Michael Schumacher

After having enjoyed success in karting—such as winning the direct-drive Karting European Championship in 1987—and in several single-seater series, Schumacher made a one-off Formula One appearance with Jordan at the 1991 Belgian Grand Prix.

[7] During 1990, along with his Formula Three rivals Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Karl Wendlinger, Schumacher joined the Mercedes-Benz junior racing programme in the World Sportscar Championship.

[8] Schumacher made his Formula One debut with the Irish Jordan-Ford team at the Belgian Grand Prix, driving car number 32 as a replacement for the imprisoned Bertrand Gachot.

[10] The week before the race, Schumacher impressed Jordan designer Gary Anderson and team manager Trevor Foster during a test drive at the Silverstone circuit.

"[19] The year was dominated by the Williams FW14B of Nigel Mansell and Riccardo Patrese, featuring powerful Renault engines, semi-automatic gearboxes, and active suspension to control the car's ride height.

[38] Schumacher was also disqualified after winning the Belgian Grand Prix, after his car was found to have illegal wear on its skid block, a measure used after the accidents at Imola to limit downforce and hence cornering speed.

With Herbert as teammate, he took Benetton to its first Constructors' Championship, breaking the dominance of McLaren and Williams, and became the youngest two-time World Champion in Formula One history.

[12] By mid-season, despite possibly driving not even the second-fastest car on the grid,[75] Schumacher had taken the championship lead, winning five races, and entered the season's finale (the European Grand Prix at the Jerez circuit) with a one-point advantage.

[89] One of his victories was at the Hungarian Grand Prix, a track where overtaking is difficult and that favoured McLaren;[12] Schumacher drove 19 consecutive qualifying-like laps to make Ross Brawn's alternative three-stop strategy work and to go from third to first place.

He lost his chance to win the Drivers' Championship at the British Grand Prix at the high-speed Stowe Corner; his car's rear brake failed, sending him off the track into the barriers and resulting in a broken leg.

[118] Although Schumacher won more than twice as many Grands Prix as Häkkinen, BBC Sport journalist Andrew Benson stated that "the challenge from Mika Hakkinen and McLaren-Mercedes was far stronger than the raw statistics suggest" and that the Adrian Newey-designed McLaren was "the fastest car in F1 for the third straight year".

[127] Although the switching of positions did not break any actual sporting or technical regulation,[128][129] as Ferrari did the same at the Austrian Grand Prix the previous year where Schumacher finishe second and Barrichello third,[130] it angered fans and it was claimed that the team's actions showed a lack of sportsmanship and respect to the spectators.

[143][144][145] In an unplanned finish,[146][147] Schumacher's explanation varied between it being him "returning the favour" for Austria, or trying to engineer a formation finish—a feat derided as near-impossible in a sport where timings are taken to within a thousandth of a second.

With only 16 laps to go, his car suffered an engine failure for the first time since the French Grand Prix, ending a 58-race sequence without a mechanical retirement,[202] handing Alonso the victory.

[206] During the pre-race ceremonies of the season's last race, the Brazilian Grand Prix, former football player Pelé presented a trophy to Schumacher for his achievements in Formula One.

[237] Schumacher's comeback was the most high profile in Formula One since Niki Lauda came out of a two-year retirement for the 1982 season to race for McLaren and went on to win a third world title in 1984.

[293] At the Chinese Grand Prix, Schumacher started on the front row but retired due to a loose wheel after a mechanic's error during a pit stop.

In the words of Mark Hughes, "I believe his motorcycle accident, and the damaged neurons from a neck injury that in 90 per cent of cases is fatal, was probably more responsible for his lack of form second time around than age or length of absence.

Ross Brawn said that "Michael's contribution to our development and the future of our team has been significant", and observed: "In my opinion, he is the greatest Formula One driver, and the records which he holds in our sport speak volumes for his success and commitment.

Schumacher was noted throughout his career for his speed and racecraft,[218] and his ability to produce fast laps at crucial moments in a race and to push his car to the very limit for sustained periods.

[218][321] In 2004, Slate magazine described Schumacher as "the ultimate driving machine" and "the most dominant athlete in the world" due to him having become "quicker, stronger, and fitter than the competition by outworking them in the weight room".

[345] At the 2011 Belgian Grand Prix, Schumacher's 20th anniversary in Formula One, he wore a commemorative gold-leafed helmet, which included the year of his debut and the seasons of his seven Drivers' titles.

[362][218] Objective mathematical models,[352][363][364] such as Eichenberger and Stadelmann (2009, 3rd), original F1metrics (2014, 4th),[365] Bell et al. (2015, 3rd), FiveThirtyEight (2018, 2nd), and updated F1metrics (2019, 1st), put Schumacher consistenly among the top 5 greatest Formula One drivers ever.

The family moved to a newly built mansion near Gland, Switzerland, in 2007, covering an area of 650-square-metre (7,000 sq ft) with a private beach on Lake Geneva and featuring an underground garage and petrol station, with a vintage Shell fuel pump.

[381] Before his skiing accident in 2013, Schumacher's main hobbies included horse riding, motorcycle racing, sky diving, and playing football for his local team FC Echichens.

[386] In 2008, Sammarinese football club SS Murata approached Schumacher to join their squad for their upcoming UEFA Champions League qualifying matches but he turned down the offer.

[400] In Lima, Peru, he funded the Palace for the Poor, a centre for helping homeless street children obtain an education, clothing, food, medical attention, and shelter.

[425] In September 2019, Le Parisien reported that Schumacher had been admitted to the Hôpital Européen Georges-Pompidou in Paris for treatment by cardiovascular surgeon Philippe Menasché, described as a "pioneer in cell surgery".

In April 2023, Die Aktuelle published without permission what it advertised as a "first interview" with him, including quotes from him about his health and family; it stated, only at the end, that these responses had been fabricated using generative artificial intelligence (AI).

[447] The same year, ahead of his final race for Ferrari at Interlagos on 22 October, football player Pelé presented a "Lifetime Achievement Award" to Schumacher.

Schumacher's title-winning German Formula Three car from 1990
Schumacher (left) in 1991, the year he joined Formula One
Schumacher driving for Benetton in at the Monaco Grand Prix . In 1992, he achieved the first of his 91 wins.
Schumacher drove the Benetton B194 to his first World Championship in 1994.
Schumacher driving for Benetton in 1995 at the British Grand Prix . That year, he won his second World Championship.
Schumacher celebrates a second-place finish at the German Grand Prix in 1997, the year he brought Ferrari to a Drivers' Championship challenge.
Schumacher battles with David Coulthard in 1998 at the British Grand Prix . For the second consecutive year, Schumacher lost out the World Championship at the last race.
Schumacher driving for Ferrari in 2001 at the Spanish Grand Prix . The year prior, he had won Ferrari's first Drivers' Championship since 1979.
Schumacher driving the Ferrari F2002 at the French Grand Prix . It was at this race that he clinched the 2002 Drivers' Championship, setting the record for the fewest races in locking up the title.
Schumacher at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2004, where he won the United States Grand Prix . 2004 would be the last of his seven Drivers' Championships (a record shared with Lewis Hamilton since 2020), five of which were won consecutively from 2000 to 2004.
Schumacher battling with Kimi Räikkönen in 2005 during the Canadian Grand Prix . Due to rule changes, he achieved only one win that year.
Schumacher overtakes Kimi Räikkönen for fourth with three laps to go of the Brazilian Grand Prix , in what was the last race of a competitive 2006 season and his final race for three years, having dropped to 19th early on.
BMW Sauber with "Thanks Michael" messages towards Schumacher on the back of their cars. He and Peter Sauber had worked together in sports cars before entering Formula One in 1992.
Schumacher at Finali Mondiali celebrations in the Ferrari F2007 . It is the last Ferrari to have won the Driver's Championship since Schumacher.
In 2011, Schumacher finished fourth in the Canadian Grand Prix . It was his best result for the season.
In 2012, Schumacher qualified fastest at the Monaco Grand Prix , for the first time since 2006.
Schumacher at the United States Grand Prix in 2012. It was his penultimate career race.
Schumacher in 2007, the year after he first retired. By this time, he had achieved most of Formula One's records.
Schumacher in 2010, the year he made his comeback at 40. Although he did not win any race or had any pole positions, he set the fastest qualifying lap once, achieved his final podium, and became the second driver at the time to have started 300 Grands Prix.
Schumacher was an advertising partner for watchmaker Omega SA . When he won his third title in 2000, which was the first with Ferrari, the Speedmaster Racing was issued in a Schumacher Edition having his signature on the back.
Turns 9 and 10 of the Nürburgring were renamed after Schumacher in 2007.