Michael Schumacher
20
that point. At the podium ceremony, Schumacher pushed Barrichello onto the top step, and for this disturbance, the Ferrari team incurred a US$1 million fine. This was the only penalty incurred, as despite the outcry, the switching of positions did not break any actual sporting or technical regulation. Later in the season at the end of the 2002 United States Grand Prix, Schumacher slowed down within sight of the finishing line, meaning that Barrichello took the win by 0.011 seconds, the 2nd closest margin in F1 history. Nobody, including Barrichello, appeared to know why Schumacher lifted, and Schumacher's own explanation varied between it being him "returning the favour" for Austria (now that Schumacher's title was secure), or trying to engineer a dead-heat (a feat derided as near-impossible in a sport where timings are taken to within a thousandth of a
second). The FIA subsequently banned "Team orders which interfere with the race result".
Other incidents
In 1995, Schumacher and Benetton were publicly determined not to incur such controversy, but got off to a bad start when Schumacher and Williams driver David Coulthard were disqualified for fuel irregularities. On appeal, both drivers had their results and points reinstated, but both teams lost the points the results would normally have earned in the constructors championship (for 1995, Benetton switched to Renault engines, also used by Williams. With this switch came a move to using oils from Renault partner, Elf).
The remainder of 1995 went without major controversy, although the title battle with Damon Hill became very intense and acrimonious, particularly after their collisions in the British and Italian Grands Prix, both of which forced the two drivers to retire. Likewise the first two years of his Ferrari career passed with little controversy, until the final race of 1997 (see above).
The 1998 Canadian Grand Prix saw Schumacher accused of dangerous driving when his exit from the pitlane forced Heinz Harald Frentzen off the track and into retirement. Despite receiving a 10 second penalty, Schumacher recovered and won the race. In the press conference, he publicly accused Damon Hill of weaving dangerously as they fought for position, stating "If you want to kill me, find some other way", a statement widely condemned as either hypocritical, or a cynical
Schumacher battles with David Coulthard at the 1998 British Grand Prix