Mumbai, April 21 (SocialNews.XYZ) The outbreak of COVID-19 just before the season got underway changed everything leaving teams, drivers and most importantly race fans gutted. Star Sports is looking to bring back the unbridled excitement for passionate race fans to #relive some of the best races of the 'Red Baron. Moreover, Star Sports is also giving viewers control of what races they wish to see.
The responses from fans on the Star Sports' social media poll will allow them to choose between three iconic races that showcased Schumacher's 'take no prisoners' style of driving. The poll is live till Wednesday noon.
Below are the three Michael Schumacher races to pick from:
1994 Brazilian Grand Prix: Controversy follows Schumacher
XXIII Grande Premio do Brasil, better known as the 1994 Brazilian Grand Prix was the season opener for the 1994 FIA Formula One World Championship. The 71 laps, 307.075 km race was held at the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace in Sao Paulo. The race started with Ayrton Senna, who had qualified as pole position, getting out fast and maintaining the lead for a couple of laps. As the race progressed, by lap 21 Michael had reduced the gap from four seconds to just one as the two came in to make their first pit stop.
Senna entered pitlane first and one would assume that he would have exit in the lead as well. That though didn't happen as Schumacher and the Benetton team ensured a quicker pit stop and jumped ahead. A four-car accident brought out the safety car and once it exited, Senna pushed as hard as he could but only ended up spinning out on Lap 56 handing Schumacher a comfortable victory.
Later in the season, the reason of the super quick pit stop was uncovered. It was determined that Benetton was one of a few teams which had modified a filter within the refuelling rig, allowing the fuel to flow faster on their car when compared to the others. This afforded the team a serious advantage during the race. Despite proof around the same, no action was taken against the Team Benetton.
1995 Belgian Grand Prix: Schumacher plays a foul move on Damon Hill
1995 Belgian Grand Prix, known as the LIII Grand Prix de Belgique, was the eleventh race of the 1995 Formula One World Championship. The race took place at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Spa. The weather took centre stage and turned the qualifying grid into a bizarre one. Damon Hill and Michael Schumacher started the race at eight and 16th position (due to a crash in the free practice session) respectively. Schumacher pushed himself and his car to the limit and by lap 11 had passed Eddie Irvine's Jordan for fourth.
In the meantime, Damon Hill who had moved up to second was battling David Coulthard for the lead. On lap 21, a light drizzle turned into a steady rain and everyone knew that it was during these conditions that Schumacher excelled. Schumacher drove a masterful race and with rain falling, the slick-shod Schumacher then enjoyed a titanic fight with Williams' Damon Hill, on wet tyres and going some six seconds a lap faster than him despite staying out on the wrong set of tyres.
Michael blocked Damon when he was on slicks in the wet and his opponent was travelling much faster on wets. Schumacher's blocking tactics left Damon Hill helpless and enraged. Despite earning a suspension for 1 race, his control in the damp conditions, on the wrong tyres, was masterful. When the track then dried and Hill was forced into the pits for slicks, Schumacher's gamble to stay out came good, leaving him to take victory by nearly 20 seconds.
1996 Spanish Grand Prix: Ferrari bounces back in the game with Schumacher's show
On June 2 1996 at the XXXVIII Gran Premio Marlboro de Espana, AKA 1996 Spanish Grand Prix, history was created. Circuit de Catalunya near Barcelona hosted the seventh race of the 1996 FIA Formula One World Championship. The Ferrari F310 was considered "a piece of junk" by its second driver Eddie Irvine. However, Schumacher, who was racing in Ferrari colours for the first time, showed the difference a great driver can make to the overall result of a race.
With rain lashing the track, there was talk of the race being started behind the safety car but the weather Gods smiled and let up briefly to allow a regular start. Michael was off to a bad start and moved down from 3rd to 6th by the end of the first lap. The rain came back even stronger and treacherous weather conditions led to leading championship contender Damon Hill to spin out. That was all Schumacher needed and made his move and on Lap 12, overtook Villeneuve and established a 3 second lead. Three laps later, the gap ballooned to nearly 15 seconds and on an average was lapping, nearly four seconds a lap faster than his nearest rival.
This was undoubtedly one of the best wet weather drives in a Formula 1 car of all time. Schumacher had announced his arrival at Ferrari by throwing down the gauntlet when he won the race by over 45 seconds.
Source: IANS
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