“It was during the 1996 season after we had a few retirements that there was pressure on me to leave,” explains Todt, 74.
“But Michael said ‘if Jean leaves I leave’. They did not want him to leave. They cared much less for me but Michael made his comments clear so I stayed.”
Schumacher won three races in his maiden year with Ferrari before he was thrown out of the championship in disgrace in 1997 after crashing into Jacques Villeneuve at the title decider in Jerez.
“His emotion did not allow him to become champion, but he protected me in 1996 so I protected him at this time,” adds Todt.