Michael Schumacher

- Published on Dec 19th, 2010 by The Badger

Life before F1

Michael's been about so long that his route to F1 seems pretty old fashioned nowadays. Following some old-school karting in the early eighties he won Formula König (so old it no longer exists) in 1988 and German F3 in 1990 before driving Mercedes sportscars for renowned talent spotter Peter Sauber in 1991. Before the year was out he'd dazzled the world at Spa in a Jordan and been pinched by Flavio Briatore's Benetton team.

F1 Career

Michael Schumacher exploded on to the F1 scene at the Belgian Grand Prix of 1991, replacing Bertrand Gachot (who was sat in a jail cell following an altercation with a London cabbie) at the Jordan team. Despite having little knowledge of the circuit Schumacher qualified an incredible seventh. That he retired after burning his clutch out on the first lap seemed an irrelevance - a star had been born, and Benetton boss Flavio Briatore quickly snatched him from under EJ's nose.

Schumacher took his first win at the Belgian Grand Prix of '92, a year on from his debut, and added sixth further podium finishes that year on his way to third in the standings. 1993 also saw him take one win, this time at Estoril, as well as eight more podiums. The next logical step was an assault on the world title.

In what could have been one of the finest battles in F1 history, Schumacher was pitted against new Williams signing Ayrton Senna in 1994 only for the great Brazilian to perish at the San Marino Grand Prix. Schumacher had already assumed the championship lead by this point but was pegged back by the valiant Damon Hill. The title was eventually setteled in Schumacher's favour at the season-closing Australian Grand Prix, though only by a hugely controversial move by the German. After running wide in to the barriers Schumacher brought his stricken car back on to the circuit and collided with Hill. Both men were out and Michael was champion.

1995 was a simpler affair as the now-Renault-powered Benetton proved too much for the Hill-Williams combination, despite some close battles between the two. Schumacher took the title with nine race wins and departed the Anglo-Italian squad for a new challenge at Ferrari.

The 1996 Ferrari was nothing special, but Schumacher took it to three races wins over the course of the season. The finest of these - which perhaps ranks as the greatest of his career - was in Spain, where in conditions that would today lead to most of the race being run behind a safety car he drove faultlessly to win by 45-seconds.

In '97 Ferrari provided Michael with an improved motor, though it was by no means the class of the field. However Schumacher made up for that to take the fight to Jacques Villeneuve's pace-setting Williams-Renault, eventually heading to the final race of the year a point clear of the Canadian.

But it was here that Schumacher became embroiled in yet another controversy. Michael held the lead but Jacques got a run on the Ferrari, drew alongside on the straight and tried to outbreak him at Curva Dry Sack. We may never know what went on in Michael’s head at this moment, but the German turned in to the Williams in what looked like a cynical attempt to take him out of the race-  and one that didn’t work. Michael took himself out and Jacques continued on, the title within his sights.

In '98 Schumacher once again took the fight to a faster car, pushing McLaren's Mika Hakkinen all the way to the season finale in Japan. Schumacher was to be disappointed again though this time there would be no dark cloud hung over him, with debris from a clash between Esteban Tuero and Tora Takagi resulted in a race-ruining puncture.

In 2000 the Schumacher-Ferrari combo finally found success - and refused to relinquish it five seasons. Michael's successive triumphs in the red cars during those years needs no little retelling, with little more to say than that he utterly dominated to sport during the first five years of the new millennium. There were scares - Kimi Raikkonen ran him very close in 2003 - but overall this period is remembered almost for Michael's dominance. Many felt it to be harming the sport, but the Schumacher-Ferrari alliance must also be admired for its relentless pursuit - and attainment - of glory.

The glory years came to an end in 2005, when Fernando Alonso and Renault assumed the status of F1's top driver-team combo. 2006 saw Schumacher return to form, narrowly missing out on the title to his Spanish rival, following which he departed F1 to admire his 91 race-winners' and seven world championship trophies.

But retirement didn't suit Schumacher. He worked as an advisor at Ferrari but clearly couldn't stand being at the circuit and not competing. Soon he'd taken-up motorbike racing, a pursuit in which he suffered a shoulder injury, and clearly had the bug again. When his close friend Felipe Massa badly injured at the Hungarian Grand Prix of 2009 Michael leapt at the chance to replace him, only for his shoulder to prevent the comeback. Still, the spark had been reignited; when Mercedes bought out the Brawn team later that year and offered him a seat for 2010 Michael couldn't say no.

The great comeback turned out to be something of a disaster, with Michael struggling to readjust to Formula One after three years away. Tyre woes affected him more than anything, and he struggled badly against young team-mate Nico Rosberg. There were also yet more moments of controversy, no least his questionable tactics when racing old team-mates Massa in Canada and Barrichello in Hungary.

But the year did end with some promising results, no least impressive runs in Japan and Korea, and if Mercedes can provide a more competitive racer in 2011 Schumacher - now more at home in both the team and the sport - can not be ruled out. Whilst no longer the force he once was the seven-time champion still has the hunger to achieve at the top of the sport.