Michael Schumacher’s surprise Liger test

In December 1994, Michael Schumacher, fresh off securing his first Formula 1 World Championship, took part in a post-season test at Estoril – but not in a Benetton car. Instead, the newly crowned champion found himself behind the wheel of a Ligier JS39B, powered by Renault. But why the unexpected switch?

The answer layed with none other than Flavio Briatore, Benetton's charismatic team boss. Earlier that year, Briatore, alongside Tom Walkinshaw, had taken control of Ligier after the French team faced financial turmoil following the collapse of owner Cyril de Rouvre. But Briatore wasn’t just interested in Ligier's cars—he had his eye on something far more valuable: their Renault V10 engines, which he hoped to use in his Benetton cars starting in 1995.

To test the engine’s potential, Briatore enlisted Schumacher’s help. The German, known for his ability to extract every ounce of performance from a car, was asked to give his feedback on the power unit during the Estoril test. And give feedback he did - Schumacher was nearly a full second faster than Ligier’s regular driver, Oliver Panis.

While Briatore's end game was to secure a potent engine for Benetton, Schumacher’s lap times were just a reminder of the talent that would go on to dominate the sport for years to come. Looks like he was already making waves in more ways than one - even in a Ligier!