10.06.2025Schumi's first Formula 1-bolide: How everything started

How did Schumi end up racing in the Jordan?

Jordan regular driver Bertrand Gachot, who had won the 1991 24 Hours of Le Mans and was now aiming for his breakthrough in Formula 1, was arrested in London. Team boss Eddie Jordan, who was driving his team's first Formula 1 season, then searched for a second driver for the upcoming race at the Circuit Spa-Francorchamps. Through Mercedes, where Schumi was then racing in the Sports Car World Championship in a Group C Sauber Mercedes, Jordan contacted Michael Schumacher's manager, Willi Weber. To secure the Formula 1 seat for the 22-year-old, Weber told team boss Jordan that Schumacher already had extensive experience at the Spa race track, as it was only about 100 kilometers from his hometown of Kerpen. The truth, however, was that Michael Schumacher had never driven at Spa. In any case, the deception ultimately helped him secure his Formula 1 seat. So, at the start of the race week, the then Mercedes driver flew to the team headquarters in Silverstone for a seat adjustment and a few test laps in the Formula 1 car, before competing in his first Formula 1 race the following weekend.

How did the race go?

In qualifying, the young Schumacher immediately demonstrated his skills by qualifying in seventh place. Ahead of him were Senna, Prost, Mansell, Berger, Alesi, and Piquet, the who's who of Formula 1 at the time. But there's not much more to report about the young German's debut. In the race, Schumacher only managed 400 meters before his Jordan 191 broke down with clutch failure.

What happened after the first Grand Prix?

But those 400 meters were enough to qualify for greater things. Immediately after the Belgian Grand Prix, Formula 1 marketer Bernie Ecclestone had already put out feelers and was very interested in placing the young talent in a competitive team – also with the goal of making Formula 1 more popular in Germany. And this team wasn't Jordan, but Benetton under the leadership of Flavio Briatore. However, Benetton wasn't exactly thrilled about signing a driver who hadn't even completed a single lap in a Grand Prix to date. But as usual, Ecclestone didn't give in and, after long negotiations, got his way. Jordan had to let Schumacher go, who was given a contract with Benetton. Roberto Moreno, who had to vacate his cockpit at Benetton, was fobbed off with a two-race contract with Jordan.

What happened next is Formula 1 history: In his first race for Benetton at Monza, Schumi scored his first points, defeating Nelson Piquet within the team. One year after his debut, he celebrated his first victory at the 1992 Grand Prix in Spa-Francorchamps. In 1994 and 1995, he became world champion with Benetton before moving to Scuderia Ferrari, where he truly became a legend with five consecutive titles.

The Jordan 191, with its green and blue livery and striking advertising partners such as 7 Up and Tic Tac, remains well-known and beloved by fans to this day. WERK83 has now released this historic vehicle in scale 1:18. The model features a faithful replica of the cockpit with a driver figure and is manufactured to the usual high quality.

M. Schumacher Jordan 191 #32 1st GP Race Belgian GP Formula 1 1991 1:18, RRP €79.95, item-no.: W1802501

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M. Schumacher Jordan 191 #32 1st GP Race Belgian GP Formula 1 1991 1:18 WERK83

71,96 €