Bernd Schneider: why Schumacher’s F1 debut nearly didn’t happen

For a driver who only qualified for nine Formula 1 races in three seasons, German racing legend Bernd Schneider sure has some epic stories from his short stint on the grid in the late 1980’s and early ‘90’s.

Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Schneider talks about how close he came to denying Michael Schumacher his F1 debut and the huge contract Eddie Jordan offered him to return to the sport.

Bernd, who went on to become a five-time DTM champion with Mercedes-Benz after his F1 career finished, also reveals how he was nearly partly responsible for Mercedes pulling out of all motorsport after their car flipped several times at Le Mans in 1999 and what it was like to be teammates with icons Mika Hakkinen, Mark Webber and Jean Alesi.

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