Michael Schumacher had a prevalent trait of galvanizing teams around him, as depicted in the 2021 Schumacher documentary by Netflix. He was cheerful and friendly to his team, but a ruthless racer and would do anything it took to grab the points. This aggressiveness led to several controversial racing incidents. He found himself in two title-deciding collisions at the 1994 Australian Grand Prix and the 1997 European Grand Prix.
His younger brother Ralf Schumacher was also a Formula One racer. Together they won several races, driving for different teams. Ralf was not a match to his elder brother, since he never won a World Championship title — the closest he came was a fourth-place finish while racing for the BMW Williams Formula One team in 2000 and 2001. Off the track, Michael Schumacher loved other hobbies like horse riding, skydiving, motorcycle racing, and playing soccer. He was an ardent soccer fan, with FC Köln being his favorite local football club. Schumacher was a UNESCO ambassador and was also involved in other humanitarian projects and donations.
Even though Schumacher still hasn't made a public appearance since his 2013 accident, his legendary Formula One status will never be forgotten. To know more about him, here are 10 interesting facts about Michael Schumacher.
10 Early Racing Career
Since his childhood days, Schumacher had the stars aligned on his behalf to become a successful Formula One driver. Aged six, he won his premier karting championship, a feat he achieved in a kart built from discarded parts — local businessmen helped fund his engine since his parents couldn’t afford it.
German motorsport rules required him to be 14 years old to obtain a kart license. Schumacher went around this law by obtaining his license in Luxembourg at age 12. He went ahead to win the German Junior Kart championship the following year. In 1988, he stepped up to Formula Ford and Formula König where he won the latter.
9 Was An Expert On Wet Tracks
Wet tracks are a nightmare for many Formula One drivers. It has led to postponing several practice sessions, qualifying, and the race starts, as was recently witnessed at the 2021 Belgium Grand Prix in which Max Verstappen won from the pit lane. However, some drivers flourish in such conditions, with Schumacher having one of the best records in wet conditions.
Known for pushing his car to the very limit, Schumacher made very few mistakes on wet tracks. As of 2003, he had won 17 of the 30 races he contested in such conditions. This feat led to him earning the nickname “Regenkönig” which translates to rain king.
8 A Skiing Accident Took Him Away From The Public
Schumacher was involved in a horrifying skiing accident at the French Alps Resort on 29th December 2013. He was in the company of his then 14-year-old son, Mick Schumacher when he accidentally fell, hitting his head on a rock, and sustained a serious head injury despite having a helmet on.
After several surgeries, Schumacher was put in a medically induced coma. On 14th September, he was later brought home for further rehabilitation under the care of his family, where he remains to date. There is not much known about Michael Schumacher's health condition today as the whole of F1 and his family has remained tight-lipped on this, but his manager Sabine Kehn revealed that his situation was still improving.
7 Helped Ferrari End Its 20-Year Formula 1 Title Drought
When Schumacher joined Ferrari in 1996, he had the burden of reviving its glory days. After winning two world championships with Benetton, Schumacher admitted he wanted a new challenge, and Ferrari was that challenge. During this time, Ferrari was struggling against front-runners like Benetton, Williams, and McLaren.
Ferrari’s V12 engine was no longer competitive when other teams adapted to the smaller, fuel-efficient V10s. Various drivers tarnished the Ferrari car labeling it a “truck,” “pig,” “awful car,” “undrivable,” “piece of junk,” and many more. In 2000, Schumacher managed to turn around the struggling team into a title-winning car when he won the first world championship in a Ferrari. This transformation has been Schumacher’s most outstanding achievement to date.
6 A Great Admirer Of Ayrton Senna
Formula One and the motorsport world have experienced terrific accidents over the years. Ayton Senna was involved in a gruesome accident where he crashed his car into the wall at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix while leading in pole position. He was airlifted to the hospital, where he passed away later on.
When the accident took place, Michael Schumacher was right behind Senna in second place. After the race resumed, Schumacher went ahead to win the race in a gloomy atmosphere. Schumacher won the 1994 Championship title and dedicated it to Senna. According to Schumacher, Ayrton Senna is the greatest Formula One driver. Team manager Flavio Briatore revealed that Schumacher wanted to quit Formula One after the death of Ayrton Senna.
5 Owned A Lucky Pendant
The seven-time world champion owed his success to a ceramic amulet he was gifted by his wife, Corinna Schumacher, when they married in 1995. Schumacher wore this bracelet throughout his racing career. This lucky African-beaded charm was inscribed with Schumacher’s family members.
After Schumacher’s skiing accident, he was taken to hospital with his bracelet missing. Mountain rescuers volunteered and went searching and found it buried in the snow. Schumacher’s wife has since placed this bracelet on his bed, hoping for Schumacher’s full recovery.
4 Involved In Designing The Ferrari Enzo
Michael Schumacher had a charismatic personality, such that every team member at Ferrari loved to be around him. He was always left behind, trying to help improve the underperforming Ferrari car after the race. His efforts went beyond racing when he helped the Italian automaker in designing the Ferrari Enzo.
But unlike other Formula One athletes, Schumacher wasn’t a fan of driving flashy sports cars. His daily drive was Fiat 500 Abarth before he encountered the tragic skiing accident. Schumacher owned a Ferrari FXX and an Enzo that have since been auctioned.
3 Michael Schumacher's Biggest F1 Records
Schumacher was arguably the most successful driver before Lewis Hamilton broke most of his records in the 2020 and 2021 seasons. These records seemed untouchable a decade ago. When he retired in 2006, Schumacher held records for most World Driver’s Championship titles, most wins, podium finishes, pole positions, and fastest laps.
Today, Hamilton has broken all these records, bar the fastest laps and World Championship titles. There are divided opinions among Formula One fans regarding who is the best driver between the two. Nonetheless, Schumacher would have been proud of Hamilton for matching his expertise on track.
2 Retired From F1 in 2006 But Made A Short Comeback In 2010
Michael Schumacher announced his first retirement from Formula One in 2006. Four years later, he made headlines when he announced his comeback to the pinnacle of motorsport in 2010 with the Mercedes team. He would be lining up alongside his fellow German racer, Nico Rosberg.
For a driver who had achieved almost everything in his first stint, it was unclear why he returned to Formula One. In his own words, the prospect of replacing the injured Massa and his reunion with team principal Ross Brawn sparked a renewed interest in Formula One. His comeback was not successful, and he retired for the second time in 2012, and it's Lewis Hamilton who replaced him.
1 Schumacher’s F1 Legacy Lives On With His Son
Formula One has experienced many father-son duels over the years. Mick Schumacher, the son of the legendary Formula One driver Michael Schumacher, had a racing passion at an early age, drawing inspiration from his father. However, Michael Schumacher never wanted his son to race due to the dangers associated with high-speed competitions.
To avoid much frenzy, Mick Schumacher used the pseudonym “Mick Betsch” when he started his racing career. Mick Schumacher is driving for Haas Formula One team for the 2021 season and has already been confirmed for next season. Also, he is still a member of Ferrari Driver Academy — a team in which his father won five consecutive world championships. Moving forward, Mick hopes to keep his father’s legacy alive and shining.