Michael Schumacher once rebuked his former Benetton team owner Alessandro Benetton for changing girlfriends, revealing the seven-time world champion's determined character.
Speaking on the High Performance Podcast, Benetton recalled how Schumacher, who joined Benetton during the 1991 season, made clear his disapproval of Benetton's bachelor lifestyle. At the time, Benetton was dating freely, while Schumacher had begun a serious relationship with his future wife, Corinna.
Schumacher's disapproval
Benetton described how he brought a new girlfriend to a Grand Prix, and Schumacher's reaction was immediate. "I could tell immediately Michael did not like that," Benetton said. "And we had no confidence, we were not friends. And he made sure I would know that he was not agreeing with my choice. But it was not in an arrogant manner. It was not in an impolite manner. It was just a way of telling me, 'Well, you shouldn't do that.'"
When asked by host Jake Humphrey whether Schumacher expressed his feelings explicitly, Benetton replied: "That's just how he behaved. That tells you, if you want to read it in a different manner, that he was very determined."
Discipline and success
Benetton added: "To him, order, discipline and being consistent with your choices was a way of life. [It] was something that meant a lot to him."
These principles played a major role in Schumacher's rise. After winning back-to-back world titles with Benetton in 1994 and 1995, he claimed five more with Ferrari. His first four-and-a-half years at Benetton proved formative, giving him his breakthrough as a genuine contender before joining an F1 superpower.
Schumacher, who still requires round-the-clock care following his 2013 skiing accident, met Corinna around the time he joined Benetton. His commitment to her contrasted with Benetton's more liberal approach to relationships.
