Victories:
1992 Belgian GP
1993 Poruguese GP
1994 Brazilian GP
1994 Pacific GP
1994 San Marino
1994 Monaco GP
1994 Canadian GP
1994 French GP
1994 Hungarian GP
1994 European GP
1995 Brazilian GP
1995 Spanish GP
1995 Monaco GP
1995 French GP
1995 German GP
1995 Belgian GP
1995 European GP
1995 Pacific GP
1995 Japanese GP
1996 Spanish GP
1996 Belgian GP
1996 Italian GP
1997 Monaco GP
1997 Canadian GP
1997 French GP
1997 Belgian GP
1997 Japanese GP
1998 Argentinian GP
1998 Canadain GP
1998 French GP
1998 British GP
1998 Hungarian GP
1998 Italian GP
1999 San Marino GP
1999 Monaco GP
2000 Australian GP
2000 Brazilian GP
2000 San Marino GP
2000 European GP
2000 Canadian GP
2000 Italian GP
2000 USA GP
2000 Japanese GP
2000 Malaysian GP
2001 Australian GP
2001 Malaysian GP
2001 Spanish GP
2001 Monaco GP
2001 European GP
2001 French GP
2001 Hungarian GP
2001 Belgian GP
2001 Japanese GP
2002 Australian GP
2002 Brazilian GP
2002 San Marino GP
2002 Spanish GP
2002 Austrian GP
2002 Canadian GP
2002 British GP
2002 French GP
2002 German GP
2002 Belgian GP
2002 Japanese GP
2003 San Marino GP
2003 Spanish GP
2003 Austrian GP
2003 Canadian GP
2003 Italian GP
2003 USA GP
Michael Schumacher (1969-)
Michael Schumacher was born on 3rd January 1969 in Kerpen near Cologne. In 1980 he travelled to Nivelles, Belgium, where he saw the Karting World Champioships and met a driver (Ayrton Senna), who impressed him. Soon he became his own career and in 1984 he won the German Junior Championships and three years later European Championships.
The path to car racing started in Formula Ford and later in Formula 3. To participate on this level Schumacher needed sponsors. Willi Weber, who was a F3 team owner, decided to test the German driver. After making eight laps Schumacher was about 1.5 second faster than Weber's team drivers. In 1991 Weber put German in the junior Mercedes team, where he was enhancing his abilities and driving style.
The opportunity came when Bertrand Gachot, who was the F1 driver of the Jordan team, was arrested and Eddie Jordan decided to substitude him with Schumacher. On 25th August 1991 German debuted in motor racing heaven at Belgian Grand Prix in Spa. Despite quick retire, the Benetton's boss Flavio Briatore decided to employ German as a regular team driver. Season 1992 was very successful for German as he grabbed his maiden victory during rainy Belgian GP he overplayed the great Senna and the seson ended onthe third place. After Alain Prost's retire Schumacher was said to be the only man to beat Ayrton Senna in 1994. However, the tragic death of the great Brazilian resulted in lack of rival for Schumacher. Disqualification during British and Belgian GP and absence at Monza nad Estoril led to the final showdown in Adelaide, where German overcome Damon Hill 92:91. In 1995 Schumacher did not give any chance to his opponents and became the youngest double champion ever. During that season German also announced that he was leaving from Benetton and driving for Ferrari.
Ferrari'96 was not a car allowing to fight for a title. However, the defending champion showed his abilities getting tremendous victories in rainy Spanish and Belgian GP and also at the homeland in Monza when 200 thousands people celebrated this success. Season 1997 could be described as fight between Williams' Villeneuve and Schumacher in less competitive Ferrari. German got five victories and pointed many times, what caused that he had a one-point advantage before the final race in Jerez de la Frontera. The memorable collision of two rivals on the 48th lap eliminated Schumacher from the title battle.
Before the 1998 season Ferrari employed Rory Byrne, who was to design competitive vehicle. This time the main rival to the title was Mika Hakkinen and McLaren. After two easy Hakkinen's victories, Schumacher won in Buenos Aires, what showed that the battle for title would be tough. The next race was won by Hakkinen's partner Coulthard and the following two by Hakkinen. After six races Hakkinen had 46 points while Schumacher only 24. The German's counterattack in the middle of the season, victory in Montreal, Magny-Cours and Silverstone made that it was only 56:54 for Hakkinen. After Hakkinen's next two wins he extended his lead to 76:60, but Schumacher's victory at Hungaroring resulted in 77:70 state. The conclusive race of the season was in Spa. Mika Hakkinen slipped off the track on the first corner. Michael Schumacher in torrential rain took overall lead and after 24 laps he had more than a minute advantage over his rivals. On the 26th lap doubling Hakkinen's teammate David Coulthard pushed brakes just before the passing Ferrari, which hit into McLaren. As a result, Schumacher had to retire and instead of 80:77 for German it was still 77:70 for Finn. Despite tremendous victory at Monza and second place at Nurburgring, before the final race it was 90:86 for Hakkinen. The race at Suzuka in 1998 was a classic thriller, which hero was Michael Schumacher. German, starting from Pole position, had a clutch overheat at the starting grid and was moved at the last position. The fantastic drive from start and steady catch-up caused that after on 31st lap German was already third with a small gap to Finn. On 34th lap during fantastic chase after Hakkinen, Schumacher drove onto the sharp element laying on the surface. His left rear tyre has gone off and he smashed into the band with a speed of nearly 300 kph. Mika Hakkinen calmly won the race and the title. Following year the fight for title was made impossible due to crash at Silverstone and 6-race absence.
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For the 2000 season Scuderia Ferrari employed Brazilian Rubens Barrichello as a Schumacher's teammate. In the first race this pair got the 47th double victory in Ferrari's F1 history. The next two wins in Brazil and San Marino and later in rainy races at Nurburgring and in Montreal led to an enormous advantage of the German driver in the middle of the season (22 points over Hakkinen). Three retirements and Barrichello's great drive resulted in situation that after the German GP four drivers were very close (Schumacher 56, Hakkinen & Coulthard 54, Barrichello 50). After Hakkinen's two wins. the Finn took the overall lead. On 10th September 2000 Schumacher won at Monza in race that retreated situation. After victory in following race in Indianapolis Schumacher led by 88:80. On 8th October 2000 the German won the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit, Mika Hakkinen was only second. This gave 12-point advantage over the Finn and one race left, what meant the 2000 World Champion title, his personal third and Ferrari's first since 21 years.
In 2001 Schumacher had no opponents practically. The weak resistance in the first part of the season put up Coulthard. The German won nine races and got 123 points in one season. 2002 was a total dominance of Ferrari. The team won 15 (Schumacher 15, Barrichello 4) out of 17 races. Michael Schumacher became the champion for the fifth time and equaled the legendary record of Juan Manuel Fangio. After that season FIA decided to change regulations and lessen Ferrari's advantage. Michael Schumacher went on the tough battle for his sixth title winning six times he won his sixth crown and erased from tables Fangio's record.
What still could be achieved by Schumacher? Practically he won everything and has all records except for the amount of pole-positions, which is held by Ayrton Senna (65, Schumacher 55).
