An F1 insider has revealed some quotes from an F1 champion regarding the mind games he faced from seven-time champion Michael Schumacher when they were team-mates.

After losing out on the 2005 and 2006 world championships to Fernando Alonso, Schumacher opted to retire from F1 as a seven-time champion.

He would only sit out three seasons though, before making a stunning return in 2010 as a 41-year-old.

Schumacher joined Mercedes, helping the German car manufacturer to find their feet in their early days as a works F1 outfit. He raced for three seasons for Mercedes, picking up just one podium, but his input was crucial in determining the outfit’s future, and they were the dominant force in the sport by 2014.

Mercedes opted for an all-German driver lineup in their early seasons, with Schumacher being joined by Nico Rosberg.

Despite having a respectful relationship in a kind of master and apprentice setup, Rosberg and Schumacher did not always see eye to eye, particularly during weekends when Mercedes were challenging for podiums or race wins.

Now, Sky Sports F1 presenter Rachel Brookes has revealed how an infamous incident between the two Germans came about, due to an unfortunate toilet situation at the Monaco Grand Prix.

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Schumacher’s mind games

In her new book, Drive (released 07/05/26, published by Michael O’Mara Books), Brookes explained the situation.

“As a journalist I carry out what I call toilet-run interviews,” Brookes began. “The drivers come off the grid and go to the bathroom before the race start, and I intercept them on the way and ask one or two questions about the race ahead. It still amazes me to this day that they speak to me so close to the race start, but it’s one of the most highly charged moments of the weekend.

“Most tracks have toilet blocks easily accessible to the drivers, some even have toilets within the teams’ garages, but Monaco is a whole different ball game. For the most glamorous and expensive race of the year, it has the fewest toilets. I’ll let Nico explain, speaking here on the Beyond Victory podcast…”

Brookes then included an excerpt from a Rosberg interview: “So this guy, for three years, Mr Mind Games. One example was Monaco qualifying. There’s only one toilet in the garage. So he’s in the toilet, and I go down, and it’s 10 minutes before, and I know that ‘OK, I have my two minutes now for the last pee and then jump in the car and go and qualify’.

“So I knock on the door, because it was locked, and I’m like, ‘Nico, here, let me in.’ No answer, nothing. So I’m knocking, knocking, no answer, nothing. Locked. But I can hear that someone’s in there. So here was Michael leaning against the wall, looking at his watch, and he knew that as long as he made it out with three minutes to go, he could still just about jump in the car, put the seat belt on and go. And I’m outside, full panic mode, and so I went for the oil bucket option in the corner.

“So I managed to do what I needed to do, but the panic had such an impact on my qualifying. These games, all day long.”

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Paul Meijer enjoyed a challenging and successful weekend, racing at both the Nurburgring 24 hour race and Spa-Francorchamps.

The Dutch Porsche driver took part in two separate events – winning at both – and proved his versatility behind the wheel.

Meijer shared the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup with team-mates Alexander Hardt, Benja Hites, and Benjamin Koslowski for Black Falcon Team Zimmermann.

In a dramatic turn of events during the first qualifying session, Hardt’s car unexpectedly halted and caught fire, with matters worsening when another Porsche collided with them.

Fortunately, both Hardt and the other driver, Janina Schall, emerged unscathed. Although Black Falcon received permission to use a spare chassis, the team ultimately qualified last in the Cup 2 class.

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Meijer wins simultaneously in Germany and Belgium

The team made an impressive turnaround in the race. “After starting from the back – finishing P97 overall and last in our class – we had taken the lead by the end of the first stint,” Meijer told GPFans and Autosport.nl on Sunday morning.

“I’ve completed two double stints, and at 9:00 I begin my final two and a half hours before quickly heading back to Spa. We’re now running P21 overall and first in our class with a four and a half minute lead,” he added, with roughly seven hours remaining.

Meijer didn’t limit himself to the Nurburgring 24 hours. He also competed in the GT Cup Europe at Spa-Francorchamps, traveling back and forth to take on both challenges.

Even though he wasn’t present at the Nurburgring finish because he was in Belgium, he will still receive the Cup 2 class trophy. With Black Falcon Team Zimmermann, he also managed an impressive P18 overall finish.

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It has been 10 years since Max Verstappen was plucked from the ranks of Red Bull’s junior F1 team and thrust into a full-time seat with the energy drink giant’s main racing squad.

The man behind the bold decision, Helmut Marko, was heavily questioned at the time due to Verstappen’s youth and inexperience compared to the man he was replacing, Daniil Kvyat.

Kvyat is four years Verstappen’s senior but after the Russian driver was deemed to be at fault for one too many crashes, Marko decided it was time to give his protege a chance.

The former head of Red Bull’s driver development programme had planned to allow the Dutchman to complete his sophomore season in F1 with Toro Rosso and then assess his chances of promotion.

However, these plans quickly changed after a disappointing run from Kvyat, with Marko initiating an early mid-season swap, promoting the 18-year-old and demoting Kvyat.

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Marko reveals Horner pushback over Verstappen promotion

Now, a decade on from that monumental move, ex-Red Bull advisor Marko looked back on the decision that many disagreed with, revealing that even team boss at the time, Christian Horner, wasn’t initially sold on the prospect of a promotion for a teenage Verstappen.

Speaking to Dutch publication De Telegraaf, Marko said: “Team principal Horner disagreed with promoting Max after just four races in 2016; he was against it.

“Just as many rivals and critics put me through the wringer and said that Max was still far too young and that this was a dangerous move.”

Marko, now 83 years old and recently retired from his full-time duties within Red Bull’s F1 ranks spoke of how quickly the deal with Verstappen took place.

Marko had attempted to get hold of his father, ex-F1 driver Jos Verstappen, but he was unable to pick up due to being mid-flight. When Verstappen Sr. landed, he had three missed calls from the Austrian.

“Jos saw it coming,” said Marko.

“He called back and asked something like: ‘Should we come to Graz?’ I deliberately didn’t say what it was about at the time, but a day later we were indeed already together in Austria.

“We knew we were going to get a lot of flak. But fortunately, both Jos and I were used to such outbursts…”

Marko was immediately vindicated and the now sacked team principal Horner proved wrong.

Just two weeks after being promoted to Red Bull alongside Daniel Ricciardo, Verstappen picked up his maiden victory on debut for the main team, silencing his doubters and making history by standing on the top step of the podium at the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix.

READ MORE: ‘That was stupid’ – Max Verstappen addresses controversial Nurburgring comment

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