Editing Michael Schumacher (section)

====1994–1995: Back-to-back World Championships====
[[File:Benetton B 194 4841.JPG|thumb|left|Schumacher drove the [[Benetton B194]] to his first World Championship in 1994.]]
Schumacher won his first [[List of Formula One World Drivers' Champions|Drivers' Championship]] in {{F1|1994}}. Driving the [[Benetton B194]], which has been called the worst car to have won a Formula One World Championship and was difficult to drive,<ref>{{Cite magazine|title='The ugly duckling', the story of Benetton's B195|magazine=Autosport|year=2002}}</ref> so much so that Schumacher had three different teammates ([[JJ Lehto]], [[Jos Verstappen]], and [[Johnny Herbert]]) due to crashes, Schumacher won the first four races and finished the season with eight wins.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Velasco|first=Paul|date=3 February 2020|title=Benetton B194: The car that launched the Michael Schumacher Legend|url=https://www.paddock-legends.com/en/news/benetton-b194-the-car-that-launched-the-michael-schumacher-legend-2020-02-03/b-77/|access-date=10 February 2024|website=Paddock Legends}}</ref> He won six of the first seven races, including the {{F1 GP|1994|Brazilian}} in which he lapped the entire field,<ref name="Foster 2024"/> and was leading the {{F1 GP|1994|Spanish}}, before a gearbox failure left him stuck in fifth gear for most of the race.<ref name="Gibson 2016"/> Schumacher made two [[pit stop]]s without stalling and finished the race in second place. Benetton boss Flavio Briatore stated that Schumacher's drive was one of the best he had ever seen.<ref>{{Cite web|date=30 April 2003|title=A return to racing – Spanish Grand Prix 1994|url=http://www.formula1.com/news/features/2003/4/288.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517003958/http://www.formula1.com/news/features/2003/4/288.html|archive-date=17 May 2008|access-date=26 May 2008|publisher=Formula One}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=27 October 2020|title=Nine lost F1 wins that stopped Schumacher reaching 100|url=https://the-race.com/formula-1/nine-lost-f1-wins-that-stopped-schumacher-reaching-100/|access-date=17 July 2023|website=The Race|archive-date=17 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230717124456/https://the-race.com/formula-1/nine-lost-f1-wins-that-stopped-schumacher-reaching-100/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The 1994 season was marred by the [[death of Ayrton Senna]], which was witnessed by Schumacher who was directly behind Senna, and that of [[Roland Ratzenberger]] during the {{F1 GP|1994|San Marino}}; there were also [[allegations of cheating during the 1994 Formula One season]] involving several teams, most particularly Schumacher's Benetton, having allegedly broken the sport's technical regulations.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Saward|first=Joe|author-link=Joe Saward|date=11 August 1994|title=Globetrotter: Rocking the boat|url=http://www.grandprix.com/gt/gt00044.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080929033558/http://www.grandprix.com/gt/gt00044.html|archive-date=29 September 2008|access-date=28 August 2008|website=GrandPrix.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Domenjoz|first=Luc|title=Michael Schumacher: The Rise of a Genius|publisher=[[Parragon]]|year=2006|isbn=978-0-7525-9228-2|pages=44–47|orig-year=2002}}</ref> Following the San Marino Grand Prix, the Benetton, [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]], and [[McLaren]] teams were investigated on suspicion of breaking the [[Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile|FIA]]-imposed ban on electronic aids. Benetton and McLaren initially refused to hand over their [[source code]] for investigation. When they did so, the FIA discovered hidden functionality in both teams' software but no evidence that it had been used in a race. Both teams were fined $100,000 for their initial refusal to cooperate. The McLaren software, which was a gearbox program that allowed automatic shifts, was deemed legal. By contrast, the Benetton software was deemed to be a form of launch control that would have allowed Schumacher to make perfect starts, which was explicitly outlawed by the regulations; Benetton and [[Willem Toet]], a Formula One [[aerodynamicist]] for over thirty years who worked at Benetton until 1994, stated that traction control was legally achieved through [[rotational inertia]].<!--https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-rotational-inertia-led-traction-control-willem-toet/ See also https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/f1-broken-rules-fire-willem-toet/--> There was no evidence to suggest the software was used.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Williams|first=Richard|title=The Death of Ayrton Senna|publisher=Bloomsbury|year=1999|isbn=978-0-7475-4495-1|pages=177–179}}</ref>

At the {{F1 GP|1994|British}}, Schumacher was penalised for overtaking Hill on the [[formation lap]]. He and Benetton then ignored the penalty and the subsequent [[Black flag (racing flags)|black flag]], which indicates that the driver must immediately return to the pits, for which he was disqualified and later given a two-race ban. Benetton blamed the incident on a communication error between the stewards and the team.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Hilton|first=Christopher|title=Michael Schumacher: The whole story|publisher=Haynes|year=2006|isbn=978-1-84425-008-0|pages=118–120|url=https://archive.org/details/michaelschumache0000hilt/page/118/mode/2up|url-access=registration}}</ref> Schumacher was also disqualified after winning the {{F1 GP|1994|Belgian}}, after his car was found to have illegal wear on its [[skid block]], a measure used after the accidents at Imola to limit [[downforce]] and hence cornering speed.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Grand Prix Results: Belgian GP, 1994 <!--|work=Grand Prix Encyclopedia-->|website=GrandPrix.com|url=http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr559.html|access-date=13 May 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060318032619/http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr559.html|archive-date=18 March 2006}}</ref> Benetton protested that the skid block had been damaged when Schumacher spun over a kerb; the FIA rejected their appeal because of the pattern of wear and damage visible on the block.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Hilton|first=Christopher|title=Michael Schumacher: The whole story|publisher=Haynes|year=2006|isbn=978-1-84425-008-0|page=142|url=https://archive.org/details/michaelschumache0000hilt/page/142/mode/2up|url-access=registration}}</ref> The two-race ban punishment was seen by many observers as petty and insignificant, and that it was a result of Benetton feud with the FIA, with Schumacher being a victim and the FIA trying to deny him his first World Championship.<ref name="Sports Illustrated 1995">{{Cite web|date=17 July 1995|title=Road Warrior Michael Schumacher Has Made A Splash as the World's Top Race, Despite His Battle with Formula One Leadership|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1995/07/17/road-warrior-michael-schumacher-has-made-a-splash-as-the-worlds-top-racer-despite-his-battles-with-formula-one-leadership|access-date=10 February 2024|website=Sports Illustrated<!--Vault | SI.com-->|archive-date=20 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120011252/https://vault.si.com/vault/1995/07/17/road-warrior-michael-schumacher-has-made-a-splash-as-the-worlds-top-racer-despite-his-battles-with-formula-one-leadership|url-status=live}}</ref> These incidents helped Damon Hill close the points gap, and Schumacher led by a single point going into the final race at the {{F1 GP|1994|Australian}}. On lap 36, Schumacher hit the guardrail on the outside of the track while leading. Hill attempted to pass but as Schumacher's car returned to the track there was a collision on the corner causing them both to retire.<ref>{{Cite web|title=1994 F1 World Championship {{!}} Motorsport Database|url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/championships/1994-f1-world-championship/|access-date=9 February 2024|website=Motor Sport|archive-date=13 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240213100257/https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/championships/1994-f1-world-championship/|url-status=live}}</ref> As a result, Schumacher won the Drivers' Championship,<ref name="Benson 2006">{{Cite news |last=Benson |first=Andrew |date=28 May 2006 |title=Schumacher's chequered history |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/low/motorsport/formula_one/5024532.stm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070831141514/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/low/motorsport/formula_one/5024532.stm |archive-date=31 August 2007 |access-date=15 June 2007 |publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> the first German to do so—[[Jochen Rindt]] (the only posthumous Drivers' Champion) was German but raced under the Austrian flag, and whose domination in {{F1|1970}} was later equalled by Schumacher.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hill|first=Matt|date=15 January 2015|title=The Champion That Never Saw the Final Flag Fall|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/573860-the-champion-that-never-saw-the-final-flag-fall|access-date=10 February 2024|website=Bleacher Report|archive-date=5 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205170043/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/573860-the-champion-that-never-saw-the-final-flag-fall|url-status=live}}</ref> The race stewards judged it as a racing accident and took no action against either driver. Although the Drivers' Championship had been decided in a similar manner in 1989 and 1990,<ref name="Walfisz 2023"/> public opinion was divided over the incident,<ref>{{Cite book|last=Henry|first=Alan|url=https://archive.org/details/wheeltowheelgrea0000henr/page/116/mode/2up|title=Wheel to Wheel: Great Duels of Formula One Racing|publisher=Weidenfeld Nicolson Illustrated|year=1998|isbn=978-0-7538-0522-0|page=117|orig-year=1996|url-access=registration}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=18 October 1999|title=Now we are 76...: Murray Walker|website=GrandPrix.com|url=http://www.grandprix.com/ft/ft00341.html|access-date=30 November 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071203081029/http://www.grandprix.com/ft/ft00341.html|archive-date=3 December 2007}}</ref> and Schumacher was vilified in the British media.<ref name="GrandPrix.com 1997">{{Cite news|date=3 November 1997|title=The lost honor of Michael Schumacher|website=GrandPrix.com|url=http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns01331.html|access-date=24 October 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070206052410/http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns01331.html|archive-date=6 February 2007}}</ref><ref name="Molinaro 2006">{{Cite news|last=Molinaro|first=John F.|date=12 September 2006|title=Top 10 Michael Schumacher Moments|work=CBC Sports|url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/indepth/10-schumacher-momments.html|access-date=3 November 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070103093347/http://www.cbc.ca/sports/indepth/10-schumacher-momments.html|archive-date=3 January 2007}}</ref> At the FIA conference after the race, Schumacher dedicated his title to Senna.<ref>{{Cite web|date=13 November 1994|title=Today in History |publisher= Deutsche Welle|url=http://www.todayinhistory.de/index.php?what=thmanu&manu_id=1644&tag=13&monat=11&year=2013&dayisset=1&lang=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117015458/http://www.todayinhistory.de/index.php?what=thmanu&manu_id=1644&tag=13&monat=11&year=2013&dayisset=1&lang=en|archive-date=17 November 2015|access-date=26 November 2015|website=Todayinhistory.de}}</ref>

[[File:Michael Schumacher 1995 Britain 2.jpg|thumb|Schumacher driving for Benetton in 1995 at the {{F1 GP|1995|British}}. That year, he won his second World Championship.]]
In {{F1|1995}}, Schumacher successfully defended his title with Benetton, which now had the same Renault engine as [[Williams Grand Prix Engineering|Williams]]; according to ''Motor Sport'' magazine, Benetton had the better team, while Williams had the superior car.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Simmons|first=Marcus|date=7 July 2014|title=How the war was won|url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/december-1995/16/how-the-war-was-won|access-date=30 August 2021|website=Motor Sport|archive-date=30 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210830141737/https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/december-1995/16/how-the-war-was-won}}</ref> Schumacher accumulated 33 more points than second-placed Hill. With Herbert as teammate, he took Benetton to its first [[List of Formula One World Constructors' Champions|Constructors' Championship]], breaking the dominance of McLaren and Williams, and became the youngest two-time World Champion in Formula One history.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Throwback: The 1995 Formula One season in photos|work=Fox Sports|url=https://www.foxsports.com/motor/gallery/the-1995-f1-season-images-030515|access-date=22 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180322143406/https://www.foxsports.com/motor/gallery/the-1995-f1-season-images-030515|archive-date=22 March 2018}}</ref> The season was marred by several collisions with Hill, in particular an overtaking manoeuvre by Hill took them both out of the {{F1 GP|1995|British}} on lap 45, and again on lap 23 of the {{F1 GP|1995|Italian}}; it also saw one of his career's best overtakes, with the one over [[Jean Alesi]] giving him the win at the {{F1 GP|1995|European}},<ref name="Foster 2024"/> after he reduced the half a minute gap in the final dozen laps.<ref name="Gibson 2016"/> Schumacher won 9 of the 17 races, including the {{F1 GP|1995|French}},<ref name="Sports Illustrated 1995"/> and finished on the podium 11 times. It was only once that he qualify worse than fourth; at the {{F1 GP|1995|Belgian}}, he qualified 16th but nevertheless went on to win the wet-dry race,<ref>{{Cite web|title=1995 F1 World Championship {{!}} Motorsport Database|url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/championships/1995-f1-world-championship/|access-date=9 February 2024|website=Motor Sport|archive-date=23 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230923184640/https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/championships/1995-f1-world-championship/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/11995565/belgian-gp-1995-watchalong-michael-schumacher-vs-damon-hill-at-wet-and-dramatic-spa|title=Belgian GP 1995 Watchalong: Michael Schumacher vs Damon Hill at wet Spa|date=27 May 2020|publisher=[[Sky Sports]]|access-date=14 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200614084735/https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/11995565/belgian-gp-1995-watchalong-michael-schumacher-vs-damon-hill-at-wet-and-dramatic-spa|archive-date=14 June 2020}}</ref> finishing 16 seconds ahead of Hill,<ref name="Foster 2024"/> with whom he had ferocious wheel-to-wheel racing and involved some crucial strategic calls.<ref name="Gibson 2016"/> His bad qualifying was a result of a crash he had in the final free practice, and by the time his car was rebuilt, it had started to rain; this ended his 56-race streak of outqualifiyng his teammates that started in 1992, after he missed a gear in qualifying in [[1991 Australian Grand Prix|Adelaide in 1991]] and was outqualified by Nelson Piquet.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kabra|first=Akshat|date=14 December 2023|title='He was not outqualified by a teammate for 4 years' – Mind-boggling Michael Schumacher statistic shared by F1 pundit|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/f1/news-he-outqualified-teammate-4-years-mind-boggling-michael-schumacher-statistic-shared-f1-pundit|access-date=9 February 2024|website=Sportskeeda.com}}</ref>