|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RALF SCHUMACHER
Biography
It can't be easy growing up in the shadow of an older brother who is a global superstar. It must be even harder when you end up doing the same job as your superstar sibling. But as we have seen over the past 10 years, these Schumacher's are made of stern stuff.
Ralf seems to have inherited his brother's mental toughness and this has undoubtedly stood him in good stead through his meteoric rise through the racing ranks.
He had a relatively unspectacular F3 career until the tail end of 1995 when it all started to come together. He took victory in the prestigious Macau Grand Prix (which Michael won in 1990) and then signed to race in the Japanese Formula Nippon Championship.
A dominant season in Japan followed, during which Ralf caught the eye of that perennial talent spotter, Eddie Jordan.
Ralf signed for EJ for 1997, forming a promising partnership with fellow rookie Giancarlo Fisichella. Schumacher Jr didn't waste time in making an impression, barging his team-mate out of the way as he charged to a podium place in only his third grand prix.
However, the rest of the season was an anti-climax and a disastrous start to 1998 saw Ralf in danger of losing his seat by mid-season.
However, a brilliant drive in the British Grand Prix from last to sixth helped rescue his reputation. After this watershed, Ralf didn't look back. Third places in the Belgian and Italian Grand Prix followed and by this time Williams were interested in employing the German.
A fantastic season for Williams in '99 saw the younger Schumacher score all of the team's 35 points that year, and he was unlucky not to take his debut win at the Nurburgring after being struck down by a puncture. More
|
|
|
|
|
