...By Lola Smith for TDPel Media.
Former Red Bull driver Jaime Alguersuari has shared his experience of racing against Michael Schumacher when the F1 legend returned to the sport with Mercedes in 2010.
Alguersuari battled Schumacher on track for two years, with the pair racing predominantly in the midfield.
Alguersuari lost his seat with Toro Rosso at the end of the 2011 season.
In an exclusive interview with Daily Star Sport, Alguersuari revealed what it was like to face Schumacher and what advice the Ferrari legend gave him while he was making his way in F1.
Alguersuari described Schumacher as an idol and a hero.
Watching him dominate the sport while Alguersuari was working his way up through the different levels, and then suddenly racing against him, was a surreal experience for the Spaniard.
Despite their incomparable levels of experience at the time, the pair enjoyed their fair share of battles on track.
Alguersuari gave Schumacher as good as he got.
During pre-season testing in Jerez, Schumacher gave Alguersuari some words of wisdom.
He told him to listen to as many people as possible and to absorb what he found interesting.
Schumacher also shared some comments that he used to share with young people.
Alguersuari finished just two seconds behind Schumacher at the 2010 Australian Grand Prix, where he kept the German behind him for 55 laps with old tyres before ultimately losing out.
Alguersuari initially saw Schumacher as an idol and hero.
However, over time, he began to treat him like just another competitor.
Alguersuari explained that this allowed him to develop more self-belief and trust in himself to try to do things he may not have thought possible.
Schumacher was known for taking things super seriously and professionally, which made him a unique character in the sport.
Overall, the article provides an interesting insight into what it was like for Alguersuari to race against one of the greatest F1 drivers of all time.
It also shows how Schumacher’s presence on the track influenced and inspired the younger driver, both on and off the track.
