Remember the F1 men who defied fire? Not just the legend Niki Lauda or Romain Grosjean, but also Jos Verstappen. These drivers looked terror in the eyes when the flames tried to engulf them. Some of the true warriors of the sport, these drivers, have etched their names in the journal of bravehearts. But surprisingly, Verstappen Sr.’s incident took quite a political turn, as it made Michael Schumacher’s Benetton stint difficult.
The year 1994 wasn’t particularly pleasant for Flavio Briatore‘s Benetton. The team had been under close observation and criticism throughout the year. Cheating allegations, Michael Schumacher’s not-so-happy entry, his two-race suspension, and Jos Verstappen’s fire incident kept the garage under pressure. Briatore clearly remembers the fire incident, as if it happened yesterday. At the same time, he hasn’t been able to forget the aftermath of the fiery drama.
The fire incident had an unfavorable impact on Benetton and Michael Schumacher
Benetton‘s former team boss, Flavio Briatore, has always been an influential figure in F1. However, his charisma did not work when Max Verstappen’s father and his car caught fire. Let’s understand what happened back then. During the 1994 Hockenheimring race, the team brought Jos Verstappen in for a pitstop. Two laps earlier, Michael Schumacher had left the pit lane. The team decided to change tires and refuel Jos Verstappen, as this was permitted at that time. But something went wrong when the crew pulled the fuel hose off the car. Fuel was all over Jos and the car, and the driver raised his hands to signal the mess.
The Dutch driver had his visor still down when flames erupted just moments later. Briatore was nearby when it all unfolded. “If you watch that footage, you’ll notice how close I was to getting Verstappen out of the car. It was a surreal experience that I’ll always remember,” Briatore shared. This incident was particularly detrimental for the team, not only because the raging fire posed a risk to the crew but also because Briatore sensed a deteriorating relationship with the FIA.
“Max [Mosley] was against us from the very beginning,” the Italian strategist reflected. “And it all started with that black flag incident at Silverstone,” Briatore recalled. During the 1994 British Grand Prix, race officials displayed a black flag to Michael Schumacher for not completing a stop-and-go penalty within the required seven laps. This led to a two-race suspension for the ‘Kaiser.’ Had Benetton allowed Schumacher to race, they could have sidestepped the suspension and the hefty $25,000 fine.
Additionally, Schumacher’s 1994 season with Benetton was marked by numerous controversies. From his arrival at the team to his championship victory, every aspect was scrutinized at some point. Let’s delve into how Benetton found themselves caught in a whirlwind of disputes.
Michael Schumacher’s journey to his second championship was marked by a series of controversies surrounding his team, Benetton. When Schumacher joined Benetton in 1991, the transition was anything but smooth. Flavio Briatore was keen on retaining Nelson Piquet, while Tom Walkinshaw had his sights set on Martin Brundle. Bernie Ecclestone, however, was not pleased and insisted that Walkinshaw and Briatore focus on bringing Schumacher into the fold. Briatore recalled, “Michael was quite young back then, and the engineers had a different mindset. They believed in the importance of racing experience, but how much could a young driver really have?”
The 1994 season saw Schumacher and Benetton at the center of numerous controversies as they emerged as serious challengers to the previously dominant Williams team. Investigations uncovered allegations of unfair practices, including problems with their fueling system and evading traction control regulations. Despite the surrounding turmoil, which included incidents like Verstappen’s crash and Schumacher’s own suspension, the team ultimately secured the championship. Schumacher celebrated his second world title with Benetton before departing the team the following year.
