Formula 1 Teams

 Michael Schumacher

Races: 272
Podiums: 154
Championships: 7
Career Points: 1447

Year	Team	Constructor	Points	Position	Engine	Chassis
1991	Camel Benetton Ford	Benetton	38	4	Ford HB5 3.5 V8	B190B B191
1991	Team 7UP Jordan	Jordan	13	5	Ford HB4 V8	191
1992	Camel Benetton Ford	Benetton	91	3	Ford HB Series 3.5 V8	Benetton B192
1993	Camel Benetton Ford	Benetton	72	3	Ford HBA7 3.5 V8, Ford HBA8 3.5 V8	Benetton B193B
1994	Mild Seven Benetton Ford	Benetton	103	2	Ford ECA Zetec-R 3.5 V8	B194
1995	Mild Seven Renault F1 Team	Benetton	137	1	Renault RS7 3.0 V10	B195
1996	Scuderia Ferrari	Ferrari	70	2	Ferrari 046 3.0 V10	Ferrari F310
1997	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro	Ferrari	102	2	Ferrari 046/2 3.0 V10	F310B
1998	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro	Ferrari	133	2	Ferrari 047	F300
1999	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro	Ferrari	128	1	Ferrari 048	F399
2000	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro	Ferrari	170	1	Ferrari 049	Ferrari F1-2000
2001	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro	Ferrari			Ferrari 050	Ferrari F2001
2002	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro	Ferrari	221	1	Ferrari 051	Ferrari F2002
2003	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro	Ferrari	158	1	Ferrari 051 and Ferrari 052	Ferrari F2003-GA
2004	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro	Ferrari	262	1	Ferrari 053	Ferrari F2004
2005	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro	Ferrari	100	3	Ferrari 053 and 055	Ferrari F2005
2006	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro	Ferrari	201	2	Ferrari 056 2.4 V8	Ferrari 248
2010	Mercedes GP Petronas F1 Team	Mercedes-Benz	214	4	Mercedes FO 108X	Mercedes-Benz W01
2011	Mercedes GP Petronas F1 Team	Mercedes-Benz	165	4	Mercedes FO 108Y	Mercedes-Benz W02 Silver Arrow
2012	Mercedes GP Petronas F1 Team	Mercedes-Benz	142	5	FO108Z 90º V8	Mercedes-Benz W03

Micheal Schumacher: 'I am not a legend.'

By Jeremy McMullen
Page: << prev 1 2
The race, unfortunately, would not provide a fairy-tale beginning to Schumacher's Formula One career. In fact, it would be probably the lowest point of the whole experience given that he would retire on the first lap with gearbox failure. But his Formula One career had begun the moment he set the 7th-fastest time in qualifying, and not with his performance in the race.

It had begun. With all of the greats of any sport or sphere of life a little controversy is bound to spiral around apparently adding balance to image. Over the course of Schumacher's Formula One career more than a little bit of controversy has surrounded him. Not surprisingly, just as Schumacher's Formula One career was beginning, so too would the controversy.

Almost immediately after his performance at Spa, Benetton came calling wanting the services of the young man. Jordan had a signed agreement with Mercedes for the remainder of the season, but it was in principle, or incompletely specified, only. This opened the door to Benetton-Ford signing Schumacher before the very next race. Despite protests by Jordan, Michael would still drive for Benetton throughout the rest of the season.

Schumacher's position as one of the greats could have been firmly unquestionable even before his years with Ferrari had it not been for the era of Williams-Renault.

In 1993, Williams-Renault would again be dominant. Despite retirements in more than a half-dozen races, Michael would still come through to finish 4th in just his second full season in Formula One.

Then came 1994 and 1995 seasons. Schumacher's car was greatly upgraded and the results were very plain to see. Victories in six of the first seven races placed the Drivers' Championship squarely in Schumacher's hands. However, the season was to be anything but easy for the German.

The early part of the season would be covered in darkness because of the deaths of Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna at the San Marino Grand Prix. The later-half of the season would then be marred by controversy, and ultimately, 'the collision'.

Year Chassis Engine 2012 Mercedes-Benz W03 FO108Z 90º V8 2011 Mercedes-Benz W02 Silver Arrow Mercedes FO 108Y 2010 Mercedes-Benz W01 Mercedes FO 108X 2006 Ferrari 248 Ferrari 056 2.4 V8 2005 Ferrari F2005 Ferrari 053 and 055 2004 Ferrari F2004 Ferrari 053 2003 Ferrari F2003-GA Ferrari 051 and Ferrari 052 2002 Ferrari F2002 Ferrari 051 2001 Ferrari F2001 Ferrari 050 2000 Ferrari F1-2000 Ferrari 049 1999 F399 Ferrari 048 1998 F300 Ferrari 047 1997 F310B Ferrari 046/2 3.0 V10 1996 Ferrari F310 Ferrari 046 3.0 V10 1995 B195 Renault RS7 3.0 V10 1994 B194 Ford ECA Zetec-R 3.5 V8 1993 Benetton B193B Ford HBA7 3.5 V8, Ford HBA8 3.5 V8 1992 Benetton B192 Ford HB Series 3.5 V8 1991 B191 Ford HB5 3.5 V8 1991 B190B Ford HB5 3.5 V8 1991 191 Ford HB4 V8

After an almost perfect start to the season, investigations, unheeded black flags and illegal skidblock wear would lead to a number of disqualifications that would allow Damon Hill to be within a point of the title heading into the final race of the season in Adelaide. When leading late in Australian Grand Prix, Schumacher perhaps showed the pressure was getting to him as he struck a guardrail while lapping all by himself. This loss of momentum allowed Hill to catch up and dive down the inside into the next corner. This set the stage for the controversial 'collision'.

Hill had dove down the inside in an attempt to take the position from Michael. However, reminiscent of the all-out brawls between Senna and Prost, Schumacher would turn in on Hill colliding with him taking each other out of the race and securing Schumacher's first World Championship.

No such tactics would be needed the following year, not when Benetton was able to secure the use of Renault engines themselves. Schumacher would cruise to his second World Championship with more than 30 points in hand over Hill in the Williams-Renault. This made Schumacher the youngest-ever double World Champion and would cause him to look for a new challenge. At the time Schumacher made the move to Ferrari, the team from Maranello was by no means the fabled team with the prancing horse that had won so many races from the 1950s through the 1960s and 1970s. It seemed Ferrari's best years were far behind them. But with the presence of Jean Todt, Schumacher, and soon, Ross Brawn, the best years were yet to come.

The rest of the 1990s would be tough for Schumacher while at Ferrari. In 1996, Ferrari was becoming more competitive, as demonstrated by Schumacher's three victories and 3rd place finish in the championship. But, the team just could not compete with Damon Hill and the Williams FW-18B.

The following season would see the incredible rise of Ferrari from mediocrity. In what seemed to be a complete turn-around, Ferrari was a favorite to win at almost every race despite Jacques Villeneuve and the Williams FW-19. All that would be gained throughout the season, especially for Schumacher's career, would be lost, however at Jerez.

Problems late in the race would cost Michael performance. This meant Villeneuve was in a strong position to take the title, as well as, put his rival down a lap before the end of the race. Unwilling to yield, Schumacher would turn in on Villeneuve in a fashion similar to his contact with Hill in 1994. While the contact would end the race for Schumacher, it would not end Villeneuve's day and the title would end up going to the Canadian. Schumacher's parting gift would be a disqualification from the Driver's Championship for unsportsmanlike conduct.

                            
              
        The remainder of the '90s would see McLaren-Mercedes the strongest team, and yet, Schumacher would remain right there in the fight throughout the 1998 season and into 1999 until he would break his leg at Silverstone.

While it appeared McLaren was the strongest team during the two-year period, much would be attributed to another great driver, Mike Hakkinen. The Ferrari team still wasn't quite on song, and yet, Schumacher would continue to take the car and would battle with Hakkinen and Coulthard for victories throughout the two years. Schumacher would give it everything he had, but over those two years, Hakkinen would be more than equal to the task. The Finnish driver's talent would secure him a double World Championship and praise from Michael saying that Mika was, 'Toughest competitor he had ever faced'.

Trials and struggles are meant to make one stronger, and in the case of the two-year battle with Hakkinen and McLaren, the trials and battles would only make Schumacher and Ferrari into unbending, unyielding titanium.

F1 Drivers From Germany
Kurt Adolff Kurt Karl-Heinrich Ahrens, Jr. Michael Bartels Edgar Barth Erwin Bauer Karl-Günther Bechem Stefan Bellof Adolf Brudes Christian Danner Ludwig Fischer Theodor Fitzau Heinz-Harald Frentzen Timo Glock Helm Glöckler Dora Greifzu Hubert Hahne Willi Heeks Nick Lars Heidfeld Theo Helfrich	Hans Herrmann Hans Heyer Nicolas 'Nico' Hulkenberg Oswald Karch Willi Kauhsen Hans Klenk Karl Kling Ernst Klodwig Willi Krakau Rudolf Krause Kurt Kuhnke Hermann Lang Ernst Loof Jochen Richard Mass Harry Erich Merkel Gerhard Karl Mitter Hans Müller-Perschl Helmut Niedermayr Josef Peters	Paul Pietsch Fritz Riess Nico Erik Rosberg Bernd Schneider Rudolf Schoeller Michael Schumacher Ralf Schumacher Wolfgang Seidel Günther Seiffert Rolf Johann Stommelen Hans Stuck Hans-Joachim Stuck Adrian Sutil Anton 'Toni' Ulmen Sebastian Vettel Wolfgang von Trips Volker Weidler Hans Wiedmer Manfred Winkelhock Markus Winkelhock

The 2000 season would see one more titanic battle between Schumacher and Hakkinen. The first part of the season would see Michael very strong and seemingly untouchable. However, mechanical troubles and other problems would enable Hakkinen to reel Michael back in. The World Drivers' Championship, the first for Ferrari in 21 years was on the line. But when Schumacher put in an incredible performance at the Italian Grand Prix to take the win and tie Aryton Senna for career victories, it was all but ensured Schumacher would reign supreme again.

The stats from the Ferrari/Schumacher era between 2000 and 2004 would be enough to tell the story. After tying Artyon Senna for wins with 41 in 2000, Michael would go on to score a record-tying nine victories in 2001 and would better David Coulthard for the championship by more than 50 points. During that year, Michael and his brother Ralf would make history as the two men would become the only brothers to score victories in a Formula One race, and then, they would be the only brothers to finish a race 1st and 2nd. They would achieve that feet twice during the year.

The following year, 2002, would be even better, but it would be a controversial dominance. Ferrari would go on to win 15 of the 17 races. However, one of those races would be the much maligned Austrian Grand Prix where Rubens Barrichello would be ordered by the team to slow down on the last lap in order to allow Michael, his teammate, to take the win. This would be met with boos and jeers from the crowd that would cause Schumacher to be quite embarrassed and even try to make amends by giving Barrichello the top step of the podium. During that season, Michael would set the mark for victories in a season with 11 and would equal the great Juan Manuel Fangio with five World Drivers' Championships. The final results of the season said it all. Schumacher scored an incredible 144 points, a record-breaking 67 more points than his own teammate!

The 2003 season would be much more tightly contested between Ferrari, McLaren, and later, Williams. Michael started out poorly and fell behind Kimi Raikkonen. Then Juan Pablo Montoya entered the ix scoring a couple of victories. However, a late change to the regulations regarding tires hurt Michelin, which is what McLaren and Williams were running, and helped Bridgestone, which were on the Ferrari. The later-part of the season saw a strong fight, but in the end, Schumacher would break all records with his sixth World Drivers' Championship.

2004 would see a return to the level of dominance witnessed during the 2002 season. It would start out with Michael winning 12 of the first 13 races of the season. He would go on to score a total of 13 wins out of a possible 18 races and would break his own mark for wins in a single season that he had set back in 2002 with 11. This earned Schumacher his seventh World Drivers' title and would be his last one to date.

The 2005 and 2006 seasons would be the final couple of scenes of Schumacher's first act. The 2005 season would be a relative nightmare for the team. And, Fernando Alonso would go on to win the championship. Schumacher would end the season in 3rd place, but would be more than half the total points behind Alonso.

The following season would start out looking to be more of the same after Alonso dominated the early part of the season. However, problems for Alonso, and a strong of victories for Michael, would cause the championship to go down to the last couple of races on the season. After leading the Japanese Grand Prix with only about 16 laps remaining, Michael would suffer his first engine failure since 2000. This gave Alonso the advantage going into the final race of the season in Brazil.

It had already been announced by Schumacher at the Italian Grand Prix when he won that race that the Brazilian Grand Prix, the last race of the season, would be Schumacher's last race in Formula One. Heading into the final race, Schumacher had already conceded the championship to Alonso but would put together one final performance that would certainly be one for the history books.

A tire puncture would lead to Michael falling all the way down to 19th place and a little more than a minute behind the leader. Determined to put together one final 'heroic' drive, Michael would go on the charge. Coming down to the final few laps of the race, he would end up passing Giancarlo Fisichella and Kimi Raikkonen to finish the race in 4th place. It would be considered a 'performance that…sums up his career'.

Besides all of the records and words of respect from his peers, perhaps those things that would speak the most about who Schumacher was and is as a driver would be such titles as 'Regenmeister' (rain master), or, 'the Red Baron'. Such titles would be well earned throughout his first act in Formula One.

Schumacher's career after Formula One wouldn't stray too far away from the sport as he would take on an advisor role with Ferrari and would be a super assistant to the newly appointed CEO Jean Todt. During that time, Michael would turn a few laps in the latest cars helping with development and would even be involved in picking drivers for the team.

For all of the records and the awards, which would include three European Athlete of the Year awards, the World Sportsman of the Year, Sportsman of the Century, being named an honorary citizen of Maranello and Ambassador of the Republic of San Marino, a Silver Laurel Leaf, the Prince of Asturias Award and the Knight of the French Legion of Honor, Michael, and his wife Corinne, would do their best to live as normal a life as possible with their two kids Gina Maria and Mick. Michael and Corinne would do their best to instill the same values and ethic both of their parents had done with them, and therefore, Michael would become much more involved in humanitarian work and would be a spokesman for UNESCO.

When asked about this Michael responded, 'I think the fact that Corinne and I both come from a normal family home, it makes us a little bit easier. We live relatively normal, and we try to show our children that we do not need anything.'

It would be this notion, this living without need of anything would be the impetus for his involvement with UNESCO and children in need. When asked about his motivation to help children and UNESCO, Michael related, 'Before, I had no money. From the moment I began to earn more money than I had ever dared to hope, I have felt this need.'

But besides the humanitarian work, the greater emphasis on his karting team he started with Peter Kaiser and Thomas Muchow (KSM Motorsport) and even an apparent brief period as Top Gear's 'The Stig', the thrill and commitment of Formula One just wouldn't cease coursing through his veins.

Schumacher has always vehemently stated, 'I am not a legend. I'm just someone who happens to be good at doing something he enjoys.' He would also go on to relate, 'Snatching a victory out of a hopeless situation always gives more satisfaction than any set of statistics ever do.' Well, upon his return to Formula One in 2010, Schumacher would find himself entering perhaps the biggest and toughest challenge of his entire career, perhaps even greater than bringing Ferrari back to the pinnacle of the sport it had helped define.

Throughout his first act as a Formula One driver, Schumacher seemed to be always up against foes driving Adrian Newey-designed cars. Upon his return to the sport in 2010, he would again be up against the might of Adrian Newey, but this time with Red Bull Racing. And at the end of the second of his three-year deal with Mercedes GP it would appear the roles have been reversed. After dominating throughout much of the 1990s and the early part of the 21st century, it would be he and his team that would look like the floundering teams just looking for whatever points it could find. And while it would have such greats as Stirling Moss suggesting he might be 'past it', the fact, the reality of Schumacher's presence on the grid certainly still causes respect to be shown to the seven-time World Champion. In fact, one of his former nemeses, Damon Hill, would declare, 'you should never write Schumacher off'.

Putting all of the debate aside about the cars, the teams and the competition, there are all of the facts and everything that reality would have to offer. There are the too-numerous-to-count last ditch fastest laps that would certain make an account. And there is the vast array of awards and honors that obviously would attest to the hailing that Niki Lauda and David Coulthard have given Schumacher calling him, 'the greatest'. And quite simply that much is fact, not legend.

Page: << prev 1 2

Sources:
'About: Portrait', (http://www.michael-schumacher.de/sites/en/about/portrait.html). Michael Schumacher. http://www.michael-schumacher.de/sites/en/about/portrait.html. Retrieved 27 December 2011.

'Profiles: Michael Schumacher', (http://en.espnf1.com/mercedes-benz/motorsport/driver/1146.html). ESPN F1. http://en.espnf1.com/mercedes-benz/motorsport/driver/1146.html. Retrieved 27 December 2011.

'Mercedes/News: Schumacher is ‘past it'—Moss', (http://en.espnf1.com/mercedes-benz/motorsport/driver/1146.html). ESPN F1. http://en.espnf1.com/mercedes-benz/motorsport/driver/1146.html. Retrieved 27 December 2011.

'Damon Hill: Never, Ever, Ever , Ever Write Off Schumacher', (http://theblackstuff.co.uk/?p=1438). The Black Stuff: Formula One Analysis with the Jokes Left In. http://theblackstuff.co.uk/?p=1438. Retrieved 27 December 2011.

'Tributes to Schumi', (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/6075194.stm). BBC Sport: Motorsport. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/6075194.stm. Retrieved 27 December 2011.

Wikipedia contributors, 'Michael Schumacher', Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 24 December 2011, 02:37 UTC, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Michael_Schumacher&oldid=467434477 accessed 27 December 2011

Wikipedia contributors, 'Hürth', Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 20 December 2011, 16:14 UTC, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=H%C3%BCrth&oldid=466876695 accessed 27 December 2011

Formula One World Drivers' Champions
1950 G. Farina 1951 J. Fangio 1952 A. Ascari 1953 A. Ascari 1954 J. Fangio 1955 J. Fangio 1956 J. Fangio 1957 J. Fangio 1958 M. Hawthorn 1959 S. Brabham	1960 S. Brabham 1961 P. Hill, Jr 1962 N. Hill 1963 J. Clark, Jr. 1964 J. Surtees 1965 J. Clark, Jr. 1966 S. Brabham 1967 D. Hulme 1968 N. Hill 1969 S. Stewart	1970 K. Rindt 1971 S. Stewart 1972 E. Fittipaldi 1973 S. Stewart 1974 E. Fittipaldi 1975 A. Lauda 1976 J. Hunt 1977 A. Lauda 1978 M. Andretti 1979 J. Scheckter	1980 A. Jones 1981 N. Piquet 1982 K. Rosberg 1983 N. Piquet 1984 A. Lauda 1985 A. Prost 1986 A. Prost 1987 N. Piquet 1988 A. Senna 1989 A. Prost	1990 A. Senna 1991 A. Senna 1992 N. Mansell 1993 A. Prost 1994 M. Schumacher 1995 M. Schumacher 1996 D. Hill 1997 J. Villeneuve 1998 M. Hakkinen 1999 M. Hakkinen	2000 M. Schumacher 2001 M. Schumacher 2002 M. Schumacher 2003 M. Schumacher 2004 M. Schumacher 2005 F. Alonso 2006 F. Alonso 2007 K. Raikkonen 2008 L. Hamilton 2009 J. Button	2010 S. Vettel 2011 S. Vettel 2012 S. Vettel