Former manager Willi Weber said he was “speechless” after recent statements by Jean Todt, who admitted that Michael Schumacher had intentionally caused two controversial incidents.
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The former Ferrari boss indeed admitted that the maneuvers at Jerez in 1997 — during the duel for the world title — and at Monaco in 2006 during qualifying were deliberate, marking a clear break from the defensive line adopted at the time by the Scuderia.
A statement that deeply surprised Weber, Schumacher’s former long-time manager, especially given the personal context of the seven-time world champion, who has been absent from the public sphere since his serious skiing accident in 2013. “I am speechless. Why say such a thing? And especially in Michael’s difficult situation”, he reacted.
Not intentional
Weber firmly defended the German driver’s character, rejecting any idea of malicious intent. Regarding the Jerez episode, he speaks of a “tough but necessary” maneuver in the context of a title fight with Jacques Villeneuve, recalling that similar — or even more aggressive — actions have punctuated F1 history, notably the clashes between Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost.
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Regarding the Monaco 2006 incident, where Schumacher had stopped his car at Rascasse during qualifying, causing yellow flags to prevent his rival Fernando Alonso from snatching pole position, Weber also disputes any premeditation, simply citing an error. “Where would we be if even a seven-time world champion wasn’t allowed to make mistakes?”, he insists.
A lack of empathy and solidarity
Beyond the substance, Weber questions Todt’s motivations for reopening this file years later, showing a complete lack of respect for the injured champion, suggesting he might be seeking to exonerate himself retrospectively. He also reveals that he no longer maintains relations with the former French executive, a link broken after Schumacher’s accident, an event which, according to him, remains a constant source of pain.
This stance revives an old but sensitive debate, between a sporting interpretation of the facts and ethical judgment, in a context where speaking about Schumacher remains particularly delicate.
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