F1 Pundit reveals mysterious five-year-long fallout with Michael Schumacher
Martin Brundle recalled an anecdote from the past which caused a massive fallout in friendship with his ex-teammate Michael Schumacher.
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Martin Brundle and Michael Schumacher (via IMAGO)
Martin Brundle shares a long history in Formula 1 both as a driver and as a commentator. The Briton has however had his fair share of controversies back in the day as he continues to improve his personality. Brundle recalled an anecdote from the past where he offended his ex-teammate Michael Schumacher and had a fallout for over five years.
Michael Schumacher and Martin Brundle shared the same team in 1992 while racing for Benetton Ford. Schumacher being the highly talented driver, outperformed his teammate that season as Brundle didn’t have many good results. However, the Englishman pointed out that the grid was deserted back then, and not many people talked with each other.
Drivers would stop by and have a good old chat. I remember talking once to Michael Schumacher and Gerhard Berger at the same time, and could do what I wanted and go where I wanted to. The grid was deserted, generally speaking, back then.
Martin Brundle said on the Sky F1 podcast
However, Schumacher and Brundle weren’t as good of friends back then due to something controversial said by the former. The Briton recalled how the two fell off in terms of friendship due to something he said that was taken out of context. A German publication put a headline in a paper that upset the seven-time world champion and he didn’t talk to the 65-year-old for over five years.
Well, weirdly, we fell out because something I said was translated, taken out of context, and translated into German and put in a headline in a newspaper. And Michael got very upset. I have no idea what it was to this day. And he wouldn’t speak to me for five years. It was really odd.
Martin Brundle added
Martin Brundle and Michael Schumacher reconciled during the latter’s sabbatical in Formula 1
Despite the fallout in friendship, the Ex-teammates still met each other occasionally. Hence, during Michael Schumacher’s transition between Ferrari and Mercedes, the two went to a bar. Martin Brundle claimed that the German got a bit drunk which helped them reconcile as friends. Following that, Schumacher and Brundle broke the ice after the former hilarious labeled the Briton as his ‘teammate’.
And then we got drunk together in a nightclub in Valencia when he was on his sabbatical between Mercedes and Ferrari, and we were fine after that. He was sort of hanging off my shoulder, he was like, My team-mate, my team-mate, and it broke the ice again. So I really don’t know what the problem was, but that was a real shame.
Martin Brundle noted
Regardless of the problems in the past, both the drivers became friends again on good terms. Hence, now with Schumacher’s degrading health condition, Brundle would be glad to end it on good terms. The Englishman has learned a lot in terms of public appearances and continues to improve his candor in front of the general public.
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Aditya Pandya
(1439 Articles Published)