When Michael Schumacher's confidant broke his silence about Nelson Piquet's disgruntlement at being paired with the German

Ross Brawn, former technical director of teams like Benetton and Ferrari, spoke about F1 Hall Of Famer Nelson Piquet's feelings regarding his new teammate, Michael Schumacher in 2019. Brawn also discussed how Piquet's departure from the sport came after his season with the German driver, which only consisted of the final six races of the 1991 season.

Brawn, in an interview for the F1 podcast Beyond The Grid in 2019, talked about how the Brazilian driver felt about the appearance of Schumacher after the younger driver came in as a replacement for Roberto Moreno. Brawn, who also joined Benetton Ford the same year, also highlighted Schumacher's entry into the team with Piquet's existing seniority:

“Suddenly [you] had this young kid who wasn't interested in what Nelson wanted. So, Nelson left. I think the writing was on the wall and Nelson knew which way the team was going to be going.

It’s a cruel world in that environment, your directions chosen by the people that are in the team in the sense that yeah if Michael was faster and was young he was the prospect. [...] So, I think Nelson knew that even though he'd had a good relationship with the team that his time was over.” [9:06]

After Piquet retired, Brawn and Schumacher would work together for the next few years, first at Benetton until 1995, where the two would succeed in winning a constructors' championship and two drivers' championships. Ferrari then signed the German driver for the 1996 season, as well as brought Brawn into the team soon after, and the two continued their successful run, winning five more drivers' championships and six constructors' championships.

Ross Brawn and Michael Schumacher would re-unite at Mercedes for their final years competing in the sport together, with Brawn now in a team principal role. The German driver would finish his career in 2012 under the Briton's leadership, with Brawn leaving the team soon after.

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Michael Schumacher also eventually replaced by a younger driver, "respected it" says Ross Brawn

Michael Schumacher was eventually in the same position Nelson Piquet once was when young driver Lewis Hamilton was being eyed to join the Mercedes team. Ross Brawn described Schumacher as being understanding about the change, given that his career was also coming to an end.

Speaking on Beyond The Grid, Brawn said:

"I explained to Michael that Lewis [Hamilton] was coming to the end of his contract and there was a window that he was going to be available in, and if he became available then Mercedes would try and go for him because he was the future and Michael was coming to the end of his career. So, Michael understood that and respected that and as long as it was done openly in a straightforward manner he dealt with it." [10:43]

Hamilton would join Mercedes in 2013, taking Schumacher's place and driving alongside Nico Rosberg. Hamilton would win six drivers' championships and help the Brackley-based team secure eight constructors' championships.