Schuey the ice man
Posted by Bill Thomas at 10:20AM on Friday 12 January, 2007 16 Comments
Talking to Professor Sid Watkins the other day about racing helmets and other motorsport stuff for the upcoming issue of the magazine.
Sid is one of the world's top brain surgeons, and the president of the FIA Institute for Motorsport Safety - he's the semi-young (he was born in 1928) bloke you used to see in the medical car, following the F1 cars around and occasionally running across gravel traps to sort out stricken cars.
He was the first on the scene at Ayrton Senna's accident and wrote a chapter of his book, 'Life on the Limit' about that experience.
I asked Sid to tell me a motorsport story from his work - a positive one - and he told me about Schuey.
"The calmest response I ever had at an accident was from Michael Schumacher, when he crashed at Silverstone in '99. I got to him really quickly after the accident - it was a first lap accident and my car was behind the pack. So I think it was about 86 seconds after the impact, I was there. Michael had taken his helmet off, and as he saw me running toward him he said 'it's alright Sid, it's only a broken leg.'
"Then we hauled him out of the car, I was putting splints on his broken leg and attaching that to his good leg, and he sort of sat up a bit and said, 'Sid, will you do two things for me?' I said yes.
"He said, 'One - ring my wife and tell her it's only a broken leg, and two - tell Jean Todt to test the brakes on Eddie Irvine's car, because it was a brake failure.' I mean, you can't get cooler than that."
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16 Comments for "Schuey the ice man"
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This really does show the man was a genuine legend! Despite what some people may say, his retirement from Formula 1 had to happen one day but it's a shame!
Although I do think that Michael Schumacher was/is the best, I don't think it's only Schuey that would react in this way. Motor sport attracts this kind of attitude and reaction and a steely character is what's required to be the best of their game.
legend
Schuey was always robotic, indeed, which was certainly required for F1. It's not exactly a humane virtue, but definitely an advantage, which is why the Iceman Raikkonen was the best choice to succeed him.
Schuey has the all the elements of a true champion,although the one that stands out is his ability to think in any situation and find the best solution.i will miss this in formula one
Cool guy, and I was genuinely looking forward to seeing him winning his 17th formula 1 world championship in, say, 2018?
yeah like Ryan said, I also think most drivers would act like that... hell I think Kimi Raikonen would crawl out of the wrecked car by himself and start walking to the pits, with a broken leg offcourse XD
Micheal schumacer is the stuff of legends he ROCKS! this only elevates his, already, impressive status. Probably the best race driver yet! Go him!
this just shows the natural reaction of a proper f1 driver!!! he new what the problem was with him and the car and new that he could help someone else!!! hes just a legend
Agree with Ryan, I think most F1 drivers would react in this way. Just because he is quoted as saying that doesn't make him a legend. He is a fantastic driver, but that is all the praise I am prepared to give him.
I disagree with Ryan, if this kind of attitude was so commonplace, Prof. Watkins wouldn't have pointed out this episode - the man's surely seen a lot of action, and been exposed to a lot of attitudes out there. Schumi really is incredible!
Hah, if that were Kimi, the first thing he'd ask for would be a bottle of Vodka.
After all the rubbish written about Schumacher over the years it's always nice to hear something from someone who was actually there...
Not only a great driver and down to earth, he also knew when to call it a day! Truly legendary
I remember Watkins also said once that when a marshall was killed at one race in an accident Michael was the first driver to walk up to him to ask for the widow's phone number to see if he could help her with anything.
He should have said.
Number 1: Tell Jean Todt to test the brakes on Eddie Irvine's car, because it was a brake failure.
Number 2: Anything.