Leo Turrini recalls a story about Michael Schumacher: "The most beautiful memory I have of him"

Today, December 29, marks 10 years since Michael Schumacher’s accident on the slopes of Meribel. Ten years of silence from the family, ten years of sensationalistic journalism trying in every way to get scoops and cover stories. Ten years of waiting, sighs, and “Of course, destiny is cruel. He raced at 300 km/h for years, and a day on the snow ruins his life.” But perhaps the best way to talk about the Kaiser is to recount who he was, what he did, and above all, what he left in people’s hearts, respecting the family’s request for privacy and confidentiality.

And here we would like to quote someone who knew Michael Schumacher personally, namely Italian journalist and motorsport expert Leo Turrini, who, in his blog on Quotidiano.net, wanted to remember the German champion by recounting a story from 2004.

“I have narrated Michael Schumacher’s career from Spa ’91 to Interlagos 2012. I have always been there. I got excited as a Ferrari fan for his feats. I did not remain silent about his excesses and mistakes. Behind the wheel, he was a Campionissimo, but he was not a saint. Since the character legitimately did not share confidences with those who did not belong to his close circle (engineers, mechanics, of course, the family), I have never portrayed Michael in terms, so to speak, of a personal nature. I do not allow myself. However, there is an episode that I carry in my heart that opened a glimpse into the mystery of a soul. Spring 2004. Historically, the most beautiful season for Ferrari in F1. The municipality of Fiorano invited me to conduct a public ceremony: Jean Todt, Rubens Barrichello, and Schumi were being granted honorary citizenship. There was a frenzy of people. Children, grandmothers, workers. Everyone. Before going on stage, the French Penguin, with his customary ferocity, took me aside. ‘Turrini, you know that Schumi doesn’t like speaking Italian in public, so don’t bother him and interview him in English, thank you, and don’t make me angry, as is your habit.’ Very nice, as usual. So, we find ourselves on stage, and obeying Alvaro Vitali’s look-alike, I addressed Michael in the language of Churchill. The first very ordinary question: after so many years spent here, what do you like about this land, aside from Ferrari? And I don’t know what happened. I have never understood it, seriously. In front of all those people, Michael Schumacher replied in Italian. He talked about cuisine, soccer, and road cars. In Dante’s language. The theater erupted. It is the most beautiful memory I have of him.”