Michael Schumacher update as F1 boss reveals shock mix-up at first meeting… and moment he knew he was destined for glory
F1 BOSS Andy Stevenson has revealed he thought Michael Schumacher was a delivery boy when they first met.
Racing star Schumacher was just 22 when he was handed his first F1 debut in 1991 – filling in for French driver Bertrand Gachot.
Gachot had been put behind bars following an altercation with a taxi driver.
Eddie Jordan took the drastic decision to call up a young Schumacher to race for the Jordan-Ford team at the Belgian Grand Prix.
Stevenson, who was working as a mechanic, told BILD: “We were supposed to stay longer one evening for his seat fitting.
“So, we were at the factory late, and suddenly a young delivery boy arrived.
“Then we realised: This is not a delivery boy, but our new Formula 1 driver.”
Stevenson – who is now Sporting Director at Aston Martin F1 Team – was immediately in awe of Schumacher, adding he was “very hands-on” and “knew what he wanted”.
And Stevenson said he quickly knew Schumacher would be a star as he watched him race during the test rounds.
He added: “After two or three laps, he was already faster than anything we had achieved before
£He consistently set faster lap times. I still remember telling a friend after the test session, ‘We just tested a future world champion.’
“It was completely obvious. He made the car dance through the chicanes.”
Schumacher ended up qualifying seventh ahead of team-mate De Cesaris in 11th – with Gachot unaware he had taken his place.
And while he was then forced to retire from the race on the first lap due to clutch problems, word soon got back to Gachot about the talented driver that had replaced him.
Speaking about the events on the Beyond The Grid podcast in 2021, Gachot said: “I didn’t know [about Schumacher].
“The first time somebody spoke to me about Michael Schumacher – I won’t forget – is one of the guards in jail.
“He said, ‘The new guy that they hired is so good, they don’t need you anymore. So you can stay here’. I tell you, word for word.”
Schumacher ended up joining Benneton-Ford for the remainder of 1991 and managed three top six finishes before the end of the season.
He would go on to win two F1 world titles with Benneton-Ford, before joining Ferrari and claiming another five drivers’ championships.
But the racing legend has not been seen in public since suffering a near-fatal brain injury when skiing in the French Alps a decade ago.
Schumacher’s state of health has also been shrouded in secrecy since his horrific accident.
Meanwhile, Gachot was sentenced to 18 months in prison – but was released after just two months following an appeal.