Michael Schumacher thanked Ferrari for making him the world’s greatest driver.

But he should be praising Bertrand Gachot — and the Frenchman’s moment of madness.

For it was the unlikely combination of Gachot, a London cabbie, a can of CS gas and a Crown Court judge that rocketed Schuey on to the Formula One grid and accelerated his path to a record-busting sixth world title.

Gachot, now 40, was one of the sport’s most promising stars until he was jailed for ABH after spraying the cab driver in the face with tear gas.

When Gachot was first placed in police custody, his Jordan team were forced to look for another driver for the 1991 Belgian Grand Prix. And the little-known Schumacher — who had been racing Sportscars — was slotted into the driving seat at the 11th hour.

Schuey opened a few eyes by qualifying seventh and, despite failing to make it off the grid because he burned his clutch, was immediately snapped up by Benetton.

The rest — as they say — is history. Gachot, who was jailed for 18 months but released after two, now lives in Gibraltar and owns a multi-million pound business selling the high-energy drink, Hype.

And he is happy to reflect on the time he speeded up Schumacher’s journey to the top. He said: “It would be easy to look at what Michael achieved and feel ‘It should’ve been me’.

“I was the one who helped Michael make his debut in the sport — along with the judge who sentenced me — because of what I did.

“But, although I speeded things up for him, he was always going to make it into Formula One. He had the talent and cash backing from Mercedes to make it happen.

“Whether he would have gone on to such greatness we will never know. Everyone raved about his performance in Spa but it was all about timing because that Jordan was dynamite.

“I’ve always believed I could have grabbed the pole position had I been driving.”

Shortly before his arrest, Gachot had set the fastest lap in the Hungarian GP — and he maintains that pace would have been there for Spa.

He made a return to F1 but it was with lesser teams like Lola, Larrousse and Pacific and Gachot — winner of the 1991 Le Mans 24-hour race — eventually turned his back on the sport in 1995, just as Schu was holding aloft his second world crown.

Yet Gachot does not feel any bitterness or envy towards Schumacher.

He added: “What Michael has achieved is truly remarkable and something, if I am honest with myself, I would NEVER have managed.

“When I came out of jail and went back to a race, Michael was one of the first people to come and say how sorry he was for me.

“We have often laughed about how I helped him get his first drive, even though he made the sport a bit boring with the amount of wins he scored last season. I was falling asleep watching the races. But this season just gone has been a lot more exciting.

“The only resentment I still have is towards the British justice system. I was sent to prison because someone wanted to make an example of me.

“It certainly didn’t help my racing career — but what it did teach me is how quickly your life can be completely turned around if you are in the wrong place at the wrong time.

“I have replayed the moment I sprayed the gas in the taxi driver’s face many times in my mind and I still don’t feel I did anything wrong.

“In France, you can buy the gas in petrol stations. I had some to protect myself. I was driving near Hyde Park Corner and, suddenly, there was this taxi trying to squeeze in front of me.

“I touched the back of his cab and he came out saying he wanted to punch me, so I grabbed the can and said ‘Take that.’ I never thought I’d done anything unlawful. I was merely defending myself. The court didn’t take that view.”

Gachot says he made a few friends during his spell behind bars and was even offered a job — as a ram-raider!

Unlike many fellow inmates, he went on to make a better life. He is married with two kids and one on the way.

He added: ”I am a millionaire, have a great family and a fantastic life-style. And, believe it or not, I still receive e-mails from people saying they are fans of mine.'