It probably hasn’t escaped your attention if you are a motorsport fan that a new film has come out on Netflix, documenting the life and career of Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher. The film charts the career of the seven-time world champion from his karting days in Germany, right up until his Mercedes comeback following his first retirement from the sport. It is a poignant look back at the life and career of a man who we have sadly not seen since his skiing accident in December 2013, and fantastic viewing as we are in the midst of an insane Formula season. The fact the film has approval from his family means it is perhaps much more revealing than it could have been.
One thing that the film does very well is that it doesn’t shy away from the truth. The Schumacher family clearly wanted the film to be as honest an account of Michael’s career as possible, and one controversial area the film covers is that of Jerez 1997. This was the title-deciding race between Schumacher and Jacques Villeneuve, in what must be regarded as one of the most dramatic seasons in the sport's history. What was already a tense affair became perhaps the most controversial moment in the long career of Michael Schumacher.
The Premise Of Jerez 1997
The 1997 title battle had become a fight between Schumacher at Ferrari and Villeneuve at Williams, with the latter of the two in on average the faster car. But Schumacher and Ferrari had perhaps, on a whole, operated as a better unit, in order to put themselves in a position where they could fight for the world title that year. The race in Jerez came after a dramatic encounter in Japan, where Ferrari put pressure on Williams beautifully to help Schumacher win that race, with Villeneuve only finishing that race in fifth place. This set up the title decider in Jerez beautifully.
Qualifying for the Jerez race was remarkable. The top three on the grid, Villeneuve, Schumacher, and other Williams driver Heinz-Harold Frentzen, had set the same lap time, which meant that they started in that order as Villeneuve had set the lap time first with Schumacher second and Frentzen third. Schumacher being on the front row was absolutely vital for the race, knowing full well that the Williams was quicker, but giving him the opportunity to put his Ferrari into the lead if he got a good start. But no one could have predicted what was about to happen in the Grand Prix on Sunday.
Schumacher Jumps Villeneuve At The Start
Schumacher had a single point advantage over Villeneuve going into race day on Sunday, and he was determined to retain that advantage by the end of the race. At the start of the Grand Prix in Jerez, Schumacher got a fantastic launch and vaulted into a clear lead ahead of Villeneuve, exactly what he had hoped for. Now it was up to the Williams team to use their superior pace to do something about the Ferrari, and the pressure was firmly on Villeneuve’s shoulders now. Schumacher held the advantage for most of the race, but on lap 48, the race was blown apart.
Villeneuve was less than a second behind Schumacher going into the Dry Sack corner at the circuit and went for a move down the inside of the Ferrari. The Canadian was ahead of Schumacher going through the corner when, suddenly, he felt a massive thud on the left-hand sidepod of his Williams. As Schumacher was being passed, he had deliberately turned into the side of the Williams after initially turning away, but the move cost Schumacher any chance of the title as he ran off the track and became beached in the gravel. Schumacher’s 1997 season was done.
Villeneuve Takes The Title As Controversy Erupts
As Schumacher stood on the sidelines, Villeneuve, in his damaged Williams, hobbled to third place as the McLaren’s of Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard passed him on the final lap, with the third-place still being enough for the Canadian to take the world title. Williams was naturally ecstatic at the result, but Schumacher and Ferrari less so. Despite it being obvious to the world what Schumacher had done, he was adamant that it was Villeneuve who had turned into him! An FIA investigation however soon decided otherwise, with Schumacher excluded from the 1997 world championship, eventually admitting to his error, with some help from his Ferrari team.
A Dark Day In A Brilliant Career
Schumacher certainly had plenty of controversial moments in his career. Adelaide in 1994 and qualifying in Monaco 2006 also spring to mind as blots on his copybook. But Jerez 1997 was perhaps the worst of them all, that had the most severe punishment with his full exclusion from the final results of the season. Whether he could have won the title with the pace the Williams was showing is questionable, but for all its controversy, it certainly gave the 1997 season a dramatic conclusion, and full credit must be given to the Schumacher family for not shying away from this moment in the film.
Sources: Concept Carz, Car And Driver, Formula 1, F1 History, Grand Prix Photo, Williams F1, Axle Addict