Loose Screw Caused Schumi Crash.

A loose brake bleed nipple is thought to be the cause of Michael Schumacher's leg-breaking shunt at Silverstone on Sunday, although the Ferrari team says that there was no indication of a failure before the crash.


The team claims that the incident followed a sudden loss of pressure in the rear brake circuit, thought to have been caused by a screw in the left caliper working loose. According to the team, however, there was no sign of a problem on either the warming up lap or under braking before the car reached Stowe in the race. The part had been tested as part of the routine pre-race check on Saturday evening and not touched again before the race began.


Suspicion, however, believes that there was more to the accident than simple brake failure, with much pointing to the fact that Schumacher made no attempt to turn the wheels and spin the car in the gravel trap. Although the car was bouncing over the trap, it is usual for drivers to attempt to dig the front wheels in by turning them to full lock. Schumacher was either unable or unwilling to do this. The German has made no mention of steering failure to either the team or F1 doctor Sid Watkins.