Michael Schumacher Vs Ayrton Senna

[Senna 0]

Michael Schumacher vs Ayrton Senna

This is another old but interesting article:

A fourth World Championship has taken Michael Schumacher past the three crowns of the late Ayrton Senna, the rival to whom he is most frequently compared and whose mantle Fate forced upon him. Without doubt the German deserves to be elevated into the heady company of men such as Senna, or four-time champion Alain Prost whose tally of titles and record of 51 GP victories Schumacher equalled in Hungary. But the question persists, when looking at their respective careers: has Michael Schumacher had it too easy?

Though neither of them goes out of their way to publicize the fact, former World Champions Alain Prost and Jackie Stewart believe that since the mid- to late Nineties there has been a dearth of genuine stars in F1.

After all, in Prost's day he had to vanquish rivals such as Gilles Villeneuve and Alan Jones; Didier Pironi and Rene Arnoux; Nelson Piquet and Nigel Mansell; Keke Rosberg; and, of course, Ayrton Senna.

Stewart likewise had to contend with Jimmy Clark; Graham Hill; Dan Gurney; John Surtees; Jack Brabham; Chris Amon; and Jochen Rindt. Any of them were as fast as Prost or Stewart on their day; it was other attributes that the Frenchman and the Scot called upon to beat them in the long haul.

The line of thinking prompts a question some may believe to be heresy. Has Michael Schumacher ever really had any genuine rivals?

"Where," Stewart once asked quietly, "has Michael's real opposition been?"

One leading sportscar journalist in 1991 bet his F1 colleagues that Schumacher would qualify in the top 10 for his first race at Spa, when he was signed by Eddie Jordan to replace the jailed Bertrand Gachot. Had there been any takers, Quentin Spurring would have won his bet. From that day onwards, observers began to realize that a new star had arrived. Back then Michael had to contend with Senna, Prost and Mansell as he learned his trade, but almost immediately he dealt with Benetton team-mate Nelson Piquet. True, Nelson was near the end of an illustrious career [...and was 39!] but it was a telling indication of Schumacher's potential that he was right on the Brazilian's pace straight away and only missed outqualifying him in all of their races together when he missed a shift in Adelaide [However, the most important fact, perhaps, is that Piquet scored more points].

Perhaps the most telling indication of all came at Suzuka that season, when Schumacher crashed very heavily in practice after trying - and failing - to take the notorious 130R corner flat out. Later, in the medical center, Professor Sid Watkins examined him.

"I told him that he had an excellent physique, and that he would make a very pretty corpse if he didn't slow down a little," Watkins later admitted. Asked some months later about the Prof's comment, Schumacher simply shrugged his shoulders as if he didn't know what the older man was talking about. But at the time his reaction had been even more decisive. He had gone back out, in Piquet's spare car, and gone faster than the Brazilian.

By the time that Schumacher and Ayrton Senna were in cars of equal capability [schumacher had a vastly superior Ford engine, let

[F1 FANatic 1]

the relationship between Schumi and Senna has always interseted me. cool article senna

[AutoRacer5 0]

Very nice read. Schumi has had it easy, then again, his cars have been very dominant (except 2005 and 1996). He has been able to exploit cars to their maximum and he has balls, taking 130R flat in 1991 was something.

[Wez 0]

Though neither of them goes out of their way to publicize the fact, former World Champions Alain Prost and Jackie Stewart believe that since the mid- to late Nineties there has been a dearth of genuine stars in F1.

After all, in Prost's day he had to vanquish rivals such as Gilles Villeneuve and Alan Jones; Didier Pironi and Rene Arnoux; Nelson Piquet and Nigel Mansell; Keke Rosberg; and, of course, Ayrton Senna.

Stewart likewise had to contend with Jimmy Clark; Graham Hill; Dan Gurney; John Surtees; Jack Brabham; Chris Amon; and Jochen Rindt. Any of them were as fast as Prost or Stewart on their day; it was other attributes that the Frenchman and the Scot called upon to beat them in the long haul.

The line of thinking prompts a question some may believe to be heresy. Has Michael Schumacher ever really had any genuine rivals?

"Where," Stewart once asked quietly, "has Michael's real opposition been?"

Good Article Senna!

I agree very much with the bold text particularly!

[cristiano84 0]

If we had lost the battle between Schu and Senna it will be interesting this season to see how the battle between Schu and Alonso will develop..

[Wez 0]

If we had lost the battle between Schu and Senna it will be interesting this season to see how the battle between Schu and Alonso will develop..

Indeed.

[ecapdeville 0]

Thank you professor, good article!

[Senna 0]

the relationship between Schumi and Senna has always interseted me. cool article senna

Indeed, it is a fascinating subject. I think the article clearly shows how Ayrton had the psychological edge; he liked to manipulate his opponents and did it very successfully.

[pumpdoc 2]

Indeed, indeed............thanks for the article.............

[ecapdeville 0]

I think the article clearly shows how Ayrton had the psychological edge; he liked to manipulate his opponents and did it very successfully.

Just like you do!!!!

[kup 0]

Yes, very good (nice) article !

[Karta 0]

This article recaps most of bits posted in several different threads, but actually my biggest question is [] part is your edit Senna?

And do you have original link to that Article still somewhere?