings with three weekends left to run. He was by no means the favourite, but it was game on.
What followed was nothing short of remarkable. Schumacher blitzed the Nürburgring weekend by taking three wins without reply and followed it up with two more wins and a second place at Red Bull Ring. Incredibly he was now on the cusp of the title, which he sealed with a second-place at the penultimate race at Hockenheim last weekend.
It was exactly the season he needed and showed that Mick has more than just a famous surname: there is real talent there, too.
A PHENOMENAL TURNAROUND
Unbeknownst to anyone at the time, Spa would prove to be the turning point in Schumacher’s season, perhaps even his career. He took his maiden pole ahead of the weekend’s second race, only to blow the start and collide with a teammate. But it was not a false dawn. In the final race, Mick charged from sixth on the grid to prevail in a three-way battle for the win, securing his breakthrough at a circuit that holds huge significance to his father. Michael made his grand prix debut at the Belgian track in 1991, secured his first Formula 1 victory there a year later, and eventually took a record six wins around the Ardennes circuit. His seventh and final world title was sealed there, too, thanks to a second place finish in 2004. Afterward, Sabine Kehm, Michael’s long-time manager who now looks after Mick, escorted the youngster outside for a photo with the iconic Eau Rouge in the background. Schumacher, Spa, and the winners’ trophy: they could not have hoped for a better visual.
Despite having his first victory, Mick was still just eighth in the standings at the season’s halfway stage. Few title challenges are launched from so far down the table with half the races already run.
But over the following weeks we were reminded of an old adage that has been revived for a new generation: never, ever rule Schumacher out.
The first victory opened the floodgates and there were further wins at Silverstone and Monza, placing Schumacher fourth in the standings with three weekends left to run. He was by no means the favourite, but it was game on.
What followed was nothing short of remarkable. Schumacher blitzed the Nürburgring weekend by taking three wins without reply and followed it up with two more wins and a second place at Red Bull Ring. Incredibly he was now on the cusp of the title, which he sealed with a second-place at the penultimate race at Hockenheim last weekend.
It was exactly the season he needed and showed that Mick has more than just a famous surname: there is real talent there, too.