Verstappen says Schumacher cheated in 1994
Michael Schumacher and Benetton team manager Flavio Briatore pictured during the 1994 season
BleachersReport
Dec.7 (GMM) Michael Schumacher’s 1994 teammate Jos Verstappen has accused the German of winning his first Formula 1 world championship with the help of illegal electronic aids.
Jos Verstapen with burns suffered in the 1994 German GP
Dutchman Verstappen claims that while the Benetton he raced almost two decades ago conformed to the rules, the sister car driven to the title by Schumacher was fitted with secret systems.
“I know what happened when we were together at Benetton,” Verstappen is quoted by the Dutch-language Nusport.
“People think I’m looking for excuses but I know that his car was different from mine.
“I always thought it was impossible; I braked at the limit and took the corners as hard as possible, so how could Schumacher do it? There was something wrong.
“There were electronic driver aids. It was never mentioned, but I’m convinced and when I later asked Flavio Briatore he replied ‘Let’s not talk about it’. So I know enough now.
Ayrton Senna was convinced that Michael Schumacher and Benetton were running an illegal car in 1994
“Like everyone else, Michael is also dependent on his car. For most people he was a god but he is not superman — in a go-kart he never beat me,” added Verstappen.
Prior to his death at Imola that year, Ayrton Senna was very suspicious that the Benetton, particularly Schumacher’s was illegal and using some form of traction control.
Also that year cheating allegations reignited mid-season, after a refuelling fire on Verstappen’s Benetton at the German GP.
After an investigation by Intertechnique at Benetton’s team factory, the FIA revealed that the team had been using an illegal fuel valve, without a fuel filter, that pumped fuel into the car 12.5% faster than a normal, legal fuel valve that had a filter.