The day Michael Schumacher turned down Ferrari's F1 team representative[F1-Gate.com]

Michael Schumacher has previously turned down offers to become Ferrari’s F1 team principal. Could the great F1 driver have saved the struggling Scuderia Ferrari had it not been for the skiing accident that put him out of action?

91 victories and seven times F1 world champion Michael Schumacher retired from F1 for the first time at the end of 2006. The retirement, widely reported as being forced by then Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo, opened the door for Kimi Raikkonen .

Michael Schumacher remained at Scuderia Ferrari from 2007 to 2009. After testing Ferrari’s F1 car in 2007, participating in several races as a technical adviser and being often seen on the pit wall, he made a sensational comeback with Mercedes F1 In 2010.

The seven-time F1 world champion has turned down an offer to become Ferrari’s new sporting director or team principal, as revealed by Jean Todt, Michael Schumacher’s former team boss at Ferrari.

Instead, Stefano Domenicali, who is currently in charge of all things F1, assumed the role from 2008 to 2014.

“Michael Schumacher was the best candidate, but he didn’t accept,” Jean Todt admitted to the German press in 2008.

Michael Schumacher remained close to the team as an adviser to driver Felipe Massa, helping the team in battles with McLaren in 2007 and 2008.

In Jean Todt’s final year, Kimi Raikkonen won the drivers’ title by beating Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso in a dramatic finish at Interlagos.

Under Stefano Domenicali, Ferrari came close to winning the championship three times, once with Felipe Massa in 2008 and with Fernando Alonso in 2010 and 2012.

Ferrari was unable to keep up the momentum of Michael Schumacher, Jean Todt and Ross Brawn, inevitably hampering the breakup of the legendary trio.

Even today, Ferrari has failed to return to the form it showed in the 2000s.

The problems that existed during the Stefano Domenicali era carried over into the Marzio Arrivabene era, with a further failed title win with Sebastian Vettel. Mattia Binotto failed to lead Charles Leclerc to glory in 2022.

Meanwhile, back in late 2012, Mercedes F1 boss Ross Brawn asked Michael Schumacher to join the team.

“It’s possible,” Ross Brawn said at the time.

“We are not discussing the details of what role Michael will play in the future as it is not considered at the moment but Michael’s experience in motor racing and his decisions etc will be a great asset.”

“I don’t know if he wants a day-to-day operation like some of us do, but he wants to stay involved. He loves the sport, he loves racing, he develops cars. And I like to see how the team works.”

“I can fully understand that he will continue to have a strong interest in the future and that will come at some point. I hope it will be done with us.”

Had it not been for the ski accident in January 2013, Michael Schumacher would most likely have been involved with Mercedes, and may even have returned to Ferrari in the future.

Michael Schumacher’s wealth of F1 experience would have been an asset to any F1 team.

Being a successful driver doesn’t necessarily mean being a great team boss, but Michael Schumacher was a game changer for F1. Not to mention what he’s accomplished on the track, he’s changed the way riders take fitness and preparation seriously.

Michael Schumacher