Michael Schumacher ( German: ['? max =] Ã, ( listen ) born January 3, 1969) is a retired German racer who ran in Formula One for Jordan Grand Prix, Benetton and Ferrari, where he spent most of his career, as well as for Mercedes after returning to the sport. Widely recognized as one of the greatest Formula One racers ever seen, and regarded by some as the greatest of all time, Schumacher is the only driver in history to win seven Formula One World Championships, five of which he won in a row. The most successful racer in sports history, Schumacher holds the record for most World Championships (7), most wins in the Grand Prix (91), fastest lap (77) and the most wins in a season (13), and according to Formula One (Formula1.com), Schumacher is "the greatest sports sport ever" statistically at retirement from the sport.
After his success in karting as a kid, Schumacher won the title in Formula KÃÆ'¶nig and Formula Three before joining Mercedes at the World Sportscar Championship. In 1991, his Mercedes-funded debut racing for the Formula One Jordan team resulted in Schumacher being signed by Benetton for the remainder of the season. He finished third in 1992 and fourth in 1993, before becoming the first German Driver World Champion in 1994 with a point above Damon Hill. In 1995 he repeated his success, this time with a larger margin. In 1996, Schumacher moved to Ferrari, who last won the Racer Championship in 1979, and helped them turn into the most successful team in Formula One history, when he narrowly won the 1997 and 1998 titles, before breaking his legs at the 1999 British Grand Prix, one more title.
Schumacher won five consecutive riders from 2000 to 2004, including an unprecedented sixth and seventh titles. In 2002, Schumacher won the title with a record of six races remaining and finished on the podium in every race. In 2004, Schumacher won twelve of the first thirteen races and then won a record 13 times as he won his last title. Schumacher retired from Formula One in 2006, having finished runner-up to Fernando Alonso from Renault. Schumacher returned to Formula One in 2010 with Mercedes. He earned the fastest qualifying time at the Monaco Grand Prix in 2012, and reached the lone podium while back at the 2012 European Grand Prix, where he finished third. In October 2012, Schumacher announced he would retire for the second time at the end of the season.
His career was not without controversy, as he was twice involved in a collision in the last race of the season that determined the outcome of the World Championships, with Damon Hill in 1994 in Adelaide, and with Jacques Villeneuve in 1997 at Jerez. Schumacher is an ambassador for UNESCO and has been involved in various humanitarian efforts throughout his life, donating tens of millions of dollars to charity. Schumacher and his younger brother, Ralf, are the only siblings to win the race in Formula One, and they are the first brothers to complete 1 and 2 in the same race, a feat they repeat in the next four races.
In December 2013, Schumacher suffered a traumatic brain injury in a skiing accident. He was placed in a medical coma for six months until June 16, 2014. He left the hospital in Grenoble for further rehabilitation at the University Hospital of Lausanne. On September 9, 2014, Schumacher was transferred to his home where he continued to receive medical treatment and rehabilitation in person. Since then updates about his condition have been scarce.
Video Michael Schumacher
Initial years
Schumacher was born in HÃÆ'¼rth, North Rhine-Westphalia, to Rolf Schumacher, a mason, and his wife Elisabeth. When Schumacher was four, his father modified his card by adding a small motorcycle engine. When Schumacher bumps him into a lamppost in Kerpen, his parents take him to a karting track in Kerpen-Horrem, where he becomes the youngest member of the karting game. His father soon built him a kart from the removed section and at the age of six, Schumacher won his first club championship. To support his son's racing, Rolf Schumacher takes second job of renting and fixing karts, while his wife works on the track cafeteria. However, when Michael needed a new machine costing 800 DM, his parents could not afford it; he was able to continue the race with the support of local businessmen.
Regulations in Germany require drivers to be at least fourteen years old to obtain a kart license. To get around this, Schumacher obtained a license in Luxembourg at the age of 12.
In 1983, he obtained a German license, a year after he won the German Junior Kart Championship. Since 1984, Schumacher won many German and European kart championships. He joined Eurocart dealer Adolf Neubert in 1985 and in 1987 he was a German and European kart champion, then he quit school and started work as a mechanic. In 1988 he made his first step in auto racing with a single seat by participating in the German Formula Ford and Formula KÃÆ'¶nig series, winning the latter.
In 1989, Schumacher signed with WTS Formula Three team Willi Weber. Funded by Weber, he competed in the German Formula 3 series, winning the title in 1990. He also won the Macau Grand Prix. In the late 1990s, along with his Heinz-Harald Frentzen Formula 3 rivals and Karl Wendlinger, he joined the Mercedes junior racing program at the World Sports-Prototype Championship. This is unusual for young drivers: most of Schumacher's compatriots will compete in Formula 3000 on their way to Formula One. However, Weber suggested Schumacher to be presented at a professional press conference and driving powerful cars in long-distance races would help his career. In the 1990 World Sportscar Championship season, Schumacher won the season finale at Autogrado Hermanos RodrÃÆ'guez at Sauber-Mercedes C11, and finished fifth in the drivers' championship despite driving only three of the nine races. He continued with the team in the 1991 Sportscar World Championship season, winning again in the final race of the season at Autopolis in Japan with Sauber-Mercedes-Benz C291, which leads to a ninth place finish in the drivers' championship. He also competed at Le Mans during the season, finishing fifth in the car along with Karl Wendlinger and Fritz Kreutzpointner. In 1991, he competed in one race at the Japanese Formula 3000 Championship, finishing second.
Maps Michael Schumacher
Career Formula One
Schumacher was noted throughout his career because of his ability to produce fast laps at crucial moments in the race and to push his car to the limit for sustained periods. Motorcycle writer Christopher Hilton observed in 2003 that "the size of the driver's ability is his performance in a wet race, because of the control and sensitivity of the most refined car is needed," and notes that like other great drivers, Schumacher's note in wet conditions shows very few errors: season 2003, Schumacher won 17 out of 30 races in his wet conditions. Some of Schumacher's best appearances occur under such circumstances, giving him the nickname "RegenkÃÆ'¶nig " (rain monarch) or "Regenmeister " (rain lord), even in the German-speaking media. He is known as the "Red Baron", due to his red Ferrari and refers to Manfred von Richthofen Germany, the famous flying ace of the nickname of World War I. Schumacher included "Schumi", "Schuey" and "Schu". Schumacher is often credited with popularizing Formula One in Germany, where he was once regarded as a fringe sport. When Schumacher retired in 2006, three of Germany's top ten racers, more than any other nationality and more than ever present in the history of Formula One. Young German drivers, like Sebastian Vettel, feel Schumacher is key in becoming their Formula One driver. At the end of his Formula One career, and as one of the senior drivers, Schumacher is the president of the Primary Driver Association. In the 2006 FIA survey, Michael Schumacher was voted the most popular driver of the season among Formula One fans.
Jordan (1991)
Schumacher made his Formula One debut with the Jordan-Ford team at the 1991 Belgian Grand Prix, driving a number 32 car instead of the imprisoned Bertrand Gachot. Schumacher, still a contracted Mercedes driver, was signed by Eddie Jordan after Mercedes paid Jordan $ 150,000 for his debut.
Belgian Grand Prix Debut
A week before the race, Schumacher impressed Jordan designer Gary Anderson and team manager Trevor Foster during a test drive at Silverstone. His manager Willi Weber assured Jordan that Schumacher knew Spa's challenging path well, though in fact he only saw it as a spectator. During the race weekend, teammate Andrea de Cesaris was meant to show the Schumacher circuit, but was held in negotiating a contract. Schumacher then studied his own trajectory, cycling around the track with his folding bike. He impressed paddock with the seventh qualifier in this race. This matches the best grid position of the season, and veteran de Cesaris is 11 years old. Motorsport Journalist Joe Saward reports that after qualifying "the German journalist group talks about 'the best talent since Stefan Bellof ' ". Schumacher retired on the first lap of the race with clutch problems
Benetton (1991-1995)
After the debut of the Belgium Grand Prix, and although the deal is in principle between Jordan and Mercedes Schumacher's management who will see the German race for the Irish team for the rest of the season, Schumacher is engaged to Benetton-Ford for the next race. Jordan appealed for a court in England court to prevent Schumacher driving to Benetton, but lost because they have not signed a final contract.
1991-1993 Schumacher ended the 1991 season with four points from six races. His best result was his fifth in his second race, the Italian Grand Prix, where he finished ahead of his team-mates and three-time World Champion Nelson Piquet.
At the start of the 1992 season the Sauber team, planning their Formula One debut with Mercedes support for the following year, requested a clause in Schumacher's contract stating that if Mercedes entered Formula One, Schumacher would drive for them. Finally it was agreed that Schumacher would remain with Benetton, Peter Sauber said that "[Schumacher] does not want to drive for us Why am I forcing him?". The year was dominated by Williams from Nigel Mansell and Riccardo Patrese, featuring powerful Renault engines, semi-automatic gearboxes and active suspension to control the height of the car ride. In Bennet B192 Schumacher "conventional" took his place on the podium for the first time, finishing third in the Mexican Grand Prix. He went on to take his first win at the Belgian Grand Prix, in a wet race at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, which in 2003 he called "far and away my favorite song". He finished third at the Drivers' Championship in 1992 with 53 points, three points behind runner-up Patrese.
Williams from Damon Hill and Alain Prost also dominated the 1993 season. Benetton introduced their own active suspension and traction control at the start of the season, most recently from the frontrunning team to do so. Schumacher won one race, the Portuguese Grand Prix where he beat Prost, and has nine podiums, but retired in seven of the other 15 races. He finished the season in fourth, with 52 points.
1994-1995: World Championships of the year
The 1994 season was Schumacher's Drivers' first Championship. The season, however, was marred by Ayrton Senna's death (witnessed by Schumacher, who was directly behind in position 2) and Roland Ratzenberger during the San Marino Grand Prix, and by allegations that some teams, but especially the Schumacher Benetton team, broke the technical rules of the sport.
Schumacher won six of the first seven races and led the Spanish Grand Prix, before the failure of the gearbox left him trapped in fifth gear. Schumacher finished the race in second place. After the San Marino Grand Prix, Benetton's team, Ferrari and McLaren were investigated on suspicion of violating the FIA's ban on electronic help. Benetton and McLaren initially refused to submit their source code for the investigation. When they do, the FIA ​​finds hidden functionality in both software teams, but there is no evidence that it has been used in the race. Both teams were fined $ 100,000 because of their initial refusal to cooperate. However, McLaren software, which is a gearbox program that allows automatic shifting, is considered legal. In contrast, the Benetton software is considered a form of "launch control" which will allow Schumacher to start perfectly, which is explicitly prohibited by regulations. However, there is no evidence to suggest that this software is actually used.
In the British Grand Prix, Schumacher was sentenced for overtaking in the lap of the formation. He then ignores the next punishment and black flag, which indicates that the driver must immediately return to the pit, where he was disqualified and then given a two-race ban. Benetton blamed the incident for communication errors between the caretaker and the team. Schumacher was also disqualified after winning the Belgian Grand Prix after his car was found to have an illegal suit in skidblock, a measure used after an accident at Imola to limit downforce and cornering speeds. Benetton protested that the skidblock had broken when Schumacher spun on the sidewalk, but the FIA ​​refused their appeal because of wear patterns and damage visible on the block.
The incident helped Damon Hill close the gap points, and Schumacher led by one point into the final race in Australia. On lap 36 Schumacher hit the guardrail outside the track while leading. Hill tried to get past him, but when Schumacher's car returned to the track, there was a collision in the corner that caused them both to retire. As a result, Schumacher won a very controversial championship, the first German to do so (Jochen Rindt raced under the banner of Austria). At the FIA ​​conference after the race, the new World Champion presented his title to Ayrton Senna.
In 1995 Schumacher successfully defended his title with Benetton. He now has the same Renault engine as Williams. He collected 33 more points than the second place of Damon Hill. Together with teammate Johnny Herbert, he took Benetton to his first Constructors Championship and became the youngest World Champion twice in Formula One history.
This season was marred by multiple collisions with Hill, particularly overtaking maneuvers by Hill bringing them both out of the British Grand Prix on lap 45, and again on lap 23 of the Italian Grand Prix. Schumacher won nine of 17 races, and finished on the podium 11 times. Only once he qualifies worse than fourth; at the Belgian Grand Prix, he qualified for the 16th, but still won the race.
Ferrari (1996-2006)
In 1996, Schumacher joined Ferrari, a team that last won the Drivers' Championship in 1979 and the Constructors Championship in 1983, with a salary of $ 60 million over 2 years. He leaves Benetton a year before his contract with them ends; He then cited the team's destructive action in 1994 as an excuse to opt out of his deal. A year later, Benetton employees Rory Byrne (designer) and Ross Brawn (Technical Director) joined Ferrari.
Ferrari had previously approached the championship in 1982 and 1990. The team suffered a catastrophic downturn in the early 1990s, in part because the famous V12 engine is no longer competitive against smaller, lighter and more fuel-efficient V10s. Drivers, especially Alain Prost, have labeled vehicles such as "trucks", "pigs", and "accidents waiting to happen". In addition, the poor performance of the Ferrari pit crew is considered a joke. By the end of 1995, although the team had risen to a solid competitor, it was still considered lower than the team that went ahead like Benetton and Williams. Schumacher declared the Ferrari 412T good enough to win the Championship.
Schumacher, Ross Brawn, Rory Byrne, and Jean Todt (hired in 1993), have been credited as transforming this once-striving team into the most successful team in Formula One history. The three-time World Champion, Jackie Stewart, believes the transformation of the Ferrari team is Schumacher's greatest achievement. Eddie Irvine also joined the team, moving from Jordan. During the winter testing, Schumacher first drove a Ferrari, their 1995 Ferrari 412 T2, and two seconds ahead of former regular Jean Alesi and Gerhard Berger.
1996-1999
Schumacher finished third in the drivers 'Championship in 1996 and helped Ferrari to second place in the Constructors' Championships ahead of his old team Benetton. He won three races, more than the total number of teams for the period 1991-1995. At the start of the 1996 season the car had reliability problems and Schumacher did not finish six of the 16 races. He earned his first win for Ferrari at the Spanish Grand Prix, where he overturned the field into third place in the rainy season. After leading on lap 19, he consistently settles five seconds faster than the rest of the field in difficult conditions. In France the Schumacher Grand Prix qualified in pole position, but suffered engine failure on lap formation races. But at Spa-Francorchamps, Schumacher used the right pit stop to fend off Williams Jacques Villeneuve. After that, at Monza, Schumacher won ahead of tifosi.
Michael Schumacher and Jacques Villeneuve competed for the title in 1997. Villeneuve, driving a superior Williams FW19, led the championship in the early part of the season. However, in mid-season, Schumacher has led the championship, won five races, and entered the last Grand Prix of the season with a one-point advantage. Toward the end of the race, held at Jerez, Ferrari Schumacher developed a cooling leak and a loss of performance that signaled he did not finish the race. As Villeneuve approached to get past his rival, Schumacher tried to provoke an accident, but earned a short stick, retreating from the race. Villeneuve went on and scored four points to take the championship. Schumacher was penalized for unsportsmanlike behavior for a collision and was disqualified from the Driver's Championship.
In 1998, Finnish rider Mika HÃÆ'¤kkinen became Schumacher's main competitor. HÃÆ'¤kkinen won the first two races of the season, gaining a 16-point lead over Schumacher. Schumacher then won in Argentina and, with Ferrari rising significantly in the second half of the season, Schumacher grabbed six wins and five other podium finishes. Ferrari took 1-2 finishes at the French Grand Prix, the first 1-2 Ferrari finished since 1990, and the Italian Grand Prix, which tied Schumacher with HÃÆ'¤kkinen to lead the Drivers' Championship with 80 points, but HÃÆ' ¤¤kkinen won the Championship by winning the last two races. There are two controversies; at the British Grand Prix Schumacher took the lead on the last lap when he turned into a pit lane, crossed the starting finish line and stopped to drop a penalty of ten seconds. There is some doubt as to whether this is counted as serving a penalty, but, as he has crossed the finish line when he comes to the pit lane, victory is legitimate. At the Spa, Schumacher led the race with 40 seconds in heavy spray, but collided with McLaren's David Coulthard when the Scot, one lap down, slowed in a very poor viewing distance to let Schumacher pass. After the two cars returned to the pits, Schumacher jumped out of his car and headed for McLaren's garage in an angry manner and accused Coulthard of trying to kill him. Coulthard admitted five years later that the accident was his fault.
Schumacher's effort helped Ferrari win the Constructor title in 1999. He lost the chance to win the British Grand Prix Drivers' Championship at high speed Stowe Corner, his rear brake failed, sending him off the track and resulting in a broken leg. During his 98-day absence, he was replaced by Finland's Mika Salo. After missing six races he returned to the inaugural Grand Prix of Malaysia, qualifying for pole position for almost a second. He then assumed the role of a second driver, helping Eddie Irvine's team effort to win the Driver Championship for Ferrari. In the last race of the season, the Japanese Grand Prix, HÃÆ'¤kkinen won the second title in a row. Schumacher then says that HÃÆ'¤kkinen is the opposite whom he respects the most.
2000-2004: World Championships of the year
During this period Schumacher won more races and championships than any other racer in sports history. Schumacher won his third World Championship in 2000 after a year-long battle with HÃÆ'¤kkinen. Schumacher won the first three races of the season and five of the first eight races. Mid-year, Schumacher's chances suffered with three non-finishes in a row, allowing HÃÆ'¤kkinen to close the gap in the standings. HÃÆ'¤kkinen then took two more wins, before Schumacher won in the Italian Grand Prix. At post-race press conferences, after matching the number of wins (41) won by his idol, Ayrton Senna, Schumacher cries. The championship battle will go down to the final race of the season, the Japanese Grand Prix. Starting from pole position, Schumacher lost the lead to HÃÆ'¤kkinen at the start. After the second pit stop, however, Schumacher out front HÃÆ'¤kkinen and went on to win the race and championship.
In 2001, Schumacher took his fourth rider title. Four other drivers won the race, but nobody defended the season's challenge for the championship. Schumacher scored a record nine wins and grabbed the World Championship with four races unfinished. He finished the championship with 123 points, 58 ahead of runner-up Coulthard. Key highlights include the Canadian Grand Prix, where Schumacher finished 2 for his brother Ralf, thus scoring the first 1-2 finishes by the brothers in Formula One; and the Belgian Grand Prix where Schumacher scored his 52nd career victory, breaking Alain Prost's record for most career victories.
In 2002, Schumacher used the Ferrari F2002 to defend his Driver Championship. There was another controversy, however, at the Austrian Grand Prix, where team mate Rubens Barrichello took the lead, but in the last meter of the race, under team orders, slowed to allow Schumacher to win the race. The crowd irritated the result and Schumacher tried to make amends by allowing Barrichello to stand on the top of the podium. At the United States Grand Prix later that year, Schumacher dominated the race and set out to finish with Barrichello. In the end he slowed to make the formation finished with Barrichello, but slowed down too much allowing Barrichello to take the win. In winning the Racer Championship he equaled the record set by Juan Manuel Fangio of the five World Championships. Ferrari won 15 of 17 races, and Schumacher won the title with six races left in the season, which is still the earliest point in the season for the driver to be crowned World Champion. Schumacher broke his own record, sharing with Nigel Mansell, nine wins in a season, by winning eleven times and completing each race on the podium. He finished with 144 points, breaking a record 67 points ahead of runner-up, teammate Rubens Barrichello. The pair finished nine of 17 races in the first two places.
Schumacher broke Juan Manuel Fangio's record of five World Racing Championships by winning his sixth race title in 2003, a challenging season. The biggest competition came once again from McLaren Mercedes and Williams BMW teams. In the first race, Schumacher ran off the track, and in the next two, was involved in a collision. He fell 16 points behind Kimi RÃÆ'¤ikkÃÆ'¶nen. Schumacher won the San Marino Grand Prix and the next two races, and closed in two points from RÃÆ'¤ikkÃÆ'¶nen. In addition to Schumacher's victory in Canada, and Barrichello's victory in England, mid-season was dominated by Williams riders Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya, who each claimed two wins. After the Hungarian Grand Prix, Michael Schumacher leads Montoya and Kimi RÃÆ'¤ikkÃÆ'¶nen each with just one and two points respectively. Ahead of the next race, the FIA ​​announced a change in how to measure the width of the tires: this forced Michelin, a supplier to Williams and McLaren, among others, to redesign their tires quickly before the Italian Grand Prix. Schumacher, who used Bridgestone tires, won the next two races. After Montoya was convicted in the US Grand Prix, only Schumacher and RÃÆ'¤ikkÃÆ'¶nen remained in competition for the title. In the final round, the Japanese Grand Prix, Schumacher only takes one point while RÃÆ'¤ikkÃÆ'¶nen must win. By finishing the race in eighth place, Schumacher picked up a point and secured his sixth World Drivers title, ending a two-point season ahead of RÃÆ'¤ikkÃÆ'¶nen.
In 2004, Schumacher won a record of twelve of the first thirteen seasons of the season, only failing to finish in Monaco following an accident with Juan Pablo Montoya during the safety car period when he briefly locked his car brake. He won the seventh title of the drivers at the Belgian Grand Prix. He finished the season with a 148-point record, 34 points above runner-up, team-mate Rubens Barrichello, and set a new record of 13 race wins from a possible 18, surpassing his previous 11 best wins of the 2002 season.
2005-2006
The change rule for the 2005 season requires the tires to last throughout the race, giving the overall advantage to teams that use Michelin over teams such as the Ferrari relying on Bridgestone tires. Partial rule changes in an attempt to disguise Ferrari's dominance and make the series more interesting. The most important moment at the start of the season for Schumacher was his fight with Fernando Alonso at San Marino, where he started 13 and finished just 0.2 seconds behind the Spaniard. Less than half the season, Schumacher said, "I do not think I can count myself in this battle anymore, it's like trying to fight with a blunt weapon... If your weapon is weak, you have no chance." Schumacher's single victory in 2005 took place in the US Grand Prix. Before the race, Michelin tires were found to have significant security problems. When there is no compromise between the team and the FIA ​​can be achieved, all but six racers who use Bridgestone tires out of the race after the round of formation. Schumacher retired in six of 19 races. He finished the season in third place with 62 points, less than half a point from World Champion Alonso.
2006 became Ferras Schumacher's last season of career. After three races, Schumacher only has 11 points and is 17 points behind Alonso. He won the following two races. Her pole position at San Marino is the 66th, breaking Ayrton Senna's 12-year record.
Schumacher was stripped of pole position at the Monaco Grand Prix and started the race behind the grid. This is because he stopped his car and blocked some of the circuit while Alonso was in his lap; he still managed to climb to the fifth rank in the famous Monaco circuit. By the Canadian Grand Prix, this season's ninth race, Schumacher is 25 points behind Alonso, but he then won the following three races to reduce his losses to 11. After his victory in Italy (where Alonso suffered a machine failure) and China, where Alonso has tire problems, Schumacher leads in the championship standings for the first time during this season. Although he and Alonso have the same total points, Schumacher is ahead because he has won more races.
The Japanese Grand Prix was led by Schumacher with only 16 laps to go, when, for the first time since the 2000 French Grand Prix, Schumacher's car suffered a engine failure. Alonso won the race, giving himself a ten-point championship lead. With only one race left in this season, Schumacher can only win the championship if he wins the season finals and Alonso does not score any points.
Prior to the Brazilian Grand Prix, Schumacher admitted the title to Alonso. In a pre-race ceremony, football legend PelÃÆ' © presents Schumacher's trophy for his years of dedication to Formula One. During the qualifying session of the race, Schumacher had one of the fastest times during the first session and fastest in the second session; but the fuel pressure issue prevented him from finishing one round during the third session, forcing him to start the race in tenth position. At the start of the race Schumacher moved to sixth place. However, in overtaking teammate Alonso, Giancarlo Fisichella, Schumacher experienced a tire puncture caused by the front wing of the car Fisichella. Schumacher pitted and consequently fell to 19, 70 seconds behind team mate and race leader Felipe Massa. Schumacher recovered and overtook Fisichella and RÃÆ'¤ikkÃÆ'¶nen to secure fourth place. His appearances are classified in the press as "heroic", "a really fascinating mover", and "a performance that... sums up his career".
2007-2009: retired at Ferrari
While Schumacher was on the podium after winning the 2006 Italian Grand Prix, Ferrari issued a press release stating that he would retire from the race at the end of the 2006 season. Schumacher confirmed his resignation. The press release stated that Schumacher will continue to work for Ferrari. It was revealed on October 29, 2006 that Ferrari wanted Schumacher to act as newly appointed Jean Todt CEO's assistant. This will involve selecting future drivers of the team. After Schumacher's announcement, leading figures such as Formula One Niki Lauda and David Coulthard praised Schumacher as the best racer in history in Formula One history. The Italian tifosi and press, which did not necessarily take to Schumacher's relatively cold public persona, displayed a compassionate response after he announced his resignation.
2007: Ferrari Adviser
He attended several Grand Prix during the season. Schumacher drove the Ferrari F2007 for the first time on 24 October at Ferrari's home track in Fiorano, Italy. He ran no more than five laps and no lap times were recorded. A Ferrari spokesman said the short trip was made to Fiat's board of directors meeting in Maranello.
During the 2007 season Schumacher acted as a Ferrari advisor and 'super assistant' Jean Todt. On November 13, 2007 Schumacher, who has not driven Formula One since he retired a year before, conducted a formal test session for the first time in F2007. He returned in December 2007 to continue helping Ferrari with their development program on the Jerez circuit. He focused on electronic testing and tires for the 2008 Formula One season.
2008: Ferrari street car development
In 2007, former top Ferrari manager Ross Brawn said that Schumacher was very likely and also happy to continue testing in 2008; Schumacher later explained his role further saying that he would "handle the development of the car inside the Gestione Sportiva" and as part of it "I want to drive, but not very often".
During 2008 Schumacher also competed in motorcycle racing in the IDM Superbike series, but stated that he has no intention of a second competitive career in this sport. He was quoted as saying that driving a Ducati is the most joyous thing he has done in his life, the second most being sky diving.
2009: planned Mass replacement
In his capacity as a racing adviser to Ferrari, Schumacher was present in Budapest for the Hungarian Grand Prix when Ferrari's Felipe Massa was seriously injured after being struck by a suspension spring during qualifying. When it became clear that Massa would not be able to compete in the next race in Valencia, Schumacher was chosen as a replacement for the Brazilian racer and on July 29, 2009, Ferrari announced that they plan to design at Schumacher for the European Grand Prix and subsequent Grand Prix until Massa can race again. Schumacher was tested in the modified F2007 to prepare himself as he was unable to test the 2009 car due to the testing restrictions. Ferrari appealed for a special permit for Schumacher to test on the 2009 specification car, but Williams, Red Bull and Toro Rosso opposed this test. In the end, Schumacher was forced to cancel his return because of the severity of a neck injury he received in a motorcycle accident at the beginning of the year. The Mass at Ferrari is filled by Luca Badoer and Giancarlo Fisichella.
Mercedes (2010-2012)
2010: return from retirement
Schumacher's first drive from Mercedes 2010 - Mercedes MGP W01 - was in official test in February 2010 in Valencia. He finished sixth in the first race of the season at the Bahrain Grand Prix. After the Malaysian race, former driver Stirling Moss suggested that Schumacher, who had finished behind his team-mates in each of the first four qualifying sessions and races, might "pass through". Many other former Formula One racers are respected to think otherwise, including former rival Damon Hill, who warned "You should never have written Schumacher". GrandPrix.com identified an understeer attached to a Mercedes car, compounded by a narrow front tire introduced for the 2010 season, as a contribution to Schumacher's difficulties. Jenson Button later claimed that the 2010 Mercedes car was designed for him, and that their different driving styles might have contributed to Schumacher's difficulties.
Mercedes upgraded their car to the Spanish Grand Prix where Schumacher was fourth. At Monaco Grand Prix Schumacher finished sixth after passing Ferrari's Fernando Alonso in the final corner of the race when the safety car returned to the pits. However, he was punished 20 seconds after the race by the race racer dropped him to 12th position. The stewards rate fit to violate the FIA's sports code. Different interpretations of the rules will lead to clarification by the FIA.
In Turkey, Schumacher qualified fifth, and finished fourth in the race, his second best result since he returned. At the European Grand Prix in Valencia, Schumacher finished 15th, the lowest record in his career. In Hungary, Schumacher finished off the point in the eleventh, but was found guilty of dangerous driving at 180 mph (290 km/h) while unsuccessfully maintaining his tenth position against Rubens Barrichello. As a result, he was demoted to the rank of ten places on the grid for the next race, the Belgian Grand Prix, where he finished seventh, despite starting 21 after a grid penalty.
At the end of the season in Abu Dhabi, Schumacher was involved in a major accident on the first lap, which occurred after turning. In the recovery of the incident, Vitantonio Liuzzi's car collided with Schumacher, almost losing his head. No one was injured in the accident, but Schumacher said the accident was "scary".
He finished the season 9 with 72 points. Previously, it only happened at his home, but in 1991 he finished without victory, pole position, podium or the fastest lap.
2011
Schumacher's first point in 2011 was scored in Malaysia, he then came sixth in Spain and had a strong race at the Canadian Grand Prix finishing fourth, after running a second high in a wet race. Schumacher was ratified late in the race by eventual winner Jenson Button.
Schumacher clashed with Vitaly Petrov in Valencia, and with Kamui Kobayashi in England, and marked his 20th anniversary in Formula One but in the Belgian Grand Prix. Although it started last in Belgium, Schumacher ran well and finished fifth. Schumacher returned to good match in Italy, dueling with Lewis Hamilton for fourth place. The Japanese Grand Prix saw Schumacher lead three laps during the race, marking the first time he had led the race since 2006. Thus, he became the oldest racer to lead the race since Jack Brabham in 1970.
At the Schumacher Indian Grand Prix started well and finished fifth after overtaking Rosberg at the end of the race. Schumacher cut the dice again with Rosberg in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, struggling in sixth position on the first lap. Schumacher ended the season in eighth place in the Drivers' Championship, with 76 points.
2012: last season
Schumacher re-partnered with Rosberg at Mercedes for the 2012 season. Schumacher retired from the inaugural Grand Prix season Australia race, and scored one point in the second race in Malaysia. In China Schumacher started in the front row alongside Rosberg at the pole, but retired because the wheels were sagging after a mechanical error during the pit stop.
After causing a collision with Bruno Senna in Spain, Schumacher received a penalty of five penalties for the Monaco Grand Prix. Schumacher is fastest in qualifying at Monaco; but started sixth because of his punishment. He then retired from seventh place in the race.
At the European Grand Prix, Schumacher is third in the race, the only podium since returning to F1 with Mercedes. At the age of 43 and 173 days, he became the oldest rider to reach the podium since the finish of second place Jack Brabham in the 1970 British Grand Prix. Further notes were set by Schumacher in Germany, where he set the fastest lap in the Grand Prix for the 77th time of his career, and in Belgium where he became the second rider in history to race at 300 Grand Prix.
Schumacher's misunderstanding of his future plans in F1 caused him to be replaced by Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes for the 2013 season. In October 2012, Schumacher announced he would retire for the second time at the end of the season. The following week he was quoted as saying: "There have been several times in the last few months where I do not want to deal with Formula One or prepare for the next Grand Prix." His season and his 21-year career F1 ended with the Brazilian Grand Prix of 2012, in which Schumacher finished seventh. He finished 13th in the 2012 drivers' championship.
Helm
Schumacher, along with Schuberth, helped develop the first lightweight carbon helmet. In 2004, a prototype was publicly tested with tanks; it survives intact. The helmet keeps the driver cool by channeling the airflow directed through fifty holes. Schumacher's original helmet wears the flag colors of Germany and decals its sponsors. Above is a blue circle with white astroids. From the Monaco Grand Prix 2000, to distinguish the colors from his new colleague, Rubens Barrichello, Schumacher changed the top blue color and some white areas to red. For the 2006 Brazil Grand Prix race (at the time intended to be his last Grand Prix), he wore a red all-round helmet that included the names of his ninety-one Grand Prix victories. For the 2011 Belgian Grand Prix, Schumacher's 20th birthday in Formula One, he wore a gold leaf-warning helmet. Helmets, very similar to their current helmets, include the dÃÆ'Â © but for now, and the years of the seven World titles. For the Belgian Grand Prix of 2012, the appearance of Schumacher's 300th Prix, he wore a special platinum-covered helmet with his message of accomplishment.
Awards
Schumacher was honored many times during his career. In April 2002, for his contribution to the sport and his contribution in raising awareness of children's education, he was named as one of UNESCO's champions for sport, joining the other eight, which included PelÃÆ'Ã… ©, Sergey Bubka and Justine Henin. He won the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award twice, in 2002 and 2004 for his performances in the 2001 and 2003 seasons respectively. He also received nominations for awards in 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2007. He shared the record for the second-highest nominations nomination with Roger Federer with six nominations, and was lost only by Tiger Woods who has been nominated seven times. He holds the distinction of having most nominations for motorsport athletes, (Fernando Alonso has been nominated only twice, Sebastian Vettel three times, and Valentino Rossi five times) and became the only motorsport athlete to win the award more than once.
In honor of Schumacher's racing career and his efforts to improve safety and sport, he was awarded the FIA ​​Gold Medal for Motor Sport in 2006. In 2007, in recognition of his contribution to the Formula One race, the NÃÆ'¼rburgring racing track changed to 8 and 9 (Audi and Shell Kurves) as Schumacher S, and a month later he presented the German A1 Team with the A1 World Cup at the 2007 A1GP Motorsport World Cup awards ceremony. He was nominated for the Prince of Asturias Award for Sport for 2007, for which he winning well for sporting excellence and for his humanitarian record.
In 2008, the Swiss Football Association appointed Schumacher, a longtime Swiss citizen as the country's ambassador to the European soccer championship in 2008.
On April 30, 2010, Schumacher received the title of Officier of Là © gion d'honneur from French Prime Minister François Fillon.
On November 13, 2014, Schumacher was awarded the Millennium Trophy at the Bambi Awards.
Racing controversy
Collision decisive championship
Entering the 1994 Australian Grand Prix, the last race of the 1994 season, Schumacher led Damon Hill by one point in the Racer Championship. Schumacher led the race from the start, but on lap 35 he got off the track and hit the wall with his right side wheel, back to the track with reduced speed, and with damage to the car, but still led the race. In the next corner Hill tried to get through the inside, but Schumacher turned sharply and they collided. Both cars were knocked out of the race and, as none of the drivers scored, Schumacher took the title. The stewards rated it a racing accident and took no action against one of the drivers, but public opinion was divided over the incident, and Schumacher was maligned in the British media.
At the 1997 European Grand Prix at Jerez, the final race of the season, Schumacher led Jacques Villeneuve Williams by one point in the Racer Championship. When Villeneuve tried to get past Schumacher in the Dry Sac corner on lap 48, Schumacher came in and the right front wheel of Ferrari Schumacher touched the left-hand sidepod of Villeneuve. Schumacher retired from the race as a result, but Villeneuve finished in third place, taking four points and thus becoming the World Champion. Racing passengers initially did not award a penalty, but two weeks after the Schumacher race were disqualified from the entire Driver Championship in 1997 after the FIA ​​disciplinary hearing found that "his maneuver was an instinctive reaction and although intentionally not made with ill will or premeditation it was a serious error. "Schumacher accepted the decision and admitted he had made a mistake. Schumacher's actions are widely condemned in British, German, and Italian newspapers. This makes Schumacher the only driver in sports history, by 2017, to be disqualified from the Driver World Championships.
Team command
Historically, team orders have always been an accepted part of Formula One. However, at the last end of the 2002 Austrian Grand Prix, Schumacher's team mate Rubens Barrichello slowed his car under orders from Ferrari to allow Schumacher to pass and win the race. Although a change of position does not violate actual sports or technical regulations, it infuriates fans and is claimed that team actions show lack of sportsmanship and respect for the audience. Many argue that Schumacher does not need to be "awarded" victories only in the sixth race of the season, especially given that he has won four of the previous five Grand Prix, and that Barrichello dominated the race weekend up to that time. At the podium ceremony, Schumacher pushed Barrichello to the top of the stairs, and for this interruption, Ferrari's team issued a fine of US $ 1 million. Later in the season at the end of the 2002 US Grand Prix, Schumacher slowed in view of the finish line, allowing Barrichello to win by 0.011 seconds, the closest 2nd margin in F1 history. Schumacher's explanation varies between it is he "returns the favor" to Austria (now Schumacher's title is safe), or tries to design a dead-hot (achievement is ridiculed because it is almost impossible in a sport where timings are brought into one-thousandth of a second). The FIA ​​then banned "team orders that interfere with the outcome of the race", but the ban was lifted for the 2011 season because the decision was difficult to uphold.
Dangerous driving
During his time at Sauber, at the 1991 Sportscar World Championship, Schumacher was involved in a serious incident with Derek Warwick in 430 km from NÃÆ'¼rburgring. While trying to set his lap in the qualifying round, Schumacher met Warwick's Jaguar on a slow lap and lost time for Schumacher. In retaliation for blocking his way, Schumacher deflected Sauber into the Warwick car, crashing into Jaguar's nose and front wheel. Angered by the German attitude, Warwick went to the pits and chased Schumacher who escaped on foot through Sauber's hole. He finally caught up with Schumacher, and needed an intervention from Jochen Mass to prevent Warwick from physically attacking Schumacher.
Towards the end of the 2010 Hungarian Grand Prix, Rubens Barrichello tried to get past Schumacher inside on the main straight. Schumacher closed the inside line to force Barrichello out, but Barrichello stayed inside at a speed of 180 mph (290 km/h), though close to the concrete wall and Schumacher left him just a few inches to spare. Barrichello said, "This is the most dangerous thing I've been through", and "There is no rule for it, but among ourselves we have to take the line, stick to it and that's it." Schumacher said that "There is certainly enough room to go through, we do not touch, so I guess I just leave enough room for him to come." Ross Brawn said "at the end of the day he gave him enough room.You can argue that it's marginal, but it's just hard - a hard race." A number of former riders and commentators are very critical of Schumacher. Although no accident, horseman, the same Warwick crane of the 1991 NÃÆ'¼rburgring incident, wishing to become Schumacher's black flag ever since "will show a better example to our young driver". The Hungaroring incident was ruled dangerous and Schumacher received a 10-place penalty for the next race. Schumacher accepted the decision, and apologized.
Other incidents
In 1994, the suspicion of foul play by the Benetton team (who was eventually found to have been responsible for some technical violations during the season) is said to have disrupted Ayrton Senna that season. For example, in the words of his teammate, Damon Hill, Senna chose to spend a little time on the first corner of the Aida circuit after retiring from the Pacific Grand Prix. After listening to Schumacher's Benetton B194 as he passed, Senna "concluded that there was, what he perceived, as the unusual sound of a machine". The FIA ​​then issued a press release defining the actions the team needed to take before the German Grand Prix, given that various cars were found to have advanced engine management systems that mimic launch and traction control.
In 1995, Schumacher and Williams driver David Coulthard was disqualified for fuel irregularities, after switching to Renault engines and Elf oil. On appeal, both riders get results and their points are restored, but both teams lose the points of results that would normally be earned in the Constructors Championship.
The 1998 Canadian Grand Prix sees Schumacher being accused of dangerous driving when out of pit-lane forcing Heinz-Harald Frentzen out of the way and into retirement. Despite receiving a 10-second penalty, Schumacher recovered and won the race.
Two laps from the British Grand Prix finish in 1998, Schumacher led the race when he issued a stop-and-go penalty for overtaking the composed car (Alexander Wurz) in the early moments of the Car Safety season. This penalty involves going into the pit lane and stopping for 10 seconds, and the rule states that a driver must serve his sentence within three laps of the sentence issued. On the third lap after receiving a penalty, Schumacher turned into a pit lane to serve a penalty, but as this was the last lap of the race, and as a Ferrari pit box located after the start/finish line, Schumacher technically completed the race. before serving the sentence. The guard initially solved the problem by adding 10 seconds to Schumacher's racing time, then subsequently canceled the penalty entirely due to irregularities in how the penalty had been issued.
During qualifying for the Schumacher Monaco Grand Prix of 2006 set the fastest time, but his car stopped at the corner of Rascasse on the racecourse, leaving a partially blocked corner, while the main contender for the season title, Fernando Alonso, was in his last qualifying round. Schumacher stated that he just locked the wheel into the corner and that the car then stalled when he tried to retreat. Alonso believes he will be on pole if the incident did not happen, and Schumacher was stripped of pole position by the race guard and started the race behind the grid. In the same qualifying session, Giancarlo Fisichella was equally found to have blocked David Coulthard from raising his time, but Fisichella only lowered five places on the grid. At the Monaco Grand Prix in 2010, safety cars were deployed after the accident, involving Karun Chandhok and Jarno Trulli, and were drawn to the pits on the last lap. Schumacher passed Alonso before the finish line. Mercedes stated that "the combination of Safety Car's race control message on this lap 'and' Track Clear 'and the green flag and lights indicated by marshals after the safety car line one indicates that the race is not completed under the safety car and all racers are free to race. "But an FIA investigation found Schumacher guilty of violating Car Safety rules and giving him a 20-second penalty, which left him six places down.
Personal life
Schumacher's sister, Ralf, was the Formula One driver until the end of 2007. Their half-sister, Sebastian Stahl, was also a racer.
In August 1995, Michael married Corinna Betsch. They have two children, a daughter of Gina-Marie, born February 20, 1997 and a son of Mick, born March 22, 1999. She is always very protective of her personal life and is known for not liking the spotlight of celebrities. The family moved into a newly built house near Gland, Switzerland in 2007, an area of ​​650 square meters (7,000 sq ft) with a private beach on Lake Geneva and featuring an underground garage and gas station.
Schumacher and his wife own a horse farm in Texas and Switzerland.
The family has two dogs - one lost who Corinna fell in love with in Brazil, and an Australian Shepherd named "Ed" whose arrival in the family made headlines. In fact, in 2007, Schumacher personally drove a taxi through the town of Coburg in Bavaria to collect dogs and allow the family to make a flight back to Switzerland. Both Schumacher and the taxi drivers were reprimanded by the local police.
One of his main hobbies was riding, and he played football for his local team FC Echichens. He has appeared in several charity soccer games and organized games between Formula One racers.
On June 23, 2003, Schumacher was appointed Ambassador to San Marino's Most Scenic Republic.
Schumacher is a special envoy to UNESCO and has donated 1.5 million euros to the organization. In addition, he paid for the construction of schools for poor children and for the improvement of the area in Dakar, Senegal. He supports hospitals for children of war victims in Sarajevo, who specialize in caring for people who are amputated. In Lima, Peru, he funds "Palace for the Poor", a center to help homeless street children get education, clothing, food, medical care, and shelter. He expressed interest in these efforts by his love for children and the fact that these causes only received little attention. While the exact figure for the amount of money he donated throughout his life is unknown, it is known that in the last four years as a driver, he donated at least $ 50 million. In 2008, it was revealed that he had donated between $ 5M and $ 10M to the William J. Clinton Presidential Center and Park of Bill Clinton.
Since his participation in the FIA's European road safety campaign, as part of his punishment after the collision at the 1997 European Grand Prix, Schumacher continues to support other campaigns, such as Make Roads Safe, led by the FIA ​​Foundation and calls on G8 countries and the UN to recognize global road deaths as major global health problems. In 2008, Schumacher was the advertising campaign leader by Bacardi to raise awareness about responsible drinking, focusing on communicating the international message of 'drinking and driving not mixing'. She is featured in ad campaigns for television, cinema and online media, supported by consumer engagement, public relations and digital media across the World.
On the eve of the 2002 British Grand Prix, in the name of Fiat, Schumacher presented Ferrari 360 Modena to Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar at Silverstone.
On June 21, 2009, Schumacher appeared on the BBC's top Automotive program Top Gear as Stig. Presenter Jeremy Clarkson hinted later in the program that Schumacher was not the usual Stig, and the BBC has since confirmed that this is the case. Schumacher was there on the occasion because Ferrari would not allow anyone to drive a one-of-a-kind Ferrari FXX featured in the show.
During an interview with Clarkson, Schumacher stated that his street car is the Fiat 500 Abarth, and Fiat Croma, which is his family car.
Finance and sponsorship
In 2004, Forbes magazine listed it as the second highest paid athlete in the World. In 2005, Eurobusiness magazine identified Schumacher as the world's first billionaire athlete. His 2004 salary was reported to be around US $ 80 million. Forbes magazine ranked it 17th in the list of "World's Most Powerful Celebrities". Most of the revenue comes from advertising. For example, Deutsche VermÃÆ'¶gensberatung paid him $ 8 million over three years from 1999 for wearing a 10 x 8 centimeter ad on his post race hat. The deal was extended to 2010. He donated $ 10 million for aid after the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. His contribution exceeded that of any other sports person, mostly sports leagues, many companies around the world and even some countries. Guard Schumacher, Burkhard Cramer and two Cramer sons were killed in the tsunami.
In 2010, his personal fortune is estimated at £ 515 million. He is reportedly receiving a salary of £ 21 million each year from the Mercedes team, plus a further Ã, Â £ 9 million in support.
ski accident 2013
On December 29, 2013, Schumacher was skiing with his 14-year-old son Mick down from Combe de Saulire under the Dent de Burgin over the MÃÆ'Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â € ribel in the French Alps. While crossing an unsafe off-piste area between Piste Chamois and Piste Mauduit, he falls and crashes his head on a rock, suffering a serious head injury despite wearing a ski helmet. According to his doctor, he will most likely die if he does not wear a helmet. He was flown to Grenoble Hospital where he underwent two surgical interventions. Schumacher was put into a medically induced coma because of a traumatic brain injury; his doctor reported on March 7, 2014 that his condition was stable. On April 4, 2014, Schumacher's agent reported that he showed "moments of consciousness" as he was gradually withdrawn from a medical-induced coma, adding to a report by relatives of "joyous little signs" over the previous month. In mid-June, he was transferred from intensive care to the rehabilitation ward. On June 16, 2014, Schumacher was aware and left the Grenoble Hospital for further rehabilitation at the University Hospital (CHUV) in Lausanne, Switzerland. On September 9, 2014, Schumacher left CHUV and was brought back to his home for further rehabilitation. In November 2014, it was reported that Schumacher was "paralyzed and in a wheelchair"; he "can not speak and has memory problems". In a video interview released in May 2015, Schumacher manager Sabine Kehm said his condition was slowly improving "given the severity of his injury."
In September 2016, Felix Damm, a lawyer for Schumacher, told the German court that his client "could not walk", responded to a false report from December 2015 in the German publication Die Bunte that he could "walk with a pair of steps -step ".
Racing record
Career summary
- Source: Hilton, Christopher (2006). Michael Schumacher: The Whole Story. Haynes. ISBN: 1-84425-008-3.
Complete the results of World Sportscar Championship
(races in bold indicates pole position) (Races in italics shows the fastest lap)
Complete Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft results
(key) (Racing in bold
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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