Lewis Hamilton's former fitness coach singled out Michael Schumacher as the pioneer of fitness training and sport science in Formula 1.
But it was the changes he made away from the track which stood out to Antti Vierula. The Finn, Hamilton's former trainer who now works with compatriot Valtteri Bottas, spoke about how he sees Schumacher as a hero for that reason. "I have met Michael before, but we've never spoken about those things. I read a lot about him, though, and I admire his passion a lot. It's difficult to take specifics from Michael as I wasn't exactly sure about how he prepared. But following him, and other sportspeople in general, certainly inspired me. We all learn from each other."
And Ralf, now a pundit for the German-language version of Sky Sports F1, thinks the demands placed on F1 stars these days as a direct result of his brother's dedication may contribute to Max Verstappen walking away from the sport earlier than he otherwise might.