A great big brother

Michael Schumacher led the 1997 French Grand Prix in his Ferrari and found time to think of his younger brother Ralf, a Jordan driver, and help him finish sixth. The photo of the two brothers above was taken by Rainer W. Schlegelmilch during testing at Jerez in 1997.

Michael recounted: “While driving, I saw on the giant screens that Ralf had gone off the track and was fighting for a place in the points. I thought that if I let him overtake me, he would be able to complete another lap and gain a position.”

He explained: “I let him overtake me and therefore unlap himself in the last corner, and that’s how he managed to score a point. If I hadn’t done it, they would have shown him the checkered flag after me, and his race would have ended there.”

Impressive indeed, the lucidity of the man who would become seven-time Formula 1 world champion, and the mutual support between brothers on and off the track. Nowadays, our thoughts go to Michael, who still fights, following his ski accident…