Schumacher could have opted to build up other teams than Ferrari. Instead he stayed and enjoyed a few more easy WDCs.
That is why Schumacher is not in the same class as Senna in overall skill.

Hihi

Yeah that would be logical, building a team up to full war strength, win 1 wdc and then start all over again.

you are very right, carbonfibre.
In view of the logic going on in some arguments here, I would say, indeed, let Schuey just win 1 WDC, then go to another team, build it up to full war strength, win another WDC there, then again leave that team, pull off the feat a third time, ad lib.

In that way he would have shown for all eternity who he really is.
But we cannot roll back time.

So I stand in awe of his achievements and I stand in awe of Senna's achievements.
Blessed we were to have seen such giants in our days.

Of course, let us not enter the discussion how many championships Schumacher and Senna would have won if May 1st, 1994 would not have happened.

I agree on the part that we should just praise ourselfs lucky to have seen both giants.

That was Mark Webber who did that, Irvines best starting position at Jaguar was a 5th place at Monza.

I recall posters saying Webber wasn't so fast at the time, and that they quoted Irvine had done the same ... maybe they were wrong? I don't know how to look up front row statistics ... I wish I did though! Sorry if I was wrong ...

There are many differences about MS. But one thing it seems to me about modern drivers, is that if the car is fine, the top two thirds of the drivers will drive the car at much the same speed IMO. I reckon the ability to drive it when the car is not fine, is a greater skill. The irony is that the top cars and teams do setup the car better for every race ...

Irvine did get 2 3rd places with the Jaguar though.

What on earth are you on about?

You say yourself he built up Ferrari. Would that make him worse or inferior to Senna in any way? Laughable. Ayrton always wanted the best ride available at any given time, and there's no shame in that. Michael instead chose the challenge of going to Ferrari, one could argue he actually might have lost one or two WDC's in doing this.

if MS played such a big part in development, wouldnt that mean that it was one sided development, i.e. towards his style or strenghts? means all drivers he drove with (EI,RB,FM) got weaker or 'different' cars.

that it payed off is why they listened and he won plenty but it could have easily gone the other way around (Fittipaldi, Villenueve, Button)

seriously doubt that you can blame him for sticking to a winning car.

he also spent 96,97,98,99, seasons not winning his WDC, so i doubt it makes sense to say he should have spent 4 seasons developing a car, won his WDC and then gone on to another team to develop their car.

2000 was competitive until Hakkinen had his many reliability issues. 2001 & 2002 was steam rolled by MS, 2003 nearly did not go his way. He was dominant but it wasn't always so easy except for the 01-02 purple patch.

Senna may have been a good developer but he changed teams fairly quickly as well from Toleman to Lotus to McLaren. He was seeking resources, strength and a wining car. Why did he switch to Williams after a weak year with McLaren then? Williams was not struggling then they had two great years with Mansell in 92 & Prost in 93.

Schumacher was in another league though.

That was exactly the reason why he went there. Unlike Schumacher Senna's goal was not to develop a slow car to a Championship contender but rather to jump into the fastest car and win. He made that with McLaren and then with Williams too.

that has little to do with it. i am sure each driver thinks they are the bomb. Fittipaldi had two WDCs fairly early, Villenueve damn near won first time out. Button was hot shit for a while.

Mansell took forever to win his WDC despite the ridiculous amount of wins, Hamilton looks like he is close but could easily miss another year. Look at KR. shit happens. you can be great but not end up in a winning car (Amon, Alesi)



i dont think Michaels motives were all that altruistic either. they were paying him a boat load of money and did every year till he delivered the WDC and after. They put in the support and design team and he got to be part of THE marque. i dont think it was that hard a decision.

he had time on his side (i bet Button thought that too a while ago)