32 years ago, Michael Schumacher won his first Grand Prix at Spa

By signing a remarkable 3 on Friday^e time behind Mansell and Senna, Schumacher quickly forgot his slight exit from the road at the start of the session, on cold tires. Saturday, it rains and the hierarchy will not be changed. Michael likes rain, but at the start of the Grand Prix, the Ardennes drizzle did not moisten the track enough to fit the sculpted tires.

Everyone had to start on Slicks, with Ayrton Senna leading the way ahead of Nigel Mansell, Riccardo Patrese and Michael Schumacher, who stood up with the conviction that victory was within his reach.

From the 2^e tower, the Williams overflowed the McLaren, while the rain appears in earnest. Mansell puts on sculpted tires from 3^e lap, imitated one lap later by Schumacher, who found himself 9^e. Patrese stops at 6^e lap, which gives back first place to Senna. The Brazilian, who has bet on a rapid drying out, will not be able to resist the Williams and the Benetton for long, before opting for the “Rain” in his turn.

The stops multiply, Alesi is trapped and from the 13th^e passage, Schumacher points at 3^e rank behind Mansell and Patrese. A situation that will last until the 29th^e lap, when he makes his second stop to put on Slicks, because the rain has stopped and the track is drying.

Michael then had just had a big scare, going out onto the grass at Stavelot, under pressure from Martin Brundle. “ It was pretty bad, he acknowledged, then my luck suddenly arrived. When I saw Martin overtaking me, I saw his blistered tires. Mine couldn't have been any better. Hence my change of wheels immediately. It was the best decision »

Michael Schumacher plays with weather conditions © DPPI

By stopping earlier than his rivals, Michael has just made the difference. Left again 4^e behind Brundle, 18" from the leader, he took 3^e place when his teammate stops in turn at 31^e turn.

One more loop and there he is taking advantage of Patrese's stop. And at the end of 33^e turn, that of Mansell – too late due to an internal mix-up within the Williams team – gave him first place with a 5” lead. Traffic drops the gap to 3", but due to a broken exhaust, Mansell has no choice but to secure 2^e instead.

Imperial, Schumacher crossed the line with a lead of 36” and let his joy burst forth with an exuberance that was more Latin than Germanic: “ Spa is only 100 km from my house. This is my circuit. It's a victory that I will remember for a long time. In the last lap, I just had to thank everyone who worked to get here ". The dynamic of 91 victories was launched.

This article can be found in our Michael Schumacher Collector. 132 pages retracing the career of the seven-time World Champion Formula 1, available in our online store.

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