Netflix will release 'Schumacher '94 - The Birth of a Legend' on October 2, chronicling Michael Schumacher's first Formula 1 championship season with Benetton. The 107-minute documentary examines one of the most dramatic years in Formula 1 history, marked by tragic accidents and numerous controversies.
The film devotes around 25 minutes to the Imola weekend where Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger lost their lives. Contemporary witnesses including Corinna Schumacher, manager Willi Weber, and team principal Flavio Briatore describe how the events changed Schumacher personally and professionally.
The documentary shows Schumacher's transformation from rising talent to Formula 1 superstar while portraying the mental demands of the season. Archive footage reveals how he considered retirement after Imola and struggled with self-doubt as media branded him 'Cheating Schumi' amid various controversies.
However, the film presents a one-sided perspective that avoids critically examining controversial incidents including the Adelaide collision with Damon Hill. Key rivals receive little voice in the documentary, while allegations of hidden traction control and other rule violations are documented without proper context or analysis.