Michael Schumacher had one special trait that stood out from other drivers on the F1 grid, according to former Mercedes race engineer Jock Clear. Jock worked alongside Schumacher at Mercedes during the champion's second stint in the sport, with the pair joining forces in 2011 and 2012.
Schumacher's return to F1 wasn't as successful as his initial stint in the sport at Ferrari, yielding just one podium finish. However, Jock admits the seven-time F1 champion had lost none of his engineering sparkle despite taking three seasons off between 2007 and 2009.
Communication was key
Most importantly, Jock admits that Schumacher had a knack for communicating with his Silver Arrows mechanics, ensuring that development stayed on track and engineers weren't led down a 'rabbit hole'.
Speaking exclusively to Express Sport through betselect.co.uk, Jock said: "It was an absolute pleasure. When Michael arrived at Mercedes, I still had some lingering doubts about him because of what I'd seen from him on track.
"But over that year, I really saw a different Michael. The eye-opener was just how engaging he was and what a gentleman he was out of the car. It soon became clear why he had won seven championships.
Leadership and responsibility
"He knew how to motivate people behind the scenes. He understood that being a driver wasn't just a two- or three-day-a-week task. Every day was an opportunity to motivate the people around you, keep everyone driving forward, and lead the team.
"He also understood the responsibility that came with being a driver. What you say carries enormous weight. A throwaway comment from a driver can send 400 people in the aerodynamics department down a rabbit hole.
"Michael understood that, and he recognised that he had to be very careful with his leadership."
Retirement and legacy
Schumacher retired from F1 at the end of the 2012 season, just 12 months before his devastating ski accident in December 2013. Meanwhile, Mercedes were more competitive in 2013 and went on to dominate the sport in the turbo-hybrid era from 2014 with Lewis Hamilton snapping up six world titles with the team.
Working so closely to the sport's only other seven-time champion allowed Clear to better understand Schumacher, admitting one thing made the champion 'so effective' in the sport. Jock added: "He was also a very thoughtful person. Michael didn't do much without thinking first: What are the implications here? When you sat opposite him, you realised that was a big part of what made him so effective."
