Eddie Irvine has branded former team-mate Michael Schumacher ‘an idiot’ following the German’s forceful move on Rubens Barrichello in Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix. The Irishman was Ferrari team-mate to the now 7-time World Champion for four seasons between 1996 and 1999.
Having moved to Ferrari with Schumacher, Irvine was replaced by Barrichello for 2000 before exiting the sport at the end of 2002 after spending three seasons with Jaguar. With Mercedes’ Schumacher having been highly criticised for the squeeze which so nearly put Barrichello’s Williams into the pit wall, Irvine spoke on the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast Show.
“He was an idiot,” he said of Schumacher. “It was an idiotic manoeuvre that was extremely dangerous, it was incredible. He wasn't thinking and it was just pure arrogance that he thought he could just drive another driver into the pit wall.”
With Michael having been handed a 10-place grid drop ahead of the next race in Belgium, Irvine – who received a one-race ban (later extended to three) for causing a pile-up in the 1994 Brazilian Grand Prix – believes Schumacher should be given a harsher penalty.
“He got punished but I don't think he got punished enough,” Eddie continued. “He should have got a one-race ban because it was one of the worst manoeuvres I've ever seen, but I don't think he should retire.
“He's always done stuff like this and has intimidated people for a long time, but he got away with it because he was Michael Schumacher, he was the 'the' Michael Schumacher, but this Michael Schumacher isn't getting away with it.”
On Monday, Schumacher apologised for the moment via the German version of his personal website.
Also on Wednesday: Schumacher inviting disaster, warns Stewart
The Lap 66 incident can be viewed below:
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