What Michael Schumacher did in one ‘critical’ moment to deny Martin Brundle his only F1 win

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Martin Brundle may be known to younger Formula 1 fans for his commentary and legendary grid walks, but to dismiss his racing career would be doing him a disservice.

In the era of Michael Schumacher, Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost, Martin Brundle was one of the most talented drivers on the Formula 1 grid.

The 65-year-old made his debut in 1984 with Tyrrell having impressed in British Formula Three as part of Eddie Jordan’s racing, finishing runner-up to Senna.

Throughout 12 seasons with eight different teams, Brundle scored 98 career points – a number that would comfortably be in the hundreds using today’s system – and achieved nine podium finishes.

Brundle regularly outscored his teammates, although he came up against one man who turned out to be a level above.

During the 1992 season, Brundle and Schumacher were paired together at Benetton.

Schumacher had been signed by Benetton after just one race driving for the aforementioned Jordan and team boss Flavio Briatore had high hopes for the German.

He was so impressed during his debut campaign that Nelson Piquet is said to have lost interest in F1 because of Schumacher in 1991 because he was so fast.

Brundle in stark contrast had struggled through a tough year with Brabham but suddenly had a competitive car.

The 1992 Belgian Grand Prix was the scene of Schumacher’s first victory in F1, but as Brundle recalled on the Beyond The Grid Podcast, it could have quite easily have been his.

Martin Brundle laments ignoring ‘instinct’ that earned Michael Schumacher his first F1 win

Brundle was asked about the infamous race in Belgium in 1992 and said: “I’m following Michael, we’re third and fourth.

“We see the two all-dominant Williams, but it’s a bit of a wet [and] dry day.

“I come around Les Combes at the top of the hill and I’m thinking. It’s drying out, I’ve got really good grip there. I think I’m going to [pit] I’ve got nothing to lose from fourth, I’ll go in for slicks.

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“I can still see the Williams. It was a little bit wetter down there at Stavelot and I hesitated.

“I hesitated to go in the pits and it’s a critical moment, Michael’s now behind me. He sees how blistered my rear tyres are when we get to the Bus Stop.

“You had to go down the pit line before the Bus Stop then. Shall I, shan’t I? He’s now got nothing to lose.

“He sails down the pit line, gets the hot tyres that were ready for me if I’d have wanted them, comes out and wins the race.”

Martin Brundle remains one of F1’s greatest drivers without a race win

Brundle was pushed further on why he didn’t pit at that moment and described the difference in his and Schumacher’s racing instincts.

He continued: “It’s a little bit wetter down there. Don’t go one lap too early on the tyres.

“So, it was just that slight hesitation. What I should have done was follow my instincts at the top of the hill that there was grip.

“Michael would then have had to wait for me to get my tyres, which would have stuffed his race. I’d have gone out of the pits and won the race.

“Instead, he got his first victory. And, it’s tiny little turning points like that that make the difference.”

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Brundle ended up finishing fourth – before the dominant Williams cars of Nigel Mansell and Riccardo Patrese and had to watch Schumacher celebrate what would turn out to be the first of 91 Grand Prix victories.

Of Brundle’s nine podiums, he finished second on two occasions, to Senna at that year’s Italian Grand Prix, and to Schumacher in Monaco in 1994, this time racing for McLaren.

Nico Hulkenberg has a reputation in F1 currently for being on the longest streak without a podium, but only six drivers took part in more races than Brundle without standing on the top step of the podium.

Martin Brundle’s relationship with Michael Schumacher after missing out on F1 victory

It’s difficult for teammates in F1 to ever be friends considering what’s at stake each time they step into the car.

Brundle admitted that Schumacher didn’t speak to him for five years at one point but they did eventually resolve their differences.

The Brit eventually retired from F1 at the end of the 1996 season just as Schumacher went on to join Ferrari in a career-defining move for him and the sport as a whole.

Brundle believed Mika Hakkinen had more raw speed than Schumacher at the peak of his career, but that’s not to take away from any of the German’s achievements in the sport.

Ultimately, it’s a case of what could have been for Brundle and who knows how his career might have played out had he ducked into the pits at the pivotal moment 33 years ago.