It cannot be denied that Ferrari would rate Michael Schumacher as his most successful Formula 1 driver after winning 5 championship titles from the German. Here is something interesting, however; Schumacher was never their first choice as they had already had talks with one of his rivals about a 1995 contract.
DISPLAY
The article continues below this ad
It was Ayrton Senna! Jean Todt, former Ferrari boss, revealed in an interview that the Maranello team had offered the Brazilian a deal for the 1995 season. Senna initially requested a ride for the 1994 season.
Ayrton Senna, Japanese Grand Prix, Suzuka, October 22, 1989. (Photo by Paul-Henri Cahier / Getty Images)
But since their two drivers Jean Alesi and Gerhard Berger are still under contract, Todt had to reject Senna’s demands. As a result, the two reached consensus on the 1995 deal. Unfortunately, Senna had a fatal accident just a year after the talks at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix.
DISPLAY
The article continues below this ad
This story pretty much reminds us of one of Ferrari’s protégés, Jules Bianchi. The late Frenchman was the kind of driver Ferrari needed and it almost looked like he could strike a deal with the team, especially after his breathtaking drive down the streets of Monaco with an overwhelming Marussia.
But even here his dreams fell short after the tragic incident in Suzuka.
What did the ex-Ferrari boss say?
As Planet F1 reports, Todt, who is also the current FIA president, announced that he had talks with Senna in Monza just weeks after he joined Ferrari in 1993 as boss.
“A few weeks after my arrival, I met Ayrton Senna at our hotel on Lake Como over the Monza weekend,” he said. “I offered him to join Ferrari in 1995, but he pushed for 1994.
Michael Schumacher from Germany and Ferrari drives in the Brazilian Formula 1 Grand Prix at the Autodromo Interlagos in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Mark Thompson / Getty Images)
“We already had two drivers under contract, Jean Alesi and Gerhard Berger, so we couldn’t fulfill his request, and when Ayrton asked why, I explained the situation to him. He didn’t give up and told me that contracts don’t count in Formula 1, but I replied that for me a contract has to be kept.
DISPLAY
The article continues below this ad
“So we offered him a deal for 1995, but unfortunately we know what happened,” concluded Todt.
Ferrari urgently needed a world champion to steer the team. So her gaze fell on Senna first. But after his death it took the Reds a year to figure out who could replace someone like Senna, and then Michael Schumacher stepped into the frame. And now what followed was a deluge of never-ending successes!
DISPLAY
The article continues below this ad
View story: Ferrari strategy fails that we will never forget
Did you enjoy reading this article? Download our exclusive app for 24×7 coverage, latest memes and social media banter. Click here to download.
