Today marks exactly 25 years since Michael Schumacher won his first world title with Ferrari, returning the Italian racing team to the top. In the podcast Formula 1 Paddock Talk, driver Jeroen Bleekemolen and reporter Frank Woestenburg reflect on this defining moment in F1 history.
“He was, of course, an icon,” says Bleekemolen. “You really looked up to a man who took over the sport. Lewis Hamilton, Vettel, and Max Verstappen have since done the same, but it was special with Schumacher because he did it with Ferrari. Alonso and Vettel tried later, and even Hamilton now, but none of them managed to become world champion there.”
This is precisely what makes Schumacher’s achievement extra impressive, according to Woestenburg. “This gives Schumacher’s titles a somewhat mythical status in retrospect. He turned a struggling team into a championship team, changed the entire culture, and then won five titles in a row. Nobody can replicate that.”
Schumacher’s Impact Greater Than Hamilton’s
The question then arises: do Schumacher’s titles with Ferrari hold more value than Hamilton’s with Mercedes? Bleekemolen believes so. “He shaped the entire team to his liking and gathered the right people around him. That’s simply impressive. And you see that Max Verstappen has now done the same at Red Bull, so in that sense, it’s comparable.”
Who is the successful racer that most resembles Schumacher in 2025? Woestenburg doesn’t have to think long. “Max Verstappen. Like Schumacher, he dares to make drastic choices. He believes in something and goes all out for it. Lewis Hamilton tends to let things come to him, and that usually doesn’t work with a team like Ferrari.”
Please note that the video of the podcast is not included in this translation.
