Jean Todt publicly reassessed Michael Schumacher’s character and admitted on the High Performance podcast that Schumacher intentionally caused two on-track incidents that he said cost championships. Todt, who ran Ferrari from 1994 to 2009 and later served as FIA president, said people held a “completely wrong” perception of Schumacher and called “the biggest misconception” that he was arrogant. He said he had long defended Schumacher but on the podcast acknowledged he had seen Schumacher “cheat twice and badly,” a reversal of earlier public defenses.

Todt identified the first episode as the 1997 season finale at Jerez, when Schumacher turned into Jacques Villeneuve, became beached in the gravel and was ultimately disqualified from the championship, an outcome Todt said “cost him the championship.” The second was the 2006 Monaco qualifying session, when Todt said Schumacher deliberately stopped at La Rascasse, bringing out yellow flags that halted Fernando Alonso’s lap, drew a stewards’ penalty and forced Schumacher to start from the back of the grid. Todt said those actions contributed to Schumacher losing the 2006 title to Alonso.

Todt described both incidents as emotional, impulsive errors made in the heat of racing rather than calculated malice and urged some indulgence in judgment. He balanced his reassessment with a reaffirmation of Schumacher’s sporting legacy, citing seven world championships, a run of five consecutive drivers’ titles with Ferrari and 72 Grand Prix victories. Todt recalled personal details that contrasted with Schumacher’s on-track intensity, describing him as fragile, shy and generous, and he recounted a private half-day test at Fiorano Schumacher requested to reassure himself he remained competitive. Todt also noted Schumacher’s charitable giving after the 2005 Asian tsunami. His comments revised parts of the long-standing public narrative by acknowledging self-inflicted errors while defending the broader achievements of his former driver.

Sources