Richard Hopkins has opened up about his friendship with Michael Schumacher, offering rare glimpses into the Formula One legend’s life away from the track.

The former Red Bull operations chief, who worked as a McLaren mechanic during the 1990s, regularly met Schumacher for coffee when the German drove for Benetton.

Hopkins painted a picture of a man whose fierce racing persona contrasted sharply with his private life.

The seven-time world champion, who hasn’t been seen publicly since his skiing accident in 2013, was someone Hopkins got to know well during those early years.

Michael Schumacher is renowned as arguably the greatest F1 driver of all time

 | 

PA

Their friendship developed despite working for rival teams, with Hopkins gaining unique insights into what made Schumacher tick both on and off the circuit.

Hopkins didn’t hold back when discussing Schumacher’s racing personality. The German’s confidence often crossed into arrogance, he revealed, with emotions worn openly on his sleeve. That passionate approach to Formula One sometimes showed itself in less than positive ways.

“He had all the elements that make a world champion – even the ones that weren’t always positive, like sportsmanship,” Hopkins said. The fierce determination that drove Schumacher to seven titles came with a price.

Yet Hopkins emphasised this was only part of the story. Behind that intimidating presence lurked someone completely different.

The man who charged down pit lanes in fury after on-track incidents was the same person who went home to be a loving husband and devoted father to his children.

Hopkins found it fascinating how people who only saw Schumacher during races might assume he was difficult in his personal life.

Mika Hakkinen was Michael Schumacher’s greatest rival

 | 

PA

“You’d think he was probably a difficult person in his private life, but he certainly wasn’t. Of course he wasn’t. He was a great dad and a great husband,” Hopkins explained.

The comparison with Mika Hakkinen proved particularly revealing. Hopkins recalled how the Finnish driver appeared emotionless and uncomfortable in front of cameras, yet possessed one of the best senses of humour he’d ever encountered.

“There aren’t many people I know with as good a sense of humour as Mika Hakkinen. He was an absolute blast – a lovely, beautiful guy,” he said.

Michael Schumacher’s condition has been kept private by the family | PABoth champions shared this duality – public personas that masked their true characters.

Hopkins revealed that among all Schumacher’s rivals, only one driver truly got under his skin.

“The only person to get inside Michael Schumacher’s head was probably Mika Hakkinen,” he stated. The Finn possessed something special that set him apart from every other competitor.

Their rivalry reached its peak during the late 1990s when Hakkinen’s McLaren challenged Ferrari’s dominance. Hopkins believes Schumacher himself would have acknowledged this unique dynamic.

If asked who really pushed him to his limits, the German would likely have named Hakkinen without hesitation.

“Michael realised Mika was the only person who could really beat him on the day,” Hopkins explained. This recognition fuelled both drivers, creating one of Formula One’s most compelling rivalries.

The championships Hakkinen won in 1998 and 1999 came when McLaren held the superior car, yet Hopkins stressed this didn’t diminish their significance.

Michael Schumacher and Mika Hakkinen tussled off and on the circuit

 | 

PA

Winning those titles against Schumacher meant everything to the Finnish driver. Their battles during 2000 and 2001, when Schumacher reclaimed his crown, remained equally intense.

“They both loved racing each other,” Hopkins recalled. The mutual respect between them stood out in an era often marked by bitter rivalries. Hopkins described Hakkinen as possessing “exceptional, A-plus-level ability” – the same calibre as Schumacher himself.

This unique dynamic set their competition apart. While other drivers challenged Schumacher throughout his career, none matched the pure speed and racing ability that Hakkinen brought to their encounters.