How Schumacher escaped his Jordan deal
Michael Schumacher famously quit the Jordan team for Benetton immediately after his startling Formula 1 debut at Spa, despite potentially having committed himself for two years. This is how he did it, and why Eddie Jordan believes his team could've had Benetton's title success had one word on a contract been different.
In 2005, Motorsport News uncovered a never-before-seen document where Michael Schumacher offered to drive for Eddie Jordan for at least three years if the Irishman gave him his break into Formula 1.
Jordan had offered Schumacher the deal in 1991 to help thrust the team into world championship contention, and he told MN ahead of its 50th anniversary celebrations in 2005 that he believed his team could have been one of the most successful in F1 if the German had stuck to the agreement.
Related video
Butcher returns to Motorbase for 2020 BTCC season
Butcher returns to Motorbase for 2020 BTCC season Butcher returns to Motorbase for 2020 BTCC season
Injured Neal aims to return for BTCC opener
Injured Neal aims to return for BTCC opener Injured Neal aims to return for BTCC opener
Chilton moves across to BTC Racing for 2020
Chilton moves across to BTC Racing for 2020 Chilton moves across to BTC Racing for 2020
Jordan stays in BTCC for 2020 with WSR BMW
Jordan stays in BTCC for 2020 with WSR BMW Jordan stays in BTCC for 2020 with WSR BMW
WSR BMW retains Oliphant alongside Turkington
WSR BMW retains Oliphant alongside Turkington WSR BMW retains Oliphant alongside Turkington
Turkington stays at WSR BMW for 2020 BTCC season
Turkington stays at WSR BMW for 2020 BTCC season Turkington stays at WSR BMW for 2020 BTCC season
BTCC grid remains at 30 cars for 2020
BTCC grid remains at 30 cars for 2020 BTCC grid remains at 30 cars for 2020
Why the BTCC social media trolls have got it wrong
Why the BTCC social media trolls have got it wrong Why the BTCC social media trolls have got it wrong
Lawson not distracted by missing 2024 AlphaTauri F1 race seat
Lawson not distracted by missing 2024 AlphaTauri F1 race seat Lawson not distracted by missing 2024 AlphaTauri F1 race seat
The two F1 rules problems Perez’s recent mishaps expose
The two F1 rules problems Perez’s recent mishaps expose The two F1 rules problems Perez’s recent mishaps expose
De Vries in Formula E return with Mahindra alongside Mortara
De Vries in Formula E return with Mahindra alongside Mortara De Vries in Formula E return with Mahindra alongside Mortara
MotoGP reveals record 22-round calendar for 2024
MotoGP reveals record 22-round calendar for 2024 MotoGP reveals record 22-round calendar for 2024
The two F1 rules problems Perez’s recent mishaps expose
The two F1 rules problems Perez’s recent mishaps expose The two F1 rules problems Perez’s recent mishaps expose
How football has posed difficult questions for F1
How football has posed difficult questions for F1 How football has posed difficult questions for F1
The fans that offer a ray of light in an increasingly partisan F1
The fans that offer a ray of light in an increasingly partisan F1 The fans that offer a ray of light in an increasingly partisan F1
Japanese Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
Japanese Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023 Japanese Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
How Verstappen’s crushing Japanese GP win showed Singapore was a blip
How Verstappen’s crushing Japanese GP win showed Singapore was a blip How Verstappen’s crushing Japanese GP win showed Singapore was a blip
Why the reality of F1 engineering debriefs isn't what Drive to Survive makes out
Why the reality of F1 engineering debriefs isn't what Drive to Survive makes out Why the reality of F1 engineering debriefs isn't what Drive to Survive makes out
How Tsunoda has eliminated a crucial F1 limitation
How Tsunoda has eliminated a crucial F1 limitation How Tsunoda has eliminated a crucial F1 limitation
Why precedent doesn’t favour Massa’s F1 legal challenge
Why precedent doesn’t favour Massa’s F1 legal challenge Why precedent doesn’t favour Massa’s F1 legal challenge
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.