Michael Schumacher photo takes F1 world by surprise amid health mystery
The photo from the 90s has emerged in the new Netflix series.
A photo of F1 icon Michael Schumacher and reigning world champion Max Verstappen as a child has been aired on Neflix's Drive to Survive documentary, which has left fans absolutely stunned. Verstappen is gearing up to attempt a third straight title win with Red Bull and the Dutch star has already got off to a brilliant star.
Verstappen has set the fastest time, with Fernando Alonso close behind for Aston Martin, as Formula One started three days of pre-season testing in Bahrain. But to coincide with the start of the new season, Netflix released season five of their remarkably popular documentary on the sport.
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And fans have been left stunned at the touching scenes in episode five called Like Father, Like Son?, which focuses on the Dutch champion. The episode focuses on Mick Schumacher and his struggles in his first season at former team Haas.
Although a brief cameo from Verstappen in the episode melts hearts of F1 fans. Verstappen's father, Jos, was teammates with Michael Schumacher at Benetton.
An old interview, conducted in the 90s, shows the duo being asked if they would let their children compete in F1. "I think this could be the first time we have an argument if our two would be racing," Schumacher said with a laugh.
The episode then moves to Max talking about how close the two families were when Mick and himself were growing up. An old clip shows Max as a child engaging with Michael. Then a photo appears on screen of Michael holding his daughter Gina-Maria in one lap and Max in the other.
“We used to go on holidays when we were little together, the two families, and these kind of memories will stay with me,” Max said in the episode. “For both of us to be in F1 is amazing and also for Michael, he’s a very proud dad for sure.”
Schumacher was involved in a horror skiing accident in The French Alps back in 2013. After suffering serious head injuries his family have been private about his health ever since.
FIA president and former Ferrari boss Jean Todt has been visiting Schumacher regularly and providing snippets of information to the public. “I don’t miss Michael, I see him,” Todt said in an interview with German TV channel RTL in July.
“Yes, it’s true, I watch races with Michael. But sure, I guess what I miss is what we used to do together.”
Schumacher won five consecutive World Drivers’ Championships under Todt’s leadership from 2000 to 2004. In 2020, Todt revealed that Schumacher is “still fighting”.
Max Verstappen's strong start to 2023
The Dutch 25-year-old was top of the timesheets before and after lunch at Sakhir on Thursday, with teams mainly focused on aerodynamics with prominent rakes attached to the cars in their first proper running. Verstappen won 15 of 22 grands prix last year and will be chasing his third straight title when the 23-race season starts on March 5.
Verstappen won 15 of 22 grands prix last year and will be chasing his third straight title when the 23-race season starts on March 5.
On a tough opening day for McLaren's F1 debutant Oscar Piastri as his team grappled with technical issues, the young Australian prospect managed to get in 52 laps but finished up one from last among the 19 who tested.
McLaren had to reinforce the air deflectors over the front wheels and managed fewer laps than many of their rivals but Piastri's teammate Lando Norris later showed his new colleague the way, ending as fifth fastest.
Ferrari's Carlos Sainz was second in the morning, 0.294 slower but on top for a majority of the session, with Williams Alexander Albon third and doing the most laps (74).
Double world champion Alonso was soon up to speed for his new team, 0.029 slower than Verstappen who clocked a best of one minute 32.837 seconds and did 157 laps as the only driver to be testing all day.
with AAP
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