Michael Schumacher’s last Formula 1 title is an endless anthem of joy, triumph after triumph, dominance beyond the ordinary that becomes the norm. On March 7th, exactly twenty years ago, the journey began for the German champion’s seventh world title, the fifth consecutive one with Ferrari: the splendid 2004 Formula 1 season. It concluded with Rubens Barrichello in an excellent second place, in a festival of victories painted with dominance, turn after turn, showcasing a dominance that managed to deliver enthusiasm and a great show despite the rare surprises on track.
Immense
In the beginning, Michael Schumacher won five Grand Prix races in a row, and at that point, it would have seemed impossible to imagine that the twilight of an immense era was approaching: Melbourne, Sepang, Manama, Imola, Montmeló. It was still May, and the standings were already a sentence: 50 points, an 18-point lead over his teammate, with the third-place driver (Jenson Button, Bar) more than doubled at 24 points. In Monaco, the German champion retired after being hit by Juan Pablo Montoya’s Williams. Thus, Jarno Trulli claimed the only victory of his career, which was doubly valuable as he had to deal with the internal traps at the Renault team, where team boss Flavio Briatore also managed the other driver, Fernando Alonso. At the team’s behest, they manipulated the fuel data, putting less in Trulli’s car to favor a more aggressive strategy for Alonso. However, Trulli found out and gained those extra seconds needed to avoid the pit stop overtaking risk. The victory of an Italian softened the bitterness of Ferrari fans for the interrupted streak of triumphs due to the collision with Montoya.
Towards Glory
After that, Schumi would win another seven consecutive Grand Prix races. Thus, the conquest of the Championship was never in doubt. From the Nurburgring to the Hungaroring, passing through Montreal, Indianapolis, Magny Cours, Silverstone, and Hockenheim, there would always be the same dance on the podium with a hop before singing “Deutschland, Deutschland über alles…” and “Fratelli d’Italia, l’Italia s’è desta…”. On one occasion, he was the only Ferrari driver on the podium, then four times out of seven, his teammate was second, and two other times third.
Team Games
There was no need to orchestrate those odious and useless team games that somewhat tarnished the race for previous titles, especially in 2001 when Rubens Barrichello was ordered to concede the second place to Schumi in Austria. It was May 13, and the championship was still in balance: Michael had won three times and was second once, but there was a retirement that weighed, and the most dangerous rival, David Coulthard (McLaren), was only eight points away and leading on the Styria circuit. Controversies followed, and Ferrari President Luca Cordero di Montezemolo tried to quell them by saying, “If a victory had been at stake, we wouldn’t have done it.” There would be no need to offer proof, at least in that season, because out of the remaining eleven Grand Prix races, the German would win six, finishing second three times. Unfortunately for Ferrari, in Austria again, one year later, on May 12, the story of team orders would repeat.
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With the victory at stake and without a real necessity, Schumi had already won four of the first five challenges, with a 21-point lead over the second-placed Juan Pablo Montoya (Williams), who had 44 points to Michael’s 23. Barrichello, on the other hand, had only six points, and he was winning that Grand Prix. He tries to resist, but the team insists from the pits. In the end, he says, “Okay,” but does it his way, blatantly moving aside at the last corner to let Michael pass near the finish line. The victory lap turns into a lap of shame, amidst boos and collective invectives. On the podium, Michael, visibly embarrassed, yields the top step and the trophy to his teammate. For that staged act, there would also be a hefty fine (one million dollars), and from the next day until 2011, team orders were banned.
Five titles, five stories
Among Schumi’s five Ferrari titles, the last one, the one we are celebrating the twentieth anniversary of, is the easiest. In 2000, the gap to Mika Hakkinen would be wide (19 points, 108 to 99), but it would mature only towards the end. Even in 2001, with a more marked gap, dominance would only be exercised in the second part of the season: 123 points against Coulthard’s 75. In 2002, the only rival, but at a proper distance, was his teammate, who would ultimately be second, 67 points behind: 144 to 77. In 2003, the contest was close, and the challenger was Kimi Raikkonen (McLaren): it ended with only two points of difference. And so we arrive at 2004, the one with the hopeless start for the rivals. The appointment with the mathematical seal is on August 29th on the Belgian Spa-Francorchamps track, which Schumi considers as his home circuit, as the world dominance from his native Kerpen is less than 90 kilometers in a straight line. There is not much anticipation because of the 13 previous GPs; Schumi had won 12, leaving only Monaco to Trulli.
The only theoretical rival would be the teammate Barrichello, thanks to ten podium finishes, seven times second, and three times third. This time, there would be no victory, but second place for Schumi would be more than enough; Barrichello finished third. Kimi Raikkonen, driving for McLaren, won the Grand Prix, and that podium also represents a bridge to the future because Raikkonen will be the only Ferrari driver capable of winning a Drivers’ Championship after Schumi, in 2007. For Michael, that triumph seemed routine; he didn’t make much of a celebration on the podium. He recounted it to Alberto Antonini of Autosprint: “More than anything, after Belgium, I celebrated among myself. As it happened last year in Suzuka (champion with an eighth-place finish in the race, ed.), there were different emotions. I wasn’t sure how I should take this second place. I had to reflect a bit on my emotions, although then, of course, when we all gathered at the Ferrari motorhome, the atmosphere was fantastic.”
From great joy to great fear
Upon returning home, there would still be celebrations with friends and family, but not for too long because the schedule already included tests at the Monza track on September 1st, three days later. And here is where the transition from great joy to great fear occurs. On Thursday, September 2nd, during the second day of testing, a Bridgestone tire bursts on the straight, and Schumi’s car crashes at 345 kilometers per hour. He struggles to get out of the wreckage and lies on the grass. Always to Antonini, who asked if he was scared, he replied, “Let’s put it this way: on Sunday, September 5th, at the Ferrari Racing Day at the Nürburgring, I returned to my Ferrari cockpit for 15 minutes. And I simply enjoyed it! I love this sport even when it’s not 100 percent safe.”
Schumi would remain with Ferrari for two more seasons, the rather disappointing 2005 season, with the only victory in the farcical Indianapolis GP featuring only the six Bridgestone-tired cars in the race. And the 2006 season with the great hope of celebrating the eighth title vanished in the final challenge. At Monza and in China, the last victories, those of the swan song, and then the return to the track with Mercedes from 2010 to 2012. But the triumphant last Schumi, the one from twenty seasons ago, is the one to be cherished in the heart. For the past ten years, after the skiing accident in Méribel, his drifting in suspended time becomes even more poignant when the best memories resurface from the heart and memory.
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