When you say the name Michael Schumacher, two things come to mind; Ferrari and Controversy. When you take a look back over his career and it is littered with controversy and 'racing incidents'.
Before Schumacker was even in Formula One, he was on the path to finding ways around what is standing in his way. Regulations in Germany require a driver to be at least 14 years old to obtain a kart license. To get around this, Schumacher obtained a license in Luxembourg at the age of 12. An early start to a memorable career.
People love to hate Schumacher because of the way that he will do what ever need to do to get his tings done. If you look up German traits you will see stubbornness, humor that is different, coldness, creativeness and argumentative. Being of German decent, I can see a lot of these traits in myself. Schumacher though, radiates these qualities, and a lot of the Formula One fans find these qualities 'unlikable'.
I can list the times that Schumacher has done what he sees fit to win, whether it be his decision or the teams.
1994 Australian Grand Prix; Schumacher led the race from the beginning with Hill closely following him. On lap 35, Schumacher went off track, hitting a wall with his right side wheels.[119] It is unknown whether Schumacher's car was damaged, as he returned to the track at reduced speed but still leading the race. At the next corner, when Hill attempted a pass on the inside while Schumacher was turning into the corner, Schumacher and Hill collided. Schumacher's car was tipped up onto two wheels and eliminated on the spot. Hill pitted immediately and retired from the race with irreparable damage. As neither driver scored Schumacher took the title.
1997 European Grand Prix;On lap 48, Villeneuve passed Schumacher at the Dry Sack Corner. As he did so, Schumacher turned his car into the Williams car, the right-front wheel of Schumacher's Ferrari hitting the left side pod of Villeneuve's car. Schumacher retired from the race immediately while Villeneuve was able to finish the race in the third place, taking four points and so becoming the World Champion.
1998 Canadian Grand Prix;
Schumacher was accused of dangerous driving when his exit from the pit lane forced Heinz Harald Frentzen off the track and into retirement.
1998 British Grand Prix; Schumacher was leading the race when he was issued a stop-and-go penalty for overtaking a lapped car (Alexander Wurz) during the early moments of a Safety Car period.
1998 Belgian Grand Prix;
Schumacher was in race-ending collision whilst trying to lap David Coulthard in heavy spray. We all witnessed an obviously furious Schumacher shouting at Coulthard, while both McLaren and Ferrari team members attempted to restrain him and move him away from the McLaren garage.
2002 Austrian Grand Prix;Schumacher's teammate, Rubens Barrichello, took pole position and lead the race from start to the final lap where he was giving the order to make way for Schumacher. You can see by the awards ceremony though, Schumacher did not feel it right as he pushed Barrichello onto the top step, and for this disturbance, the Ferrari team incurred a US$1 million fine. 
The FIA and Ferrari did not like this very much so in the 2002 United States Grand Prix. Schumacher slowed down within sight of the finishing line, meaning that Barrichello took the win by 0.011 seconds, the 2nd closest margin in F1 history. Nobody, including Barrichello, appeared to know why Schumacher lifted, and Schumacher's own explanation varied between it being him "returning the favour".
2000 Austrian Grand Prix:
After being hit at the first corner, Schumacher slowly moved his stricken car out of the gravel, and abandoned it on the racing line.
2006 Monaco Grand Prix;
Schumacher stopped his car in the Rascasse corner on the racing line, leaving the corner partially blocked, while his main contender for the season title, Fernando Alonso, was on his final qualifying lap.
What I have to explain is that Michael Schumacher grew up watching Formula One when the greats were there. He watched Ayrton Senna's controversy throughout his career, particularly during his turbulent rivalry with Alain Prost. With these racers as his role models, it is hard not to emulate them. Let’s get one thing clear: neither driver was above taking off a championship rival in a deciding race. 
I could go on and list the controversies that have surround Ayrton Senna and then list why Senna is considered the one of the best drivers in Formula One history. I can only say that Senna's list will be just as long and Schumacher. You have to remeber that Schumacher grew up in a different time in Formula One. Different from the one that Vettel or Hamilton grew up watching.
Many people may discount or over look his contributions outside of Formula One. But Michael Schumacher is not only one of the best Formula One Drivers but also advocate for many causes once he has left the track.
UNESCO; From the moment that Michael Schumacher’s career got seriously launched, he felt the need to help children. He came into contact with UNESCO through Mrs. Ute-Henriette Ohoven, who is UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for the Education of Children in Need. The German pilot was especially delighted by the general idea of UNESCO and in consequence made a generous contribution for projects in Senegal, Sarajevo and Peru.
In 1996 a school was built in Dakar and important improvements were made in the slums of “Baraka”, all thanks to the donations of Michael Schumacher. In Sarajevo a hospital was built to help children in this war torn area. Michael Schumacher even went to the city to assess the psychological and physical problems that children daily have to face. In Peru the donation of the Formula 1 pilot was used to build a house for the poor in Lima, which provides among other things food and medical care for the deprived.
ICM (Institute for Cerebral and Medulla Disorders); "I know a few of the people behind this project very well, so I am familiar with the area and have been fully convinced of the merit of their work for a long time now. The Institute is doing valuable research and treating medical conditions that pose a major problem for society. The more resources that are put into researching disorders of the brain and spinal cord, the better all round. I believe it can only be beneficial to draw the attention of potential patrons to the issue, so that this unique project can move forward. I’m prepared to do everything I can to make it succeed."
Make Roads Safe; Michael Schumacher is a leading campaigner for Make Roads Safe - the Campaign for Global Road Safety. As a member of the Commission for Global Road Safety since 2006, Michael supported the campaign for a first ever global Ministerial conference on road safety, and the 'Call for a Decade of Action for Road Safety'.
Make Cars Green; May 2010 Michael join the cause to promo more environmentally friendly cars and racing
"Closed eyes": Michael stands up for the SOS Children's villages. Poverty-stricken children and their families in Germany.
Michael Schumacher also has a role as Bacardi Limited Social Responsibility Ambassador. Under their global "don't drink and drive" campaign.
So next time you are about to say that you hate Michael Schumacher, I hope that you think back. This man you may think to be ruthless but how many people can say that when it comes down to the line that you will not take the same route? If you want a bigger paycheck, what would you do to get it? I think that the Michael Schumacher that most people to know about or care to know about is the real man. Someone who has, since the day he started making money, been giving it back. Do everything in his power to make this world a better place, a safer place. Find us on Facebook
People will remember us by the way we lived our life.
ReplyDeletePeople generally don't like Schumacher because he comes across as fake and insincere. That in the minds of people is practically unforgivable, no matter how many championships he has.
Funny you should mention Senna. Rarely in any thread online about Schnumy is Senna's name not mentioned...the standard against which all current drivers are measured, as well as the driver still very much admired by mechanics, team owners, commentators, fellow drivers of today and yesterday.
Why are people so ready to forgive Senna when he would pull crazy stunts at times putting his fellow drivers at risk? And why would fellow drivers still rate him so highly, higher than Schumacher, and somehow "understand" his actions? First, the utmost respect for his driving skills. Second, because he didn't seem fake...or deceitful, often addressing his actions in a transparent way. Also, he came accross as obsessively committed, a genius raising the bar for everyone else in the sport.
Besides, everyone still talks about his charisma, eloquence, courage and his humanity, from his friends to his old bosses and fans.
It must be so very frustrating to a 7 time WC - and his followers, to be compared constantly to a 3 time WC. But then again, Senna was Schumi's idol...
No wonder Shuey's fans feel the need to constantly defend him, talk about records, about stats, about his humanity. But I find that time has an interesting way to filter the superficial and show the essence of things.
I always wonder, had Schumi died after winning 3 titles, would he have become the iconic legend Senna is? My guess is not. With 7 titles, people still refuse to propel him past Senna. One of the most ironic racing sport paradoxes in my opinion.
And that, coming from a long time f1 watcher, woman and also with a German heritage...