Ralf Schumacher could have matched brother Michael in winning the world F1 title were it not for two accidents which derailed his career, according to one leading figure in the sport. The younger Schumacher brother started 180 Grands Prix in his decade long career, representing Jordan, Williams, and Toyota.
He won six times but never came close to matching the standards set by his more illustrious sibling. Schumacher senior won seven world titles, a record he currently shares with Mercedes man Lewis Hamilton.
The closest Ralf came to a world title was in the 2001 and 2002 campaigns, where he finished fourth when still with Williams. On both occasions, it was Michael who finished atop the drivers’ standings, amid a run which saw him crowned champion for five consecutive years at Ferrari.
But AlphaTauri Team Principal Franz Tost has claimed things could have been far different had Ralf not suffered serious crashes in both 2003 and 2004. The first came during testing at Monza and the second at Indianapolis – leaving him with two minor fractures to his spinal column which caused him to miss six races.
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