20 replies to this topic

[paulogman]

Anyone know?!?!

[Mickey]

From Atlas F1 News on Sept 12th, 1997:

The Sauber team had asked Michael Schumacher to drive a couple of laps in the Sauber-Petronas on the Fiorano (Italy) circuit. Schumacher said he always finds it interesting to drive another car and because Sauber uses the Ferrari engine it was okay.

The reason behind this was that Sauber wanted Schumacher's opinion of the car when it ran on low fuel, because it has some balance problems then.

The result of the test is unknown but Schumacher clocked a 1m 00.10s.

[holiday]

Makes the then drivers look like an incompetent bunch of illiterate dilettantes and Schumacher like the undisputed semi-god of set up.

[Williams]

There was an intereesting thing said by Harvey Postlethwaite one time, along the lines that all of the engineers in the pitlane would love for a driver like Schumacher to take their car out for a spin, as it would give them a definitive idea as to where their designs stood in in relation to other F1 cars. That's how difficult it is to truly know how good or how good or bad a car is, because there is just not way of knowing whether the drivers are really wringing all of the potential out of their vehicles.

[blip]

I wonder if, after he retires, Michael would offer his services as a (very expensive) tester for short-term, intensive sessions. It would be fun for him - he could sample some of the other cars he missed out on (esp. McLaren and Williams), and the teams would get the sort of feedback Postlethwaite was referring to. Of course, MS would have to agree not to reveal secrets to other teams - I'm sure he could be trusted on that.

[Superman]

That won't happen. Why waste his time testing when he spend more time with his family. Plus he got so much money he don't need to be test driver.

[blip]

Originally posted by Superman
That won't happen. Why waste his time testing when he spend more time with his family. Plus he got so much money he don't need to be test driver.

As I said, for the fun of it. I'm not thinking of week-long sessions, just 1-day (or at most 2), a few times a year. He will no doubt still be fit enough in his first year of retirement, and given his involvement with the sport, he will probably suffer withdrawal symptoms pretty quickly

[holiday]

Prost being then the most successful driver of all time also tested just for fun

[SeanValen]

Originally posted by blip
As I said, for the fun of it. I'm not thinking of week-long sessions, just 1-day (or at most 2), a few times a year. He will no doubt still be fit enough in his first year of retirement, and given his involvement with the sport, he will probably suffer withdrawal symptoms pretty quickly

I can see him being like a Ferrari ambassador, and Luca did offer him a lifetime contract, so if he's testing any cars, it would be to the benefit of Ferrari, makes more sense, can't see him helping out other teams, would be Ferrari first, if your coming home for a visit, his family is Ferrari.

Then again....future is not written.

[DamattaSpeed]

The rumour was that Schumi was paid handsomely for the test, perhaps as much as $1M U.S.....I wonder how much of this is true?

Anyone?

[Mr Carnteen]

Schumi once tested a 94 Ligier too, just to get the feel of the Renault engine. I think he made that go faster as well, not sure though.

[Megatron]

I believe it was also a good will jesture. The relations between Ferrari and Sauber had began to crack after Sauber announced too soon the engine deal. Ferrari withdrew the offer, only for hours of pleading and begging, and possibly more $$$ to get it back on track.

Perhaps to smooth things over.

[MJP]

Originally posted by holiday
Prost being then the most successful driver of all time also tested just for fun

...Alain had problems with his cars, and wanted to form a second (his own) opinion on what the car actually does. One time thing, I believe...

[MJP]

Originally posted by SeanValen


I can see him being like a Ferrari ambassador, and Luca did offer him a lifetime contract, so if he's testing any cars, it would be to the benefit of Ferrari, makes more sense, can't see him helping out other teams, would be Ferrari first, if your coming home for a visit, his family is Ferrari.

Then again....future is not written.

I can't see it. Money is not an issue. Occassional joy ride, yes, certainly, just because being in retirement may draw a pilot back to the cockpit. But tester? It dosen't makes sense. Tabloid mentality of media would welcome a reason to diminish his legacy of a greatest driver of all times to mere "..he ended up as a tester...".

[nneads]

Did Gianni Morbidelli or Johnny Herbert get to test at the same time as Schumi, so there would be a constant referance point for Schumi's times?

[karlth]

Originally posted by nneads
Did Gianni Morbidelli or Johnny Herbert get to test at the same time as Schmui, so there would be a constant referance point for Schmui's times?

Yes. Herbert tested at Fiorano too. Herbert on day 1 and 3 and Schumacher on day 2.

[masterhit]

IIRC rumour was that one of the reasons Michael agreed was that it was to compare the car technically to the Ferrari. It's an interesting thing for a driver to do and all parties must have been intrigued by what it would reward.

[VAR1016]

Originally posted by MJP


But tester? It doesn't makes sense. Tabloid mentality of media would welcome a reason to diminish his legacy of a greatest driver of all times to mere "..he ended up as a tester...".

Not necessarily; this would depend upon how the operation was presented. For example he could (if he so desired of course) allow himself to be presented as the all-time authority or "guru" (silly word) - offering the final word on a chassis/engine combination - in the wet perhaps?

PdeRL

[Schuperman]

Originally posted by Mr Carnteen
Schumi once tested a 94 Ligier too, just to get the feel of the Renault engine. I think he made that go faster as well, not sure though.

Certainly he went faster because he has always got the better car than the regular drivers. What a poor 94 Ligier! Go and figure..

[Foxbat]

Originally posted by karlth


Yes. Herbert tested at Fiorano too. Herbert on day 1 and 3 and Schumacher on day 2.

As I recall MS initially posted times similar to the regular drivers, but substantially improved on them towards the end of the session. Herbert was able to go slightly faster again on day 3.
But surely you of all people should have that data somewhere (maybe in your usenet backlog?;)).

[Mickey]

Originally posted by Foxbat
As I recall MS initially posted times similar to the regular drivers, but substantially improved on them towards the end of the session. Herbert was able to go slightly faster again on day 3.
But surely you of all people should have that data somewhere (maybe in your usenet backlog?;)).

From Atlas F1 Testing Center - September 1997:

[b]Thursday September 11, 1997[/b]

  Herbert	   1:00.95 (80)

[b]Friday September 12, 1997[/b]

  M. Schumacher 1:00.10 (Sauber)

[b]Saturday September 13, 1997[/b]

  Herbert	   0:59.96 (76)

  Larini		1:02.11

Anyone remembers what car was Larini testing? He was a regular Sauber driver until the 1997 Monaco GP, but after that he tested for who? Ferrari?