– Every Formula 1 fan in Germany knows that Michael Schumacher only drove for Jordan, Benetton, Ferrari, and Mercedes during his Formula 1 career. And yet there are pictures showing “Schumi” in other Formula 1 cars: in a Ligier and in a Sauber – but how was that possible?
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Our photo series tells these stories: How Benetton team boss Flavio Briatore organized a Ligier test for Schumacher in 1994 so that he could get familiar with the Renault V10 engines. These engines were brought by Ligier co-owner Briatore to Benetton for 1995 and thus gave Schumacher’s car more power compared to the previous Ford V8 engines. (Photo series: All Formula 1 cars of Michael Schumacher)
Or in 1997: Ferrari customer team Sauber requested Schumacher’s expertise to evaluate the current car. Ferrari approved the test, but the Sauber had to go on track completely without sponsor logos. For Schumacher, a circle closed incidentally: as a Mercedes junior, he had competed for Sauber in the sports car world championship years earlier.
Photo series: In unusual colors: Formula 1 stars with foreign teams
Besides Schumacher, many other drivers have become famous in Formula 1. But in some cases, hardly anyone remembers the beginnings anymore. One example: the later three-time world champion Ayrton Senna completed his first Formula 1 season in 1984 for Toleman. But his first Formula 1 test was made possible by another team – for which he actually raced years later.
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The story of Jackie Stewart reads differently again: After three world championship titles, he tested various Formula 1 cars of different teams in the late 1970s, including the legendary Tyrrell “Sixwheeler” P34 with six wheels. Even in 1997, Stewart got back into the cockpit: as founder of the Stewart team, he drove one of his cars himself on a test day.
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In the examples mentioned and in many other cases, photographers were always on site – even if the test drives were supposed to be “secret”. Our photo series on the almost forgotten Formula 1 tests of some drivers is based on these shots.
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