Michael Schumacher, one of the greatest F1 drivers in the sport’s history, drove for various teams, including Jordan, Benetton, Ferrari, and Mercedes and won a record-equalling seven World Drivers’ Championship titles—a record he shares with Lewis Hamilton.
| Nationality | German |
| Born | Michael Schumacher 3 January 1969 Hürth, North Rhine-Westphalia, West Germany |
|---|
When Schumacher retired from racing in 2012, he held multiple records, including the most wins (91), pole positions (68), and podium finishes (155). And while Hamilton has since broken some of those records, Schumacher still holds the record for the most fastest laps (77), among others.
Schumacher grew up in a working-class family and started his racing career in karting. At just six years old, he won his first karting championship in a kart he built from discarded parts. Throughout his early career, Schumacher achieved many successes, such as winning the 1987 European Karting Championship and several single-seater series. He made a one-off Formula One appearance with Jordan at the 1991 Belgian Grand Prix before being signed by Benetton for the rest of the season, where he won his first and second Driver’s titles in 1994 and 1995. The ’94 title even more remarkable when Schumacher received a two-race ban after ignoring a black flag during the 1994 British Grand Prix, having overtaken Damon Hill on the formation lap and failed to serve a stop-go penalty. Despite continuing to race under appeal, the FIA later upheld the ban following the 1994 Belgian Grand Prix. As a result, Schumacher was forced to sit out the 1994 Italian and Portuguese Grands Prix, momentarily halting his charge toward a first world title.
Formula One History Recommends
He then moved to Ferrari in 1996, and, despite some setbacks, he and the team won five consecutive titles from 2000 to 2004. One of the most dominant eras in F1 history, and he still ranks as one of the youngest F1 world champions.
Schumacher returned to Formula 1 in 2010 with Mercedes but achieved limited success, securing only one podium finish at the 2012 European Grand Prix. In 2013, after Schumacher announced his retirement for the second time at the end of the 2012 season, Mercedes replaced him with Lewis Hamilton.
Beyond racing, Schumacher was an ambassador for UNESCO and participated in many humanitarian projects. He also donated tens of millions of dollars to charity. In 2013, Schumacher suffered a severe brain injury in a skiing accident that left him in a medically induced coma until June 2014. He then underwent rehabilitation at the Lausanne University Hospital before being relocated to his home for private medical treatment and rehabilitation. Despite his challenges, Schumacher remains a legend in the racing world and a beloved figure to many fans worldwide.
With F1 in the Schumacher family’s blood, it’s unsurprising that younger brother Ralf Schumacher, his son Mick Schumacher, his nephew David, and his stepbrother Sebastian Stahl have all pursued careers as racing drivers. Ralf Schumacher competed in Formula One for ten years, from 1997 to 2007. Mick became the third Schumacher to race in Formula One, debuting with the Haas F1 Team in the 2021 season.
Michael Schumacher Formula One World Championship career
| F1 Career | 1991–2006, 2010–2012 |
|---|---|
| Teams | Jordan, Benetton, Ferrari, Mercedes |
| Entries | 308 (306 starts) |
| Championships | 7 (1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004) |
| Wins | 91 |
| Podiums | 155 |
| Career points | 1566 |
| Pole positions | 68 |
| Fastest laps | 77 |
| First entry | 1991 Belgian Grand Prix |
| First win | 1992 Belgian Grand Prix |
| Last win | 2006 Chinese Grand Prix |
| Last entry | 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix |
Michael Schumacher Teammates
| 11 Teammates | Involvement | First Year | Last Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andrea de Cesaris | 1 | 1991 | |
| Nelson Piquet | 5 | 1991 | |
| Martin Brundle | 16 | 1992 | |
| Riccardo Patrese | 16 | 1993 | |
| Jos Verstappen | 8 | 1994 | |
| JJ Lehto | 4 | 1994 | |
| Johnny Herbert | 19 | 1994 | 1995 |
| Eddie Irvine | 59 | 1996 | 1999 |
| Rubens Barrichello | 104 | 2000 | 2005 |
| Felipe Massa | 18 | 2006 | |
| Nico Rosberg | 58 | 2010 | 2012 |
Michael Schumacher Formula One Records
Schumacher holds/held these Formula One records:
| Record | Date first achieved | # |
|---|---|---|
| Most Championship titles | 2002 | 7 |
| Most consecutive titles | 2000–2004 | 5 |
| Most races left in the season when becoming World Champion | 2002 | 6 |
| Most wins at the same Grand Prix | French Grand Prix (1994–1995, 1997–1998, 2001–2002, 2004, 2006) | 8 |
| Most seasons with a win | 1992–2006 | 15 |
| Most consecutive seasons with a win | 1992–2006 | 15 |
| Most consecutive top two finishes | 2002 Brazilian Grand Prix – 2002 Japanese Grand Prix | 15 |
| Highest percentage of podium finishes in a season | 2002 | 100% |
| Most consecutive podium finishes | 2001 United States Grand Prix – 2002 Japanese Grand Prix | 19 |
| Most fastest laps | 2001 Australian Grand Prix | 77 |
| Most fastest laps in a season | 2004 | 10 |
| Most hat-tricks (pole, win and fastest lap) | 2002 Japanese Grand Prix | 22 |
| Most hat-tricks in a season | 2004 | 5 |
Formula One Record
Race Wins
Complete Formula One Results
† Driver did not finish the Grand Prix but was classified as he completed over 90% of the race distance.
