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BINOTTO on MICHAEL's first FERRAR test and track conversion in FIORAN

Mattia Binotto, head of the Ferrari team, remembers Michael Schumacher’s first Ferrari test in 1995 in Fiorano. After this test, they had to rework the first turn of the track.

November 1995 je Michael Schumacher iz Benetton transferred to Ferrari. The then two-time world champion has left his mark in from day one Maranello also Fioran. On the legendary test track Ferrari the German did his christening ride with a red race car. At that time, the current head of the team from Maranello was also present as a young engineer Mattia binotto.

"I still remember the first test with Michael in Fioran,”So Italian in a podcast Beyond the Grid. Schumacher wanted before official testing in Estoril in Portugal, on the Ferrari home track in Fioran take a few laps to get used to the car. binotto still knows well how many settings have been made and for Schumacher they had to adjust the steering wheel and seat several times. But that was not all. “He was not able to perform the first turn of the track well. He just couldn’t make that turn." Schumacher he is said to be slower than the racers who have tested on this track before him, including Jean Alesi, Gerhard Berger and also test racer Nicola Larini. “I remember after that first test, he asked Jean Todt to change that turn. He didn't want to see that turn again."

Even before the official testing in 1996 in Estoril at the end of November 1995, Michael Schumacher wanted to do a few laps with the race car of his new employer Ferrari in Fiorano.

Ferrari he understandably listened to the wish of the new bearer of hope. “Yes, we changed the first turn because it was no longer representative of the turn in the Formula 1 championship. That was the reasoning,”He adds with a smile binotto. "Since then, the Fiorano has had a different floor plan.“Where exactly did he have it Schumacher problems with this turn, the Italian still does not know. “But he had problems, which is why we changed the floor plan.“Years 1996 the track was really remodeled. The sharp turn at the end of the exit from the pits was replaced by a fast turn, and the track was shortened by 24 meters to 2,997 kilometers. But this was not the only disagreement at the beginning of the collaboration Schumacher in Ferrari. On the official test in Estoril the official start was set for 9 p.m. Engineers Ferrari they came to the track around 8.20:XNUMX p.m., where he was already waiting for them angry Michael Schumacher. "We got to the track at 8.20 and Michael was already there waiting for us. He looked at his watch and asked us where we were going. We should have a meeting at 8 o'clock,”He remembers binotto.

Official presentation of the 1996 Ferrari race car on the track in Fiorano. From left to right: Eddie Irvine, Nicola Larini, Luca di Montezemolo and Michael Schumacher.

Schumacher broke the old tradition of taking off first at 9 p.m. heating circuit and only then do they discuss the test program. The meeting was ordered for 8 p.m.. "From Michael onwards, we have our first meeting every morning at 8 p.m.“They are in this conversation Schumacher explained about the program. Initially, you should drive different settings with around 50 kilograms of fuel in the tank, and in the last hour of the day, Ferrari traditionally set out to chase the best of times. “In the last hour, we would once again head to the track with a small amount of fuel, with about ten pounds for one qualifying lap. That the next day Italian newspapers could write that Michael Schumacher was the fastest in Ferrari. Let him ask why we are doing this."

Michael Schumacher introduced a new approach to tasks at Ferrari and this paid off with five consecutive championship titles a few years later.

Schumacher disagreed with such an approach and said the tests were designed to learn something and without focusing on the fastest lap time. “He insisted that we drive with 50 pounds of fuel all day. This, too, was again a big change for us, this approach of his. Let me also mention: He drove the best time of the lap with 50 kilograms of fuel." binotto already on this first test he noticed what this one was like Michael Schumacher as a racer. “Hard worker and leader. A strong and fast racer. And he taught us how to approach the task."   

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