MICHAEL Schumacher used to get smashed and rip his friends’ garments off at wild post-race events, his ex-teammate has revealed.
British F1 legend Johnny Hebert has come clear about his loopy instances with the seven-time world champion – however admits they’d by no means get away with it now.
Schumacher in his heyday as he celebrates his win on the British Grand Prix in 2004Credit score: EPA
His pal and former teammate Johnny Herbert has revealed his wild post-race shenanigansCredit score: Getty
Herbert mentioned the Germany racing star used to like to ‘get drunk early’ and ‘rip’ mates’ garments offCredit score: Getty
Hebert, 59, raced in Components One between 1989-2000 and battled incessantly in opposition to Schumacher, even when the pair had been teammates for the now-defunct Benetton in 1994 and 1995.
Now, he has revealed simply what the German driver was like behind the scenes as he blew off steam after races.
“The social aspect was higher in my day,” he mentioned in a current interview with Fortunate Block.
“The massive one we had was in Adelaide after the final race. Everybody went to the identical bar or membership.
“Michael would get fairly drunk early on.
“His occasion trick was to go as much as somebody and rip their shirt aside with buttons popping all over the place. You knew it was coming!”
Nevertheless the previous speedster admitted that “every little thing” has modified now.
“It was a neater factor to do again then. Adelaide was the primary blow out.
“What has modified is the appearance of social media. It has modified every little thing. You possibly can’t go anyplace with out being papped.
“They nonetheless have enjoyable now but it surely must be extra managed behind closed doorways.”
Herbert additionally weighed in on the current uproar over the gruelling warmth of the Qatar Grand Prix and its impact on drivers.
The FIA formally launched a overview final week over the “excessive” cockpit temperatures after drivers known as it “unacceptable” and “harmful”.
Nevertheless, Hebert argued that the circuit had at all times been sizzling sufficient to “cook dinner an egg contained in the cockpit” and that Schumacher had come alive in situations like that.
“I bear in mind Michael Schumacher modified the entire dynamic, modified everybody’s mindset as to what it must be prefer to drive a method one automotive to make it win, which was to drive as quick and flat out all through a race.”
The 59-year-old mentioned that not like the German racing legend, the present drivers function at “possibly 60 to 70 per cent” of their restrict.
“That’s not testing the human factor as a lot as I’d need to be trustworthy,” he added.
Schumacher, thought of by many to be the best driver in Components One historical past, hasn’t been seen in public since his life-changing snowboarding accident almost a decade in the past.
The racing famous person suffered a horrific ski accident whereas together with his son Mick, on the slopes above Méribel within the French Alps in 2013.
Any details about the state of his situation is tightly managed by his privacy-focused household led by spouse Corinna.
In September, Herbert revealed his former pal was “not shut” to his former self following his ski crash and that his mates are sometimes left at midnight about his well being.
Chatting with Grosvenor Sport, the ex-Sky Sports activities pundit mentioned: “There’s by no means any information. What we do know is we by no means hear any constructive information.
“That’s the horrible thought that he’s nonetheless not capable of be near the Michael that all of us bear in mind. And that’s very unhappy.”
Herbert additionally mirrored on how Schumacher would have made a great pundit after he retired from racing.
He mentioned: “He would have been outspoken. He was at all times very conscious of what you may and may’t do.
“His character was at all times in your face, telling you immediately when you had achieved one thing to him on the monitor.
“Keep in mind Spa with David Coulthard. He would have been superb,” he recalled fondly.
The 2 racing legends collectively in 1995Credit score: Getty
Schumacher reportedly used to have an enormous ‘blow out’ after AdelaideCredit score: AFP