ONE WORD CHANGES F1 HISTORY! The Story of Michael Schumacher Snubbing Jordan (1991)

Words matter. Imagine if a contract has the wrong word written. It can mean something else entirely. This is what Michael Schumacher's team did when discussing with Eddie Jordan and later Benetton. Imagine then, if Schumacher had stayed with Jordan instead of going to Benetton. How would F1 history have changed?
This video explores how Schumacher's career could have changed entirely, if a letter had been worded exactly the same... but for one word...
Enjoy! And remember to like and subscribe for more!
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[@brianmac001]

So, does this mean you'll have to stop referring to him as 'The Michael' & now call him 'A Michael '!😂. Fantastic info as ever AM.

[@josephernest91]

Lol nah. Sorry baby Ralphie was never good enough to get elevated to that level. He was good...ish....but not THAT good.

[@ivaneurope]

Actually, Schumacher was never Jordan's first choice to replace Gachot - he wanted initially the experienced Stefan Johansson (who was without a seat after short stints with Arrows and AGS during the first half of the season), but when the Johansson said "I want to be paid" Eddie backed out. In his autobiography he admited that had he knew all along that The Michael never raced at Spa, he'd have prefered the safer option in Johansson.

[@ExodiaNecross2]

He wanted keke Roaberg to come back as well but Keke wasn't interested.

[@crapmalls]

The 7up car was the coolest thing i had ever seen when it came out

[@nitrous36]

Im convinced by now that the Robert Moreno video would have to be a multi part episode or 1 to 2 hour affair.

[@ivaneurope]

Only circa 4k subscribers and we can finally see the Roberto Moreno episode (the goal is 100k)

[@AidanMillward]

You know it’s just gonna be a link to his beyond the grid episode right?

[@nitrous36]

@@AidanMillward 😂

[@1greenMitsi]

I have a pic with Roberto in the GT championship in his Gulf F1 Mclaren overalls in 1994. He is a tiny human being

[@rex8255]

You mentioned the guy that goes over the rules in minute detail looking for loopholes... in NASCAR, they're called Crew Chiefs

[@thatguyfromcetialphaV]

Eddie Jordan's autobiography goes into the Schumacher story in detail.

[@jamessteel9016]

Fantastic book, read it a few times now 👏

[@AidanMillward]

As you’d expect. 😅

[@F-Man]

That’s nice.

[@simonkevnorris]

I went to Monza that year with an Italian friend. It was her first F1 race and I was able to explain how to identify the drivers by a combination of helmet colours and sing mirrors (or TV camera covers on the roll hoop). Then a Benetton came by with a helmet colour I wasn't expecting!

[@VinylScratchOfficial]

Your comment about the 787B gave me an eye twitch, then you immediately rolled it back, I was about to be livid that you fell for the "banned for being too good" meme 😂

[@palm92]

My favourite fact about the 787/787B is that it's 1991 LeMans win was it's only win of any sort - it never even won in the domestic JSPC series. I think they should have Turbocharged it at least.

[@VinylScratchOfficial]

@@palm92 I can't remember the exact pace of the 787B but it was regularly like... 12th on pace during it's lifetime. I hate to call surviving a 24 hour gauntlet in first place a "fluke" but it definitely wasn't winning anything else on merit in 1991.

[@palm92]

@@VinylScratchOfficial The N/A rotary engines were quite reliable and fuel efficient in race from - in IMSA GTO/GTU they were used to great effect in the RX-7 and MX-6.

[@mrterp04]

Shades of Shane McMahon “buying” WCW. “The letter of intent doesn’t say THE contract-it says A contract!”

[@AidanMillward]

Gasps in Vince McMahon

[@ivaneurope]

In Good Ol' JR's voice: "I do not believe what we've heard - Michael Schumacher has joined Benetton. And Eddie Jordan is in an absolute shock. Eddie Jordan is...he cannot believe this. And quite frankly, neither can I."

[@AidanMillward]

@@ivaneurope why Michael?! Why?! You son of a bitch!

[@philipbain]

I do love the fact you channel Mika Hakkinen and refer to Michael Schumacher simply as "The Michael"!

[@charlesdarwin7253]

Bar none, this is the jazziest F1 oriented KZbin Channel.

[@cjsnowdon]

Who hooted and cheered for Roberto Moreno 🎉🎉🎉 Feels like we’ve been waiting for his video since 1991 😂 Another cracking story time tho 🥳

[@maxduke1943]

I was there on Friday; we didn't understand what was going on... then we realized. We were at the beautiful standings of the 2nd of Lesmo; we had seen Shumi power drifting out of Lesmo 2 ... was the only driver doing that

[@mechsgtpuma938]

Retire at Silverstone he lived up to his name of De-crashis. Going under the bridge after Abbey. I was there as a young lad. Then as we left the track we were behind a Transtit Recovery truck carrying the car back to the factory across the road.

[@MegaTimtheman]

The funny aftermath of this is that schumacher crushed piquet so badly for the rest of 91 that piquet chose retirement over racing alongside him in 92 as he had a contract

[@someoneunseen5168]

The really funny thing is de cesaris was close to winning that spa race in 1991 as the front runners started to hit reliability trouble late in the race. De cesaris car ultimately failed just as he was catching up to challenge for the top spot. Now considering micheal outqualified andrea, if not for the clutch burnout at the start, how close could michael have got to winning his first race......

[@comradeoblivious526]

I think it would be more likely that A Michael would have showed up with Sauber when they joined the grid in ‘93 than Benetton picking him up.

[@eamonahern7495]

Speaking of Jordan what ifs... what if Damon Hill had taken a pay cut by joining the team and Ruben's Barrichello had stayed on for 1997. That 197 Bitten & Hisses car could've done better than Frentzen's 3rd in the championship in 1999 IMHO. Or, remember Brundle partnered Schumacher in 1992 and the Michael could've learned from Martin's experience either directly or indirectly, so what if Jordan had kept Martin on for 1997 to mentor Ralf? The team might have won a race in the yellow snake-liveried car.

[@RANDOMZBOSSMAN1]

Honestly imo that 97 car was better than the 98 car but Ralf and Fisi kept having accidents or crashing into each other lol Only the 99 car was better than the 97 car

[@therrydicule]

I don't understand how Yamaha messed up so badly in F1. On paper, it seems good. They were doing business with Judd which had good engines before in F1: maybe not race-winning, but good. Yahama was bringing good valve systems. At some point, they had about 50 engine blowouts in a season. I get that at the time, Yahama had a lack of workers, but common. Is it a casting issue? How hard is it to find faults in castings when you are Yamaha and have a reputation for quality control?

[@GoldenCroc]

I think its the same as always, building a racing engine, and especially an f1 engine; It takes a lot of special know-how thats nothing like building an engine for other classes or the street. I mean, how many thought Honda would struggle like they did when entering the turbo in 2015, etc etc?

[@therrydicule]

@@GoldenCroc Yeah. But still, one would think that they could figure it out in the time they were in F1... Somehow they didn't.

[@Athrun82]

To be fair their V10 from 1994 to 1995 were quite good. But it seems they couldn't continue from there. And it's not like even big names are spared the demands from F1. Just look at Ferrari: their V12 from 1992 and 1993 were not exactly prime material. It took help from Honda (of all places) to make their 1994 engine better

[@palm92]

They tried to put a Japanese F3000 engine in an F1 car for 1989 - their engine was more or less 5V heads on a DFV block. Their initial head design was awful. Their V12 was better - it could at least qualify and get points.

[@therrydicule]

@@palm92 You know, a 5 valve head on a Cosworth "DFV" sounds interesting for a road car. Don't get me wrong, there would be a lot to do to get a thing like that reliable...

[@Joshw93]

The or A All or Any All reasons why things haven't and will never change. Amazing how one word can be an issue.

[@yudhabagaskara98]

The F1 would be so different if gachot didn't spray the taxi driver

[@Twin540i]

One factor that got Bernie attention was the ticket sales boom at Belgium Grand Prix by having a German driver on the grid which could see television ratings go up as well if Michael had a good team

[@areasquirrel]

Do you have a contract? Well, Mr Jordan, it depends on what your definition of the word 'a' is.

[@MrSaywutnow]

I thought I already knew all of Briatore's dick moves and shady deals/connections. The distinction he made between car and chassis was a new one for me.

[@maxduke1943]

I was there on Friday; we didn't understand what was going on... then we realized. We were at the beautiful standings of the 2nd of Lesmo; we had seen Shumi power drifting out of Lesmo 2 ... he was the only driver doing that !

[@craigcharlesworth1538]

That's extraordinary, that Schumacher was considered the 'next best thing' behind the Holy Trinity of Mansell, Senna and Prost simply on the basis of some sports car success and a single Grand Prix in which he didn't get beyond the first corner.

[@someoneunseen5168]

The fact he came in as a rookie with basically a shakedown, outqualified de cesaris (and a benetton) and took eau rouge flat, yeah - nothing special.😊

[@craigcharlesworth1538]

@@someoneunseen5168 Oh come on. You can't rate someone the fourth best driver in F1 on the strength of one qualifying session no matter how good it is. Look at De Vries; one spectacular race with Williams and bugger all else. Nobody in their right mind would have rated him behind only Max, Lewis and Alonso based on that one performance.

[@bodinefan1126]

Love you videos man. Makes my drive time to work more bearable. Thanks for all of the content.

[@caphowdy666]

They didn't change "the" to "a", Mika took it and added it to Michaels name.

[@413TomaccoRoad]

Music is like... It's An F1 Channel Charlie Brown.

[@peterolsson1470]

Looking at that list of constructors in 1991. Only three teams are still in F1.

[@john-qy5si]

Not sure if it’s true but the first year Ireland was put on the car by Eddie for free. The following years he was paid to have Ireland on the cars.

[@ElectoneGuy]

Roberto Moreno documentary - do it

[@AidanMillward]

He’s done beyond the grid. I don’t need to do anything now 😎

[@ElectoneGuy]

lol@@AidanMillward

[@JohnSmithShields]

​@AidanMillward it's not that easy to escape your destiny.

[@icememevan]

Roberto Moreno do Brasil!!!

[@brnhd1991]

Blimey The Michael signed his letter Thursday 22nd August 1991. On the day I was born. Guess that was a monumental day for the world 🤣 Great video as always. In another one of world's what ifs. What if Kimi stayed at McLaren for 07. Ferrari keep The Michael another year? And young Lewis ends up with Nico at Williams? Crazy to imagine

[@AidanMillward]

Lewis almost went to the bmw driver programme so he might have ended up at Williams at some point.

[@brnhd1991]

@@AidanMillward yeah that could have been interesting possible a move to Williams via BMW connection or even Sauber but that would have implications for Kubica and Vettel. One minor change here or there and things could have been very different. The 2003 era through to end of 2009 is worthy of a TV show in itself has so much drama 😂

[@JohnSmithShields]

​@AidanMillward possibly a series on what ifs here. Yes I know, they were brilliant, and deserved more episodes.

[@reptongeek]

I was born on the 22nd August too but in 1975

[@someoneunseen5168]

Lol if michael stays at ferrari in 07 he wins the title. Same for 08.

[@turrican4d599]

7:40 Qualy could have been even better (P3), if not for Prost slowing Schumi down in the Busstopchicane.

[@azapro911]

The gall of Schumacher to try and tell Eddie how he should run his team seven years later at Spa was unbelievable, EJ rightly told him where to get off.

[@italocanadase4221]

I'd love to hear your opinions about the 1981 belgian grand prix. Clusterf**k of a race

[@judethedude96]

This is a positive comment for the KZbin algorithm

[@Suprahampton]

You said Gachot drove for the Coloni team but showed the Monteverdi/Oynx

[@AidanMillward]

I know.

[@billmartin1663]

Even if the letter had read "the," Schumacher would not have been at Jordan for long. Jordan ALWAYS needed cash. Somebody would have paid Jordan to obtain Schumacher's services in the subsequent years. Would that have been Benetton? Who knows. But he most certainly would not have been driving a Jordan for long.

[@dumptrump3788]

The only word that comes to mind when I hear the name Schumacher, is "CHEAT!"....but the phrase "Prepare to ram!" might be better.

[@jamestracey2006]

Another fantastic video AW - keep ‘em coming! Also, was that a Randy Feltface reference at the end (political comedy)?! If so, I tip my cap to you sir 😜

[@AidanMillward]

[@espenbaklid3178]

In all these years, I've only assumed Gachot was an unsympathetic crook because he's only ever mentioned as "the one who was charged for assault thus indirectly paving the way for Michael Schumacher's debut". I never heard or read anything else anywhere. It didn't exactly help when I read Johnny Herbert's autobiography a few years ago either, as Gachot was a rival of Herbert in smaller motorsport classes, and Herbert summarised Gachot as doing controversial and dangerous moves on track, if I remember correctly. But sometimes I forget about the concept of objectivity, empathy, "walk a mile in someone else's shoes" etc., as I listened to Beyond the Grid's interview with Gachot himself, and I genuinely felt sorry for him. The F1/Jordan situation was painful to listen to from his own words, and how his reputation was severely harmed after this. Definitely worth a listen.

[@davidmarecek1754]

In my opinion, if Schumacher drove for Jordan in '92, he'll most likely mirror Barichello's career in a nutshell, just two years earlier.

[@bramwell9544]

You’re the best thing on the whole of the inter web.

[@jordza2k11]

4k subs away from Mr Moreno... we need to get there

[@JTeam45]

Moreno mentioned 🎉🎉

[@andygreener3130]

There is a more recent instance of a single word changing,or preventing the change, of history. The word ‘any’. Has now been changed to ‘all’ to reflect its intended meaning.

[@gordonwallin2368]

Cheers from the Pacific West Coast of Canda.

[@RodrigoGonzalez-fn7pn]

12:30min....really Schumacher reached a top team, as piquet said...without doing anything...and every driver agreed in that and olso in the way Roberto Moreno was treated.....I remember that....very well...documented...video....as always. And also Hamilton reached mclaren at his 1st year in f1 2007...not spending much time in inferior categories.....he was marketing.

[@Eagleracer38x]

Yeah, there have been a few drivers that are part of the young driver's Academy of their team, but there are more drivers who are now in F1 who never would have been there if they stayed with the manufacture young driver's Academy they had been part of.

[@JohnSmithShields]

Still a beautiful car.

[@JackScooter17]

THE MICHAEL - mika

[@Devdev009]

I see you crediting your sources and avoiding the wrath of Hbomberguy lol

[@AidanMillward]

The amount of channels that don’t is quite worrying. But then: apparently you can use all the clips and footage you want so long as you put where it came from in the bottom of the screen as a shitty watermark. Not salty honest.

[@vincentmcdonnell4013]

Still hurts me to this day, we lost an amazing driver. Yes I'm Irish and very biased

[@thesunnynationg]

to the ppl who say the "7up" on the side... everyone has to start somewhere.

[@someoneunseen5168]

He also had 7 stars on his helmet from race 1.......

[@Exponaut_R-01]

My guess is this would've had so many snowball effects in what would've been Michael's era. How would Ferrari be doing financially when they would've won that 2007 championship? Not having several constructors wins worth of money has to change something. It only gets weirder the closer you get to now. They probably won't drop out of the sport or go broke but, it couldn't be good. AND that Sad Streak they've largely been on since the late 2000s would be muuuuuch longer I'm sure. Would I have even been a Ferrari fan watching my first season of F1 as a kid? Probably. Ferrari's still Ferrari in either universe. I'm rooting for terrible teams now, don't see why that would've changed.

[@MikeWooshy]

You can buy this in service stations in France.

[@conors4430]

Michael was always a shrewd operator.

[@swidr5626]

16:33 That must have hurt

[@swidr5626]

Also it's funny to hear that you are a birthday pals with Peter Sauber! I'm one with Vettel

[@johnyossarian1135]

I like Gary Anderson, him and Edd Straw are S tier podcasters

[@ibex485]

I'm sure Michael would have gone to Benetton for 1992, even if they hadn't pulled a fast one with the wording of the (non-)contract. It just would have cost them more. Maybe Eddie could have got a deal for free Cosworth V8s for 1992 in exchange? Iirc they cost about $5m a year to lease at the time?? He might have been offered around $3m to buy Michael out of his contract. If he asked for $4m he might get it, then propose instead of paying him they could speak to Ford (Benetton being their works team) and invite them to chip in a bit with a 20% engine discount, to keep the money in the family. And in the unlikely event Eddie decided he wanted to keep Michael and screw the money.... even valid contracts are just bits of paper. I can see Michael walking to Benetton anyway and them paying whatever the court says they have to a couple of years later after Eddie sues. (The Contracts Recognition Board was only formed after the Schumacher-Jordan affair, so they might not have been able to prevent Benetton from using him if he did break his contract for 1992.)

[@LJW1912]

So are you going to start calling him 'a Michael' instead?

[@rambo_r3239]

eddie 100% heckled f1 bigots' like my irish grandad did cornershops and as always it worked

[@bradyelich2745]

I only watch because u have nice jazz. :)-~

[@AndrewGeierMelons]

Thoughts on Haas vs Steiner?

[@someoneunseen5168]

Gunther needed to go. Gene is a bit clueless when it comes to F1

[@henkormel5610]

Just one comment, Schumacher is not 'the' Michael but 'der' Michael. Why you ask? He's German. Like your work btw.

[@AidanMillward]

Mika has spoken. I’m not arguing with Mika.

[@henkormel5610]

@@AidanMillward Fair enough.

[@philllawrence1580]

4.1k to go! #Moreno

[@MENQN]

Hamilton! I just had to say it 😂

[@seancassidy795]

4.1

[@seancassidy795]

[@RubyRoks]

I and A are the two most important words, and some of the more important letters, in the entirety of the English language. EDIT: Point made, Fuck wins.

[@AidanMillward]

I’d say “fuck” probably is. No word is as versatile. 😅

[@pookachu64]

Lol been on holiday?

[@joaogrrr]

GACHOT LIVES MATTER

[@attilatabanyi3275]

You really like 1991, don't you? 😅

[@AidanMillward]

The year my wife was born so no.

[@attilatabanyi3275]

@@AidanMillward I guess it really was an interesting season in F1. With Jordan, Schumacher, Gachot, MORENO, de Cesaris, Spa, Benetton, Zanardi, and the effects on the future.

[@someoneunseen5168]

1991 was an awesome year for f1.

[@palm92]

@@someoneunseen5168 1980-1991 are all fantastic seasons.

[@ksln]

\o/

[@stevenmartin6473]

Never forgave micheal for taking damon out in 1994...i guess karma catches up with everyone

[@michaelberube5236]

If Schumi stayed at Jordan in '92, no way he stays for '93. Likeliest thing I see happening is that he goes to Sauber for '93 and '94, because of the Mercedes ties. It's not an impossibility that Ron Dennis would see him as a more attractive option than Michael Andretti for '93, but I don't see it happening, especially not with Hakkinen already in the wings, ready to step up. Good vid as always Aidan, TY

[@OsellaSquadraCorse]

It was the Merc plan he would go to Sauber, later when he decided to quit Benetton in mid-94 they tried to get him to McLaren-Mercedes (who were already talking) but Ferrari called... Mercedes had already placed Wendlinger with Ilmor at March and then with Sauber, but Walkinshaw and Brawn had seen him in the WSC and knew they needed him at Benetton!

[@someoneunseen5168]

Mclaren were sniffing around michael in 93 when senna was leaving, again in 95 when merc came on board and yet again in 99.

[@littlerougue]

Is that a Blue Jays hat?

[@chrisccc22]

That 191 was the sexiest F1 car ever made. I have a 1:18 scale on my display shelves. My prized collection. The rear diffuser was like Ja-Lo's ass.

[@michaelehrt6277]

A vs The... it's all legal nonsense. Overall, his talent was undeniable; and regardless of how the _"Letter of Intent"_ was written, it wasn't an actual contract that was presented to him. Anyone who debates that is an idiot; and anyone who pursues it further is exponentially dumber than an idiot. It's bad enough that anyone would postulate such a ridiculous notion. It really must be stuck in your craw.

[@matzemunz2827]

[@jamesreynolds2867]

After the controversial meeting with Flavio, Bernie and Eddie when Michael Schumacher became a Benetton driver, as Eddie walked out he bumped into Ron Dennis boss of the McLaren F1 team, who greeted Eddie with the words "Welcome to the piranha club"

[@wawllzz]

1:40 a little nod to @workthespace? XD

[@AidanMillward]

6/10 great car park!

[@wawllzz]

hahaha

[@palm92]

The 192's issue went beyond the V12 - the 7 speed sequential was also extremely troublesome.

[@marklittle8805]

Love the Blue Jays love.....as for the Michael and his adventures at Jordan; it is a nice trip down memory lane

[@minibus9]

Awesome video. Perhaps if the wording had not been changed Michael Schumacher would not have had so many titles.

[@GregBrownsWorldORacing]

Depends, are you going to quote yourself talking about the only story?

[@y00t00b3r]

I watched this video four times, and I'm still confused.

[@Strangegloves]

Some other bloke !!🤣🤣

[@alepaz1099]

🤯🤯

[@ottawavalleybushcraft]

Let’s go….Blue Jays! I like the hat Aidan 🇨🇦

[@AidanMillward]

Great city but I’m never driving on the fucking motorways again. Top tip: put the signs up about a mile before the junction so you know what lane to be in. Not actually at the junction. I almost killed two people diving cross three lanes of traffic to get to the airport.

[@skxj]

Ya that 401 is something else

[@AidanMillward]

@@skxjEnded up taking advantage of the grid system to loop round and get back on the 401 for another attempt, but wasn't able to dive across six lanes of traffic in time so ended up on some industrial estate on the other side of the airport. Had to grab some McDonald's wifi to use Apple Maps and figure out where to go. Mount Charles or something? I can't remember. Through sheer luck we just had to go to the end of the road and turn right and got into the airport that way.