Michael Schumacher’s 'weakness' revealed: 'He was one of the worst at that'

18:44, 20 Aug

Updated: 19:42, 20 Aug

byCas van de Kleut

Michael Schumacher, a seven-time world champion, is widely regarded as a legend in Formula 1. From 2000 to 2004, he dominated the sport with Ferrari, establishing one of the most successful eras in the history of the championship. Yet, according to former F1 designer Gary Anderson, there was one aspect in which the German was surprisingly 'very average.'

While many assume top drivers must possess lightning-fast reactions, Anderson explained that Schumacher’s reaction times—whether at the start of a race or in avoiding potential accidents—were not particularly exceptional compared to others.

'Schumacher was very average in that'

Despite this, the seven-time world champion didn't have this, according to Anderson. On the podcast Driving Style Secrets of The Race, the former Northern Irish designer shared: "Yeah, Michael Schumacher's reactions were absolutely average. And there's been many tests, not just at Ferrari, but at Formula Medicine, which is part of the... they've gone through most of the drivers on the grid of the last 30 years."

Anderson continued: "It's a myth that a racing driver has fast reactions. They range from very fast to very slow, just like any control group. " The drivers were tested in different groups. "And Michael's were on the slow side," said the former designer.

Anderson further explained that what sets top drivers apart isn’t raw reaction speed, but the ability to anticipate events before they happen. He noted that while actions may appear to be quick reactions from the outside, they are the results of a driver’s early intuition.

According to Northern Irishman, Michael Schumacher excelled at this anticipatory skill more than anyone else. While every great driver possesses it, Schumacher’s level was exceptionally fast. In contrast, if judged solely on immediate reactions, he would have been considered quite average.