Michael Schumacher

Michael Schumacher (born January 3, 1969) is a German Formula One (F1) driver nicknamed the "Red Baron". Statistically, he is the most successful F1 driver ever, with the most career victories, and a record seven World Drivers' Championships. As of 2004, he earns an estimated US$80 million annually, including all of his endorsement deals. One notable deal is with the German investment counselling company Deutsche Vermögensberatung, which will pay him US$8 million over three years for wearing a four-inch advert on his post-race hat.

Ferrari Years

In 1996, Michael signed a contract with Ferrari, which at the time was a highly risky move, given Ferrari's championship drought (the Italian-based giants had not won a title since 1979). In his first year at the Scuderia, he wrung the neck out of a very poor car and managed to finish 3rd in the driver's championship, behind only the two Williams' drivers. In 1997 he again took the title fight down to the last race, again narrowly leading the drivers' title, and again intentionally colliding with his main competitor, Canadian driver Jacques Villeneuve, only to knock himself out of the race, while Villeneuve stayed on and claimed third place, and with it the World Championship. In 1998, there were tyre rule changes in Formula 1 and Bridgestone had the upper hand on Goodyear. Also, McLaren emerged as the class of the field. It was left for Schumacher to challenge the McLaren domination and the season went down to the last race. Schumacher won six races that year, the most memorable one being in Hungary where he pitted three times and had to do a whole stint lapping the Hungaroring circuit at qualifying speed, more than a second faster than anyone else to make up ground on the McLarens. After several rebuilding years, Schumacher helped Ferrari win the Constructors title in 1999. However, his hopes for another Drivers' Championship were dashed at that year's British Grand Prix, where he broke his leg after his Ferrari's brakes failed causing him to crash heavily. He was unable to compete for the next six races. But Michael would re-claim personal glory once again in 2000, winning his third Drivers' title (and Ferrari's first since Jody Scheckter in 1979) after a thrilling year long battle with Mika Häkkinen.

Related Topics:
1996 - Contract - Ferrari - Italian - 1979 - Jacques Villeneuve - 1999 - British Grand Prix - 2000 - Jody Scheckter - Mika Häkkinen

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

During the next year (2001), while en route to his fourth drivers title, he broke Alain Prost's record for most grand prix wins. In a dominant 2002, he easily took his fifth Drivers' title (equalling the record set by Juan Manuel Fangio) due to his driving talent and the sheer dominance of his Ferrari machinery, which won 15 of the 17 races that season. In 2003, he broke Fangio's record by winning the Drivers' title for the sixth time in a closely-contested season, narrowly defeating finnish driver Kimi Räikkönen.

Related Topics:
2001 - Alain Prost - 2002 - Juan Manuel Fangio - 2003 - Kimi Räikkönen

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Schumacher started off the 2004 championship with typical domination, winning a record twelve of the first thirteen races of the season. He clinched the seventh drivers title of his unequalled F1 career where it all began for him ? at the Belgian Grand Prix. He would finish the season with a record 148 points.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The 2005 season has been a struggle for Schumacher, as he has only one victory (United States Grand Prix), which he almost certainly would not have won without the withdrawal of 14 cars due to Michelin's tyre problems. After a sixth place finish at the British Grand Prix, a downbeat Schumacher said that he and his Ferrari team are going backwards, not forwards. After the German Grand Prix Schumacher admitted, I don't think I can count myself in this battle anymore. At Hungary Michael claimed an impressive pole position, made slightly less impressive by his early pitting (proof of a car light on fuel) but still finished second after Juan Pablo Montoya retired with gearbox problems. At the inaugural Turkish Grand Prix Schumacher went off the track during every practice and during qualifying, starting the race in last place and remarkably making it up to 11th place, only to knock himself out of contention while closing the door on the faster Williams driven by Mark Webber, who was overtaking Schumacher not for position, but trying to unlap himself. Michael would return several laps later in order to improve his qualifying chances for the following race. Under severe weather conditions at the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa and after the safety car had been deployed, when Schumacher had a real chance of fighting for a strong finish in what had been a dismal year for Ferrari, he was recklessly hit from behind by Takuma Sato at the La Source hairpin. After the incident, a furious Michael walked up to Sato's car and slapped the Japanese driver on his helmet. Sato would suffer a ten place grid penalty for the following race, and Michael would again go unpunished.

Related Topics:
2005 season - United States Grand Prix - Michelin - British Grand Prix - Ferrari - Juan Pablo Montoya - Turkish Grand Prix - Mark Webber - Belgian Grand Prix - Spa - Takuma Sato

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~