Jos Verstappen Hits Out At Michael Schumacher

Former Dutch Formula One driver, Jos Verstappen, has hit out at seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher today after he once again accused the German of using banned electronic aids during his maiden Championship winning season in 1994.

Verstappen was Schumacher’s team-mate during the majority of 1994 and only managed to achieve ten points during his ten starts for the team in comparison to Schumacher’s 92 points even though the German was disqualified twice during the season at the British and Belgian Grands Prix.

“People think I’m looking for an excuse,” Verstappen told NuSport today, “I just know that his car was different to my car. I kept thinking: this can’t be done! I braked at the limit and went as hard as possible into the corners. Schumacher was able to do things and not to me. There was something wrong. There were electronic aids. They will never admit it, but I am convinced. I later asked Flavio Briatore, who had brought me to Benetton and was then the team manager. He said, ‘Let’s not talk about it.’ So I know enough now.” 

Michael Schumacher went on to become the 1994 World Champion after beating the Williams of Damon Hill by just one point, the season culminating in a controversial collision between the two at the final race of the season at the Australian Grand Prix. Many believed Schumacher turned in on the Brit, resulting in both retiring and Schumacher becoming Champion by default, reminiscent of the Senna Vs Prost years.

Jos Verstappen was replaced at Benetton towards the end of the 1994 season by British driver Johnny Herbert who went on to win two races for the team the following season whilst Schumacher stormed to his second consecutive World Title.