Michael Schumi

German ace Michael Schumacher is widely recognised as being the world's best ever racing driver. In 1995 Michael became the (at that time) youngest double Formula 1 World Champion (1994 and 1995 seasons) ever. He is also the 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 World Champion. This phenomenal record speaks for itself. In 2003 he beat Juan Manuel Fangio's five championships from the 1950s, by taking his sixth! He has now retired from F1, at the end of the 2006 season.


The 2004 championship was secured by Michael before its conclusion, making it title number 7. He did it by finishing 2nd at Spa in Belgium, in Ferrari's 700th race, to accumulate enough points to seal the deal.
Michael also holds the F1 records for: most career wins (91), most wins in a season, most career pole positions, most points during a season (148 in 2004), most consecutive world championships (5), most consecutive race wins (2004), most pdium gfinsihes (154), most laps leading, most fastest laps (76), plus several others!


Michael is the highest paid racing driver in the world and second highest earning sportsman in the world, earning a reputed $80 million US in 2004 ($40m of which was his salary from Ferrari). His younger brother Ralf became the third highest paid driver in Formula 1 in 1999, when his pay after the 2000 season was raised to $15.5 million US.



Biography:

Name: Michael Schumacher

Nickname: Schumi or Schuey

Date of Birth: 3rd January 1969

Nationality: German

Place of Birth: Hürth-Hermülheim, Germany

Height: 1.74mWeight: 68kg

Residency: Vufflens-le-Château, Switzerland

Status: Married to Corinna Betsch since Tuesday 1st August 1995

Children: Gina-Maria, daughter (DOB 19/01/97) and son Mick (DOB 22/03/99).

Family: Rolf, Father, Elizabeth, Mother and Ralf, Brother (DOB 30/6/75).

His Hobbies...Soccer, tennis, swimming, skiing.

His Manager...Michael's manager since 1989 has been Willi Weber. Schumacher was to receive a free drive in his WTS team for three years, Weber in return receives 20% of all income Michael earns from motor races. The initial agreement was to last 10 years, however it was later extended for a further several years.

His Helmet...Michael explains how his helmet's paint scheme came about:"From the area of the visor you see the traditional German black-red-gold. I chose the colours years ago with a friend of mine and I changed it only slightly, mostly to include sponsor decals. The blue circle with the white stars on the top was his idea. After joining Ferrari I added the prancing horse on the back. "

Since the European GP in 2000, Michael has raced with a modified helmet design. The blue circle on the top in now painted light red. The white Marlboro stripe around the top is also now red. The change was made to prevent confusion between himself and Barrichello, whose design was confusingly similar.
Michael SchumacherF1 Driver
Photo courtesy of Passing Shots


Michael in the Ferrari F399Michael's old helmet design can be seen quite clearly here. The section obscured is simply the lower portion, which was just a white stripe.

F1 Teams Driven for:

Jordan
1991 Andrea de Cesaris
1991-1995

Benetton
1991 Nelson Piquet
1992 Martin Brundle
1993 Riccardo Patrese
1994 Jos Verstappen/JJ Lehto/ Jonny Herbert
1995 Jonny Herbert

Ferrari
1996-1999 Eddie Irvine
2000- Rubens Barrichello
2006- Felipe Massa

Schuey entered only one race for Jordan - his F1 debut at Spa Francorchamps in 1991. He qualified 7th but in the race the clutch burnt out and he didn't make it off the grid. He stood in for Bertrand Gachot, who had been jailed in London just before the GP for an assault with CS gas on a taxi driver!
Michael is Ferrari's most successful driver ever, ahead of Niki Lauda.
Learn more about Michael! The following great biographies provide more information than we ever could on mSchumacher.com!

This biography is the second from Christopher Hilton on Michael. The first was printed in July 2000, but this second one has been written after he won several more championships!
The author has penned the biographies of numerous other top drivers. Highly recommended reading.

The latest official Schumacher book!
Published in December 2003, Michael's superb autobiography is a 192 page in-depth insight into the great man. There is far more information than it is possible to offer here. We learn about his past, the secrets of his success, his family, his view of other drivers and the state of F1, his opinions on controversial races and drivers, and we are given an insider's view of Ferrari.
Fantastic new photographs from renowned European photographer, Michel Comte, give us new insight into the man and his life. For the first time the private man who gives nothing away and the driver who takes no hostages relaxes and opens up. It provides us with insight and information which only he himself could. The book offers a true insight into Michael's personality and is highly recommended. For more info or to buy the book from amazon.com click to the right.