Michael Schumacher facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michael Schumacher
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Schumacher at the 1998 Italian Grand Prix
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| Born | 3 January 1969 Hürth, North Rhine-Westphalia, West Germany
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| Spouse(s) |
Corinna Betsch
(m. 1995) |
| Children | 2, including Mick |
| Relatives |
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| Awards | Full list |
| Formula One World Championship career | |
| Nationality |  German |
| Active years | 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 |
| 24 Hours of Le Mans career | |
| Years | 1991 |
| Teams | Sauber |
| Best finish | 5th (1991) |
| Class wins | 0 |
| Signature | |
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Michael Schumacher (born 3 January 1969) is a German former racing driver. He competed in Formula One from 1991 to 2006, and again from 2010 to 2012. Schumacher holds many records in Formula One. He won seven Formula One World Drivers' Championship titles, which is a record tied by Lewis Hamilton in 2020. When he first retired, he held records for most wins (91), pole positions (68), and podium finishes (155). He still holds the record for most fastest laps (77).
Schumacher was born in Hürth, Germany, to a working-class family. He started his racing journey in kart racing at age four. He quickly became successful in karting and other racing series. Schumacher made his Formula One debut in 1991 with the Jordan team. He then joined Benetton and won his first two championships in 1994 and 1995. In 1996, Schumacher moved to the Ferrari team, which was struggling at the time. With Ferrari, he won five championships in a row from 2000 to 2004. This made him one of the most successful drivers ever. He retired from the sport in 2006 but came back briefly with Mercedes from 2010 to 2012.
Schumacher was known for pushing his car to its limits during races. He also had a special fitness routine and was great at motivating his team. Michael and his younger brother Ralf are the only brothers to have won races in Formula One. They were also the first brothers to finish first and second in the same race.
In December 2013, Schumacher had a serious brain injury in a skiing accident. He was in a coma for several months. Since then, he has been recovering at home, with his family keeping his health private.
Contents
Early Life and First Races
Michael Schumacher was born in Hürth, Germany, on January 3, 1969. His father, Rolf, was a bricklayer who later ran a kart track. His mother, Elisabeth, worked at the track's canteen.
Starting in Karting
When Michael was four, his dad put a small motorcycle engine on his pedal kart. After he crashed it, his parents took him to a karting track. There, he became the youngest member of the karting club. His father built him a kart from old parts. At six, Michael won his first club championship. To help with racing costs, his father took a second job. Local business people also helped Michael continue racing when his parents couldn't afford new parts.
In Germany, you need to be 14 to get a kart license. Michael got his license in Luxembourg when he was 12. In 1983, he got his German license, a year after winning the German Junior Kart Championship. By 1987, he was the German and European kart champion. He then left school to work as a mechanic.
Moving to Car Racing
In 1988, Michael started racing in single-seat cars. He won the Formula König series. In 1989, he joined Willi Weber's Formula Three team. He won the 1990 German Formula Three Championship. He also won the 1990 Macau Grand Prix.
In 1990, Schumacher joined the Mercedes-Benz junior racing program. This was unusual because most young drivers went to Formula 3000 before Formula One. His manager thought it would help him learn about powerful cars and professional events. In 1990, he won a race in the World Sportscar Championship with a Sauber–Mercedes car. He continued with the team in 1991, winning another race. He also raced in the 1991 24 Hours of Le Mans, finishing fifth.
Formula One Career Highlights
Michael Schumacher made his Formula One debut in 1991 with the Jordan team. He replaced another driver at the 1991 Belgian Grand Prix. Mercedes paid Jordan for his first race.
Joining Jordan and Benetton
Before his first race, Schumacher impressed the Jordan team during a test drive. His manager said he knew the challenging Spa-Francorchamps circuit well, even though he had only seen it as a spectator. He learned the track by cycling around it.
In his first race, Schumacher surprised everyone by qualifying seventh. This was a great result for a new driver in a midfield car. He had to retire from the race early due to a clutch problem.
After this impressive debut, Benetton signed Schumacher for the rest of the 1991 season. Jordan tried to stop him from driving for Benetton, but they lost the case because no final contract had been signed.
First Wins and Podiums (1991–1993)
Schumacher scored his first Formula One points in 1991. He finished fifth in his second race, ahead of his teammate, three-time World Champion Nelson Piquet.
In 1992, Schumacher achieved his first podium finish, coming third in Mexico. He then took his first victory at the 1992 Belgian Grand Prix, a wet race at his favorite track, Spa-Francorchamps. He finished third in the Drivers' Championship that year. Many people, including Ayrton Senna, saw Schumacher as a major new talent.
In 1993, Schumacher won one race, the 1993 Portuguese Grand Prix, and had nine podium finishes. He ended the season in fourth place.
Winning Championships with Benetton (1994–1995)
Schumacher won his first World Championship in 1994. He drove the Benetton B194, a car that was known to be difficult to handle. He won eight races that season, including six of the first seven. In the 1994 Spanish Grand Prix, he drove most of the race stuck in fifth gear due to a gearbox problem but still finished second.
The 1994 season had some controversies, including questions about Benetton's car. Schumacher was disqualified from two races and banned for two more. These events allowed Damon Hill to catch up in points. In the final race in Australia, Schumacher and Hill collided, causing both to retire. Schumacher won the championship by one point. He was the first German to win the title.
In 1995, Schumacher successfully defended his title with Benetton. He won nine of the 17 races and finished on the podium 11 times. He became the youngest two-time World Champion in Formula One history. Benetton also won its first Constructors' Championship that year.
Moving to Ferrari (1996–2006)
In 1996, Schumacher joined Ferrari. Ferrari had not won a Drivers' Championship since 1979. Schumacher brought key team members from Benetton to Ferrari, including designer Rory Byrne and technical director Ross Brawn. The Ferrari cars were not very good at first, with some drivers calling them "awful."
During testing, Schumacher was much faster in the Ferrari than previous drivers. He showed how skilled he was, even with a difficult car.
Challenging for Titles and an Injury (1996–1999)
In 1996, Schumacher finished third in the Drivers' Championship. He won three races for Ferrari, which was more than the team had won in the previous five years combined. His first win for Ferrari was at the 1996 Spanish Grand Prix in very wet conditions. He was much faster than anyone else in the rain.
In 1997, Schumacher and Jacques Villeneuve fought for the championship. Schumacher led the championship going into the final race in Jerez. During the race, Schumacher turned into Villeneuve's car. Schumacher had to retire, and Villeneuve went on to win the championship. Schumacher was later disqualified from the entire 1997 Drivers' Championship for this move. He later admitted it was a mistake.
In 1998, Mika Häkkinen became Schumacher's main rival. Häkkinen won the first two races, but Schumacher fought back with six victories. In the 1998 Hungarian Grand Prix, Schumacher drove incredibly fast laps to win the race. The championship went down to the final race in Japan. Schumacher started on pole but stalled his car, forcing him to start from the back. He retired later in the race, and Häkkinen won his first title.
In 1999, Schumacher helped Ferrari win the Constructors' Championship, their first since 1983. However, he broke his leg in a crash at the 1999 British Grand Prix due to a brake failure. He missed six races. When he returned, he helped his teammate Eddie Irvine try to win the Drivers' Championship. Häkkinen won his second title in the final race. Schumacher later called Häkkinen "the best opponent I've had."
Five Championships in a Row (2000–2004)
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In 2000, Schumacher won his third Drivers' Championship, his first with Ferrari. He had a close battle with Häkkinen all year. Schumacher won the first three races and five of the first eight. He won the championship at the second-to-last race in Japan. This win was Ferrari's first Drivers' Championship since 1979.
In 2001, Schumacher won his fourth Drivers' title. He won nine races and secured the championship with four races left. He finished 58 points ahead of second place. Highlights included his win in Spain after Häkkinen's engine failed, and becoming the first brothers to finish 1-2 in Formula One with his brother Ralf in Canada. In Belgium, he broke Alain Prost's record for most career wins.
In 2002, Schumacher won his fifth Drivers' Championship, matching Juan Manuel Fangio's record. Ferrari won 15 of 17 races. Schumacher won the title with six races still to go, which is still a record for the earliest championship win. He won 11 races and finished on the podium in every single race. He finished 67 points ahead of his teammate, Rubens Barrichello.
There was some controversy in 2002 at the 2002 Austrian Grand Prix. Barrichello was leading, but Ferrari told him to slow down on the last lap to let Schumacher win. This angered many fans. Ferrari was fined for their actions. Schumacher later gave Barrichello a win at the 2002 United States Grand Prix by a tiny margin.
Schumacher won his sixth Drivers' title in 2003, breaking Fangio's record. It was a very close fight with Kimi Räikkönen and Juan Pablo Montoya. He won the 2003 San Marino Grand Prix just hours after his mother passed away. He secured the title by finishing eighth in the final race in Japan.
In 2004, Schumacher had an amazing season, winning 12 of the first 13 races. He won his seventh Drivers' Championship at the 2004 Belgian Grand Prix. He finished the season with a record 13 wins out of 18 races and 148 points. Between 2000 and 2004, Schumacher won five championships in a row, breaking Fangio's record for consecutive titles.
Changes and First Retirement (2005–2006)
In 2005, new rules about tyres made it harder for Ferrari. Schumacher only won one race that year, the 2005 United States Grand Prix. This race was unusual because most teams pulled out due to tyre safety concerns, leaving only six cars to race. He finished third in the championship, far behind Fernando Alonso.
The 2006 season was Schumacher's last with Ferrari. He won seven races that year. At the 2006 San Marino Grand Prix, he took his 66th pole position, breaking Ayrton Senna's record. At the 2006 Monaco Grand Prix, he was stripped of pole position for stopping his car on the track during qualifying, but still managed to finish fifth.
Schumacher announced his retirement at the end of the 2006 season after winning the 2006 Italian Grand Prix. In his final race, the 2006 Brazilian Grand Prix, he started tenth due to a problem. He then had a puncture early in the race, dropping him to 19th. However, he drove an incredible comeback race, finishing fourth. His performance was widely praised as "heroic."
By the time of his first retirement, Schumacher had achieved 91 wins, 155 podiums, and 68 pole positions, all of which were records at the time. He was seen as the greatest driver in Formula One history.
Return with Mercedes (2010–2012)
In December 2009, Schumacher announced he would return to Formula One for the 2010 season. He joined the new Mercedes GP team alongside Nico Rosberg. He said that preparing to replace an injured driver in 2009 made him want to race again. He also wanted to drive for Mercedes and work with Ross Brawn again.
Schumacher signed a three-year contract. His return was a big event in Formula One. He was 41 years old, making him one of the older drivers on the grid.
2010: Coming Back to Racing
Schumacher finished sixth in his first race back in Bahrain. He struggled a bit compared to his teammate Rosberg at first. Some people wondered if he was "past it." However, others, like Damon Hill, said not to count him out.
At the 2010 Monaco Grand Prix, Schumacher finished sixth but was given a penalty for overtaking under a safety car. In Hungary, he was involved in a dangerous incident with Rubens Barrichello, for which he received a grid penalty. He finished the 2010 season in ninth place. It was his first year since 1991 without a win, pole position, or podium.
2011–2012: Final Races and Second Retirement
In 2011, Schumacher scored his first points in Malaysia. He later finished fourth in Canada, which was seen as his best performance since returning. In Japan, he led three laps, becoming the oldest driver to lead a race since 1970. He finished the season in eighth place.
In 2012, Schumacher qualified fastest in Monaco, but a penalty meant he started sixth. At the 2012 European Grand Prix, he finished third, which was his only podium finish since his return. At 43 years old, he became the oldest driver to achieve a podium since 1970.
Schumacher announced his second retirement in October 2012. He said he no longer wanted to prepare for races. His final race was the 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix, where he finished seventh. He ended his career with 91 wins, 155 podiums, and 68 pole positions, all records at the time.
Even though his comeback was difficult, many believe he helped Mercedes become a top team. Ross Brawn, his team principal, said Schumacher's contribution to the team's development was very important.
Driver Skills and Impact
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Schumacher was known for his incredible speed and race skills. He could drive his car at its absolute limit for long periods. He was also famous for his strong work ethic and fitness. He exercised for hours every day to strengthen his neck muscles, which helps with the G-forces during races.
Experts noted that Schumacher was very sensitive with the gas and brakes. He could brake later into corners and balance his car by using both pedals at the same time. This allowed him to be incredibly fast.
Schumacher was excellent in wet races, earning him nicknames like Regenmeister ("Rain Master"). He was also called "the Red Baron" because of his red Ferrari and in reference to a famous German pilot.
Schumacher beat all his teammates during his career, except for a few special cases. He was known for making his cars perform better than they should have. He was widely considered the fastest and most dominant driver of his time. He was also involved in some controversies, which many saw as a result of his strong desire to win.
In a 2006 survey, Schumacher was voted the most popular driver among Formula One fans. He had rivalries with drivers like Mika Häkkinen and Fernando Alonso. Lewis Hamilton also sees Schumacher as an inspiration.
Helmet Design
Schumacher helped create the first lightweight carbon fiber helmet with Schuberth. This helmet was so strong that a tank drove over a prototype, and it stayed in one piece! The helmet also kept drivers cool with special airflow.
His early helmets had the colors of the German flag. Later, he changed some white areas to red to match his new Ferrari teammate, Rubens Barrichello. For his last Ferrari race in 2006, he wore an all-red helmet with the names of his 91 wins. For his 20th anniversary in F1 in 2011, he wore a special gold-leafed helmet.
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Helmet for the 1994 season (Benetton).
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Bell helmet for the 1995 season (Benetton). He used this white helmet at Ferrari until 2000.
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Schuberth helmet for the 2002 season (Ferrari).
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Schuberth helmet at the Museo Ferrari.
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Schuberth helmet for the 2011 season (Mercedes GP).
Schumacher's Impact and Records
Schumacher's career lasted three decades and had a huge impact on Formula One and motorsport. In 2020, he was voted the most influential person in Formula One history. He is often credited with making Formula One popular around the world, especially in Germany. Many younger German drivers, like Sebastian Vettel, were inspired by him.
By the time he first retired in 2006, Schumacher was widely seen as one of the greatest Formula One drivers ever. Many experts and drivers, including Niki Lauda and Sebastian Vettel, have called him the greatest of all time. He holds many Formula One records, including:
- Most World Championship titles: 7
- Most consecutive titles: 5 (2000–2004)
- Most wins in a driver's home country: 9
- Most wins not starting from pole position: 51
- Most fastest laps: 77
- Most hat-tricks (pole, win, and fastest lap): 22
- Highest percentage of podium finishes in a season: 100% (in 2002)
- Most consecutive podium finishes: 19
He also holds records for most starts with the same team (Ferrari, 180) and most 1-2 finishes with a teammate (24 with Rubens Barrichello). He won the 2002 World Championship with six races still to go, which is the earliest anyone has won the title.
Schumacher was known for his ability to win in the rain and for setting very fast laps during races. He won 23% more races than he got pole positions, showing his strong race pace.
Personal Life and Charity Work
In August 1995, Michael Schumacher married Corinna Betsch. They have two children: a daughter, Gina-Maria (born 1997), and a son, Mick (born 1999). Schumacher has always kept his private life very private and dislikes being in the celebrity spotlight. The family moved to a mansion in Switzerland in 2007. Michael's brother Ralf, his son Mick, and his nephew David have also been racing drivers.
Before his skiing accident, Schumacher enjoyed horse riding, motorcycle racing, skydiving, and playing football. He played in many charity football games. He supports his local football club, 1. FC Köln.
In 2006, Schumacher had a voice role in the Disney/Pixar film Cars. He also appeared in the French film Asterix at the Olympic Games as a chariot driver. In 2009, he appeared on the TV show Top Gear as the Stig.
Money and Sponsorships
In 1999 and 2000, Forbes magazine listed him as the highest-paid athlete in the world. In 2005, a magazine called him the world's first billionaire athlete. A lot of his money came from advertising deals. In 2010, his personal wealth was estimated at £515 million.
Helping Others (Philanthropy)
Schumacher was a special ambassador for UNESCO and donated a lot of money to the organization. He helped build a school for poor children in Senegal and supported a hospital for child victims in Sarajevo. In Peru, he funded a center to help homeless street children get an education, food, and shelter. He said it was great to use his fame to help with important causes.
He donated €1 million after the 2002 European floods and €500,000 after the 2013 European floods. After the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, he donated $10 million, which was more than any other sports person or many companies. From 2002 to 2006, he gave at least $50 million to different charities.
Schumacher also supported road safety campaigns. In 2008, he was part of an advertising campaign for Bacardi to encourage responsible drinking.
2013 Skiing Accident
On December 29, 2013, Michael Schumacher was skiing with his son Mick in the French Alps. He fell and hit his head on a rock. Even though he was wearing a ski helmet, he suffered a serious head injury. Doctors said he likely would have died if he hadn't been wearing a helmet. He was taken to Grenoble Hospital and had two surgeries. He was put into a medically induced coma.
In June 2014, he left the hospital for rehabilitation in Switzerland. In September 2014, he returned home for private medical treatment. Since then, his family has kept his condition very private. In November 2014, it was reported he was "paralysed and in a wheelchair" and had memory problems. His manager said in 2015 that his condition was slowly improving.
In 2019, former Ferrari manager Jean Todt said Schumacher was making "good progress" but still "struggles to communicate." He also said Schumacher could watch Formula One races on TV. In September 2024, he was reportedly at his daughter Gina's wedding.
Awards and Recognitions
Michael Schumacher has received many honors. In 1992, he won the ONS Cup, Germany's highest motorsport award. He also won it in 1994, 1995, and 2002. He won the Bambi Award for Sports in 1993 and was the first racing driver to get the Golden Steering Wheel.
He was voted European Sportsperson of the Year several times. In 2004, he was voted Germany's greatest sportsperson of the 20th century. For his achievements and road safety work, he received Germany's highest sporting honor, the Silbernes Lorbeerblatt, in 1997. In 2002, he was named a UNESCO Champions for Sport for his contributions to sports and child education.
Schumacher won the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award twice. He also won the Race of Champions Nations' Cup six times in a row for Germany with Sebastian Vettel. In 2017, he was inducted into the FIA Hall of Fame. In 2020, he received the FIA President Award for his seven World Championships and the inspiration he brought to the world.
In Sarajevo, a street was renamed after him, and he was given honorary citizenship. He also received honorary citizenship from Maranello, Modena, and Spa. In 2007, turns 9 and 10 of the Nürburgring circuit were renamed the Schumacher S. In 2014, the first corner of the Bahrain International Circuit was renamed in his honor.
Racing Records
Karting Career Summary
| Season | Series | Team | Position |
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| 1984 | CIK-FIA Junior World Cup – ICA | NC | |
| German Championship – Junior | 1st | ||
| 1985 | CIK-FIA Junior World Cup – ICA | 2nd | |
| German Championship – Junior | 1st | ||
| 1986 | German Championship – Senior | 3rd | |
| 1987 | German Championship – Senior | 1st | |
| CIK-FIA European Championship – 100cc | 1st | ||
| 1994 | Masters of Paris-Bercy – F1 Stars | 1st | |
| 1996 | CIK-FIA Monaco Kart Cup – FA | 1st | |
| Masters of Paris-Bercy – CIK | 1st | ||
| 2001 | CIK-FIA World Championship – FSA | Tony Kart | 21st |
| 2007 | Desafio Internacional das Estrelas | 1st | |
| 2008 | Desafio Internacional das Estrelas | 8th | |
| 2009 | SKUSA SuperNationals – SuperPro | 9th | |
| Desafio Internacional das Estrelas | 1st | ||
| Sources: | |||
Formula One Records Held by Michael Schumacher
Schumacher holds many Formula One records:
| Record | Date First Achieved | Current Record |
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| Most World Championship titles | 2002 | 7 |
| Most consecutive titles | 2000–2004 | 5 |
| Most races left in the season when becoming World Champion | 2002 | 6 |
| Most consecutive seasons with a win | 1992–2006 | 15 |
| Most wins not starting from pole position | 2002 Australian Grand Prix | 51 |
| Most wins with fastest lap | 2000 Brazilian Grand Prix | 48 |
| Most consecutive podium finishes | 2001 United States Grand Prix – 2002 Japanese Grand Prix | 19 |
| Highest percentage of podium finishes in a season | 2002 | 100% |
| 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 |
Images for kids
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Schumacher (left) in 1991, the year he joined Formula One.
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Schumacher battling with Kimi Räikkönen in 2005 during the 2005 Canadian Grand Prix.
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BMW Sauber with "Thanks Michael" messages towards Schumacher on the back of their cars.
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Schumacher at Finali Mondiali celebrations in the Ferrari F2007.
- 15761 Schumi
- Forbes list of the world's highest-paid athletes
- Formula One drivers from Germany
- Häkkinen–Schumacher rivalry
- Hill–Schumacher rivalry
- List of career achievements by Michael Schumacher
- Michael Schumacher Racing World Kart 2002
- Schumacher
