Karun Chandhok lauds Michael Schumacher masterclass that was one of F1’s ‘most underrated’ races

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Karun Chandhok has revealed that he thinks a Micheal Schumacher masterclass is one of the ‘most underrated’ races in Formula 1 history.

Michael Schumacher’s career in the championship spanned over 20 years, with his first championships coming at Benetton during the 1994 and 1995 seasons.

He would later go on to switch to Ferrari while they were in a period of decline and in need of a desperate change to recapture their former glory years.

Despite a tricky first year with the team, Schumacher brought them back to winning ways just a few races in with a victory in treacherous conditions for the 1996 Spanish Grand Prix which would earn him the nickname ‘regenmeister’ among F1 folklore.

READ MORE: The 1994 Benetton cheating accusations that dominated Michael Schumacher’s first F1 championship

However, it would be a few more years until Schumacher was able to achieve title success with the team, which happened at the 2000 Japanese Grand Prix.

Karun Chandhok hails Michael Schumacher performance in 2000 Japanese Grand Prix

Schumacher was in an intense title battle with defending World Champion Mika Hakkinen, and had to win the race regardless of where the McLaren driver finished.

After losing out to Haikkinen at the start, Ferrari elected to keep Schumacher out following the second round of pit stops owing to some impending rain at the Suzuka circuit.

Schumacher stayed in the lead and pulled away from Haikkinen, prompting Ferrari to call him in for their last pit stop. Team manager Ross Brawn gave him a countdown as he exited the pit box, telling him as he exited in front of Haikkinen: “It’s looking fantastic Michael!”

He went on to win the race just as drizzle hit the track, securing Ferrari’s first Drivers’ World Championship since 1979.

“One of the most underrated races of all time…. Two brilliant champions driving flat out for every lap, some drizzle in the air and the Ferrari drought finally ending,” said Chandhok.

Italy celebrates Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari title

After the race, Schumacher’s title success was met with a lot of fanfare in Italy, considering it was the first time they won a title in over two decades.

Schumacher won the Drivers’ Championship with 12 points to spare from Haikkinen, who would go on to do one more season in F1 before taking a sabbatical and eventually retiring.

Ferrari president Luza di Montezemolo described the victory as the “most beautiful day of my life” having finally ended their title drought.

It set Schumacher and Ferrari on course for further success in 2002, 2003, and 2004 when the German became a seven-time World Champion, a record that was eclipsed by Lewis Hamilton in 2020.