Schumacher: A Hated Champion
In all sports, at some period in history, there has been a true great who has excelled in their field, displaying a talent that is so overbearing they completely dominate the sport. Roger Federer has exuded total control over the tennis world, Tiger Woods, prior to his extra-marital activities, was almost unplayable and Cristiano Ronaldo is threatening to do this in European football. Both Woods and Ronaldo have even managed to remain in high regard amongst sports fan after showing foibles or character weakness. Yet Michael Schumacher, despite his undoubted ability, is detested by many. Even now in his twilight years, British commentators still talk of the German in derogatory terms.
Why is Schumacher hated amongst F1 fans and casual spectators alike? He dominated the sport for many years, and was deserving of his success. Whilst many point to the notion that the Ferrari he won the majority of his titles in was the best car on the grid, they neglect to mention two facts. Firstly, two of his titles came at Benetton, widely accepted as not the best car on the grid at that time and when he was a relative newcomer to the sport. Additionally, when he joined Ferrari there were not a Championship frontrunner. Through rigorous, determined and thorough testing, Schumacher and his conspirator Ross Brawn dragged Ferrari from comparative doldrums into a major force. Ferrari's steady decline since Schumacher's departure is not coincidental. The media has taken great delight in Schumacher's relative failure since his return from retirement, although insiders in the Mercedes team claim narrower front tyres and the current design of the car does not suit the German. The true test to a driver's ability is their speed in the wet, and Michael's nickname of the Rain Master (or "Regenmeister" in his native tongue) is a tribute to his spectacular car control in tricky conditions. Whilst some say the modern driver is mollycoddled by current driving aids, the same cannot be said of handling an 800 horsepower beast in inclement conditions.
Some say of the seven-time world champion that he is unsporting, pointing to avoidable collisions with Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneurve. But isn't this demonstrative of the competitive grit that we admire in most sportsmen? If John Terry fouls an opposing player as he bears down on goal, do we not applaud this gesture as a selfless act? Whilst there is undeniably more danger attributed to motorsport, considering the vast rewards at stake it is not surprising that some competitors may wobble on the thin line of being competitive and fair play. Off the track, Schumacher is a true gent, humble in his approach and gracious in defeat (a certain wet race at Spa aside!!).
I believe the real reason behind Schumacher's unpopularity is his dominance. During his title-winning years at Ferrari he crushed the opposition, beating most of the field by a lap and even his teammates, Eddie Irvine and Rubens Barrichello, by a sizeable margin. These victories prompted cries of derision from spectators, claiming the sport had become a procession and that the results were inevitable. Regardless, Schumacher can't be criticised for his competitor's lack of speed, and yet his reputation is the one that has suffered.
And so with this conclusion, I urge you to watch the brilliant man in the flesh, to see a true historical great before he permanently retires. Whilst his performances have not been up to his meteorically high standards this season, noises from within the team are adamant he will be competitive next season. The Chinese GP is scheduled for the weekend of 15 17th April 2011 and is a spectacular feature. It, like Schumacher, is rumoured not to have a long future in the sport, and with China holidays available fairly cheaply and rain a distinct possibility, this may be an ideal venue to watch the great man at work. Alternatively, Malaysia holidays (8th 10th April 2011) are widely available, and offer plenty to do away from the F1. Similar to the track at Shanghai, the Malaysia Grand Prix is always a prestigious event and also offers a strong possibility of rain. If you're not relishing the prospect of rain on your holiday and are content to see Schumacher in the dry, why not consider Bali holidays for some autumnal sun, with a short trip across to Japan for the Suzuka GP (7th 9th October 2011)?
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