Michael Schumacher will be honored by Ferrari at the Italian GP
Scuderia Ferrari has revealed the special design in tribute to Michael Schumacherwith the seven stars that the German used to wear on his helmet, which so much Lewis Hamilton as Charles Leclerc will have on their racing suits and boots next weekend at the Italian GP. It remains to be seen the decoration of his car, which will also refer to that of the German’s first season with them.
The seven stars are a design that the German already wore on his helmet even before winning the seven championships and have come to represent his family. “In a way it was a prophecy”said his son, Mick Schumacherfor F2. Both his brother Ralph like his son Mick wore them when they were drivers in F1. Even Ralf’s son, Davidalso has them, so if your last name is Schumacher, the seven stars are practically mandatory on your helmet.
The seven-time world champion managed to win at Monza in 1996 during his first season with Ferrari. Something that only 3 other pilots have achieved: Clay Regazzoni in 1970, Fernando Alonso in 2010 and Charles Leclerc in 2019.
This victory marked Schumacher’s third with the Scuderia, who had just won in Spa and had already debuted at the Circuit de Catalunya to inaugurate his rack of golden trophies with the Maranello team.
Michael Schumacher arrived at Ferrari as the vGreat double world championafter winning the titles in 1995 and 1996 with Bennetton. He did it with one goal in mind: to return Ferrari to the top of the sport.
The Scuderia had only achieved two victories since 1990.one in 1994 courtesy of Gerhard Berger and another in 1995 with Jean Alesi. The constructors’ title had eluded them since 1983 and the drivers’ title since 1979. with South African Jody Scheckter. 17 years without a drivers’ title, 13 without a constructors’ title. Too much time for the most successful team in the category, which needed a radical change to be able to catch up with the British teams that dominated F1 in the early 90s.
The super team that would dominate F1 with an iron fist at the beginning of the century was already beginning to take shape and warn the rest of the circus. With Jean Todt and Schumacher himself already in the team, who would be joined, among others, by Ross Brawn and Rory Byrne for 1997.
The first big barrier was to overcome the drought in Monza, where they had not won since 1988with Michele Alboreto. On September 9, 1996, Schumacher would manage to achieve victory in Monza, starting from third position on the grid and taking advantage of the retirement of the polesitter and eventual champion of that year, Damon Hill.
Top 3 Italian GP 1996
1. Michael Schumacher -Ferrari
2. Jean Alesi – Benetton + 18,265
3. Mika Häkkinen – McLaren + 1:06.635
Michael Schumacher is, by far, the winningest driver with Ferrari. The Maranello team has decided to pay tribute to him in the year of the 30th anniversary of his first victory at Monza. The first of the five that he would achieve during his sporting career. Along with Hamilton, He is the one who has won the most times on the legendary Italian track.
