Michael "The Red Baron" Schumacher : F1 Legends Week Continues

Date of birth: 3 January 1969 (age 42)
Nationality: German
2012 team: Mercedes GP
2012 car: # 9
Races: 302 (301 starts)
Championships: 7 (1994, 1995, 2000 -  2004)
Wins: 91
Podiums: 155
Career points: 1,560
Pole positions: 68
Fastest laps: 77
First race: 1991 Belgian Grand Prix
First win: 1992 Belgian Grand Prix
Last win: 2006 Chinese Grand Prix
Last race: 2012 Singapore Grand Prix

2011 position: 8th (76 pts)

A Short History....

Michael Schumacher was born on 3 January 1969 in western Germany. Schumacher started his career at the age of four where he could be found racing around his local go-kart tracks with his brother Ralf. By the age of sixteen, he was runner-up in the Junior World Championships, and then two years later he became the European Champion.

Formula One Years....

Benetton years: 1991-1993

After his debut, and despite Jordan's signed agreement in principle with Schumacher's Mercedes management for the remainder of the season, Schumacher was signed by Benetton-Ford for the following race. Jordan applied for an injunction in the UK courts to prevent Schumacher driving for Benetton, but lost the case as they had not yet signed a contract.Schumacher finished the 1991 Formula One Season with four points in six races.

His best finish was fifth in his second race, the Italian Grand Prix, in which he finished ahead of his team-mate and three-time World Champion Nelson Piquet.He finished third in the Drivers' Championship in 1992 with 53 points, three points behind runner-up Patrese.1993 - He finished the season in fourth, with 52 points.The 1994 season was Schumacher's first Drivers' Championship. The season, however, was marred by the deaths of Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger during the San Marino Grand Prix and by allegations that several teams, including Schumacher's Benetton team, broke the sport's technical regulations.

Ferrari Years: 1996-2006

Schumacher finished third in the Drivers' Championship in 1996, and helped Ferrari to second place in the constructors' championship ahead of his old team Benetton.Michael Schumacher and Jacques Villeneuve vied for the title in 1997 and during the last race, held at Jerez, Schumacher and Villeneuve collided as Villeneuve passed his rival. Schumacher retired from the race and Villeneuve scored four points to take the championship. Schumacher was held to be at fault for the collision and was disqualified from the Drivers' Championship.

In 1998, Finnish driver Mika Häkkinen became Schumacher's main title competition and ultimately won the championship with Schumacher coming 2nd. 1999 saw Michael Schumacher break his leg at the British Grand Prix after a rear brakes failure. This saw Michael out of action for 6 races. When he returned he played the role of second fiddle to Eddie Irvine who lost the title to Hakkinen after going down to the wire at Suzuka. Through 2000-2004 Schuey dominated Formula 1 and took 5 straight titles.

2004 was Schuey's best season as he took a staggering 148 points and 13 wins in a season (a record)In 2005, Schuey had an average season at came home in 3rd in the Drivers championship. His last year in Formula 1, saw Schumacher closely compete with world champion Fernando Alonso who denied Schumacher an 8th title. Before the Brazilian Grand Prix, the last race of his career, Schumacher conceded the title to Alonso.
In pre-race ceremonies, football legend Pelé presented a trophy to Schumacher for his years of dedication to Formula One. During the race's qualifying session, Schumacher had the best time of all drivers through the first two sessions; but a fuel pressure problem prevented him from completing a single lap during the third session, forcing him to start the race in tenth position. Early in the race Schumacher moved up to sixth place.
However, in overtaking Alonso's teammate, Giancarlo Fisichella, Schumacher experienced a tyre puncture caused by the front wing of Fisichella's car. Schumacher pitted and consequently fell to 19th place, 70 seconds behind teammate and race leader Felipe Massa. Schumacher recovered and overtook both Fisichella and Räikkönen to secure fourth place. His performance was classified in the press as "heroic", an "utterly breath-taking drive", and a "performance that ... sums up his career".

Schumacher's Return With Mercedes GP

Nothing is impossible in Formula One and Michael has proved that once again. Although, the 7-time World Champion did no rejoin Ferrari, he saw the opportunity to drive for a Mercedes GP team (formerly Brawn GP). Schumacher's first drive of the 2010 Mercedes car – the Mercedes MGP W01 – was at the official test on 2 February 2010 in Valencia. He finished sixth in the first race of the season at the Bahrain Grand Prix.

On 16 November Mercedes had taken over the Brawn GP team which was their first majority involvement in an F1 team since 1955. Schumacher stated that his attempted summer comeback for Ferrari had initiated a renewed interest in F1 which, combined with the opportunity to fulfil a long-held ambition to drive for Mercedes and to be working again with team principal Ross Brawn, led Schumacher to accept the offer once he was passed fit. After a period of intensive training medical tests indicated that the neck injury that had prevented his earlier return for Ferrari had fully healed.

Ross Brawn had contacted Schumacher over a potential return to F1 with Mercedes involvement in November 2009, seeking a substitute for the possibly outgoing driver Jenson Button. On 2 November Rubens Barrichello had left Brawn GP followed by Button on 18 November with Rosberg announced by Mercedes as the first replacement driver on 23 November. The possible return of Schumacher began being reported in the German press on 13 December and, ten days later,

Mercedes confirmed Schumacher's return completing their line-up. Schumacher signed a three year contract, reportedly worth £20m, with Mercedes who were thought to want 22-year-old German driver Sebastian Vettel as a long term replacement afterwards. In March 2010, The Daily Mail reported that Schumacher's deal was closer to £21m (€24m, $32m) a year. Schumacher's surprise re-entry to the sport was compared to Niki Lauda's return in 1982 aged 33 and Nigel Mansell's return in 1994 at age 41. Schumacher turned 41 on 3 January 2010 and his prospects with Mercedes were compared with the record set by the oldest F1 champion Juan Manuel Fangio who was 46 when he won his fifth championship.

His Legacy.....

For many people, Michael's ambition, self-discipline, and totally commitment are the main characteristics that have helped him become the most successful Formula 1 driver in the history of the sport.

Schumacher was noted throughout his career for his ability to produce fast laps at crucial moments in a race, to push his car to the very limit for sustained periods.

Quotes about or by Schumacher...

"Never think that success is down to your own performance alone. If you start listening only to yourself you take the first step back towards the bottom. The flowers of victory belong in many vases." - Michael Schumacher

"I've always believed that you should never, ever give up and you should always keep fighting even when there's only a slightest chance" - Michael Schumacher

"Michael has been the author of a unique chapter in the history of Formula 1 and of Ferrari in particular. It has yet to reach its conclusion and what he has achieved extends over and above the results obtained. He is an exceptional man and will become a legend as a driver." - Jean Todt


Many of you may disagree with my choice to include Schumacher to this list but in a previous blog, I discuss how and why people think it is ok to love to hate Michael and his driving. Take a read through the blog here.