Schumacher signs Jackie Stewart’s helmet for family’s charity

Formula 1 history converged in a heartfelt moment as Michael Schumacher, absent from the public eye for over a decade, signed a helmet for Sir Jackie Stewart to support dementia research.

The helmet, adorned with the initials “MS” in Schumacher’s hand – guided by his wife Corinna –
completes a collection of drivers’ signatures, including several world champions.

Stewart, a three-time champion and safety pioneer, will don the helmet during a parade lap at the 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix in Sakhir, ahead of Sunday’s race.

The item will then be auctioned to benefit Stewart’s Race Against Dementia charity, founded in 2016 after his wife Helen’s diagnosis with the disease.

“It is wonderful that Michael could sign the helmet in this worthy cause, a disease for which there is no cure,” Stewart told the Daily Mail, reflecting on the significance of the gesture.

“His wife (Corinna) helped him, and it completed the set of every single champion still with us.”

The charity holds deep personal meaning for Stewart, who revolutionized F1 safety in the 1970s, and now channels his legacy into battling dementia, a condition that affects millions with no known cure.

Schumacher’s Legacy Meets Stewart’s Mission

Schumacher, one of F1’s greatest with seven world titles, 91 victories, and 68 poles, suffered a life-altering brain injury in a 2013 skiing accident in the French Alps, a year after his second retirement.

Since then, the German has been rehabilitating at his home in Switzerland, with his family, led by Corinna, fiercely guarding his privacy.

His storied career, marked by dominance at Ferrari from 1996 to 2006 after early titles with Benetton, continues to inspire.

This rare contribution to Stewart’s cause bridges two eras of F1 greatness, uniting Schumacher’s enduring legacy with Stewart’s mission to fund dementia research.

The auction promises to draw global attention, amplifying the fight against a relentless disease through the shared history of these motorsport titans.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.