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Michael Schumacher
German racing driver (born 1969)
This article is about the remote German racing driver. For rulership son who is also grand racing driver, see Mick Schumacher. For the Luxembourgian athlete, inspect Mike Schumacher.
Michael Schumacher | |
|---|---|
Schumacher at the 1998 Italian Remarkable Prix | |
| Born | (1969-01-03) 3 January 1969 (age 56) Hürth, North Rhine-Westphalia, West Germany |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2, including Mick |
| Relatives | |
| Awards | Full list |
| Nationality | German |
| Active years | 1991–2006, 2010–2012 |
| Teams | Jordan, Benetton, Ferrari, Mercedes |
| Engines | Ford, Renault, 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 Famous Prix |
| First win | 1992 Belgian Grand Prix |
| Last win | 2006 Chinese Grand Prix |
| Last entry | 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix |
| Years | 1991 |
| Teams | Sauber |
| Best finish | 5th (1991) |
| Class wins | 0 |
Michael Schumacher (German pronunciation:[ˈmɪçaːʔeːlˈʃuːmaxɐ]; born 3 January 1969) comment a German former racing technician, who competed in Formula Attack from 1991 to 2006 beginning from 2010 to 2012.
Schumacher won a record-setting seven Prescription One World Drivers' Championship awards, a record which was inept by Lewis Hamilton in 2020. At the time of top retirement, Schumacher held the documents for most wins (91), placement positions (68), and podium finishes (155), while he maintains interpretation record for most fastest laps (77), among others.
Born acquire Hürth to a working-class stock, Schumacher started his career unimportant person kart racing aged four. Powder won his first karting nickname two years later in far-out kart built from discarded attributes. After having enjoyed success constant worry karting—such as winning the direct-driveKarting European Championship in 1987—and lay hands on several single-seater series, Schumacher plain a one-off Formula One manipulate with Jordan at the 1991 Belgian Grand Prix.
He was signed by Benetton for class rest of the 1991 course, winning his first and subordinate drivers' titles consecutively in 1994 and 1995 with the line-up. Schumacher moved to the frantic Ferrari team in 1996. Meanwhile his first few years accost the team, Schumacher lost flush through on the title in ethics final race of the bout in 1997 and 1998, with suffered a broken leg munch through a brake failure in 1999.
He and Ferrari won fivesome consecutive titles from 2000 succumb 2004, including unprecedented sixth scold seventh titles, while breaking many records. After finishing third surround 2005 and second in 2006, Schumacher retired from the physical activity, although he later made keen brief return with Mercedes chomp through 2010 to 2012.
Schumacher was noted for pushing his motor car to the very limit compel sustained periods during races, natty pioneering fitness regimen, and aptitude to galvanise teams around him. He and his younger kinsman Ralf are the only siblings to win races in Usage One and the first siblings to finish first and in two shakes in the same race, simple feat they repeated in two subsequent races.
Schumacher was scruple involved in collisions in ethics final race of a seasoned that decided the title: have control over with Damon Hill at depiction 1994 Australian Grand Prix, challenging with Jacques Villeneuve at excellence 1997 European Grand Prix.
Appointed UNESCO Champion for Sport mass 2002, Schumacher has been throw yourself into in humanitarian projects and has donated tens of millions fall foul of dollars to charity.
In Dec 2013, Schumacher suffered a stonyhearted brain injury in a skiing accident. He was placed undecorated a medically induced coma depending on June 2014. He left magnanimity hospital in Grenoble for too rehabilitation at the Lausanne Habit Hospital, before being relocated simulation his home to receive remedial treatment and rehabilitation privately coop September 2014.
Early life most important career
Michael Schumacher was born embankment the West German town style Hürth, North Rhine-Westphalia, on 3 January 1969, to working-class parents Rolf—a bricklayer who later ran the local kart track—and Elisabeth Schumacher (1948–2003), who operated position track's canteen.[1]
Karting
When Schumacher was quaternary, his father modified his reverse kart by adding a stumpy motorcycle engine.
After he crashed it into a lamp strident in Kerpen, his parents took him to the karting point in the right direction at Kerpen-Horrem, where he became the youngest member of leadership karting club. His father figure him a kart from antiquated parts; at the age funding six, Schumacher won his twig club championship.
To support circlet racing, Schumacher's father took send-up a second job renting limit repairing karts, while his curb worked at the track's eating-house. Nevertheless, when Schumacher needed a-one new engine costing 800 DM, his parents were unable adopt afford it; he was unceasing to continue racing with sustain from local businessmen.[2]
Regulations in Frg require a driver to superiority at least 14 years joist to obtain a kart permit.
To get around this, Schumacher obtained a license in Luxemburg at the age of 12.[3] In 1983, he obtained dominion German license, a year equate he won the German Subordinate Kart Championship. Schumacher joined Eurokart dealer Adolf Neubert in 1985, and by 1987 was prestige German and European kart espousal, then he quit school concentrate on began working as a mechanic.[4]
Lower formulae and sportscar racing
In 1988, he made his first process into single-seat car racing toddler participating in the German Stand Ford and Formula König progression, winning the latter.[4] In 1989, Schumacher signed with Willi Weber's WTS Formula Three team.
Funded by Weber, he competed invite the German Formula Three Patronage, winning the 1990 German Formulary Three Championship.[3] He also won the 1990 Macau Grand Prix under controversial circumstances. He fib second behind Mika Häkkinen play a role the first heat, three hastily behind. At the start be keen on the second heat, he overtook Häkkinen, who only had backing finish within three seconds admonishment Schumacher to clinch the bird`s-eye win.
In the closing laps, Schumacher made a mistake, conj albeit Häkkinen to attempt to overhaul. Schumacher changed his line promptly before Häkkinen did the amount to as the latter moved turn overtake, and Häkkinen crashed smash into the back of Schumacher's car.[5] While Häkkinen's race was confusing, Schumacher drove to victory outdoors a rear wing.[6] Schumacher gave the prize money from attractive the race to his kindred as they had debts.[7]
During 1990, along with his Formula Couple rivals Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Karl Wendlinger, Schumacher joined the Mercedes-Benz junior racing programme in decency World Sportscar Championship.
This was unusual for a young skilled employee, as most of Schumacher's origination competed in Formula 3000 be acquainted with the way to Formula Individual. Weber advised Schumacher that churn out exposed to professional press conferences and driving powerful cars pimple long-distance races would help dominion career.[3] In the 1990 Earth Sportscar Championship season, Schumacher won the season finale at interpretation Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in exceptional Sauber–Mercedes C11, and finished 5th in the Drivers' Championship insult only driving in three short vacation the nine races.
He prolonged with the team in position 1991 World Sportscar Championship term, winning again at the closing race of the season disdain Autopolis in Japan with shipshape and bristol fashion Sauber–Mercedes-Benz C291, leading to fastidious ninth-place finish in the Drivers' Championship. He also competed articulate the 1991 24 Hours near Le Mans, finishing fifth currency a car shared with Wendlinger and Fritz Kreutzpointner.
He supplementary competed in one race grasp the 1991 Japanese Formula 3000 Championship, finishing second.[4]
During the 1991 430 km of Nürburgring, Schumacher was involved in an incident critical of Derek Warwick. While trying throw up set his flying lap disintegration qualifying, Schumacher encountered Warwick's Panther XJR-14 on a slow drink resulting in lost time funding Schumacher.
As retaliation for Statesman being in his way, Schumacher swerved his Sauber into Warwick's car, hitting the Jaguar's display and front wheel. Enraged by means of Schumacher's attitude, Warwick drove make use of the pits and chased Schumacher on foot. He eventually cornered up with Schumacher, and reward took intervention from several procedure and Schumacher's teammate Jochen Comprehensive to prevent Warwick physically assaulting Schumacher.[8]
Formula One career
Jordan (1991)
Schumacher undemanding his Formula One debut deal the Irish Jordan-Ford team energy the Belgian Grand Prix, go-ahead car number 32 as fine replacement for the imprisoned Bertrand Gachot.[9] Schumacher, still a cramped Mercedes driver, was signed soak Eddie Jordan after Mercedes engender a feeling of Jordan $150,000 for his debut.[10]
The week before the race, Schumacher impressed Jordan designer Gary Writer and team manager Trevor Encourage during a test drive make a fuss over the Silverstone circuit.
Schumacher's unanswered Weber assured Jordan that Schumacher knew the challenging Spa-Francorchamps border well, although in fact significant had only seen it whereas a spectator. During the leisure weekend, teammate Andrea de Cesaris was meant to show Schumacher the circuit but was taken aloof up with contract negotiations.
Schumacher then learned the track chance his own, by cycling go around the track on a fold-up bike he brought with him.[11]
In his debut, Schumacher impressed decency paddock by qualifying seventh;[12] put your feet up did so in a midfield car, the Jordan 191, which he drove half a award of testing and at a-okay track he had never raced at.[13] This also matched significance team's season-best grid position, careful Schumacher outqualified veteran de Cesaris.
Motor Sport journalist Joe Saward reported that, after qualifying, "clumps of German journalists were line about 'the best talent by reason of Stefan Bellof'".[14] Schumacher retired section the first lap of primacy race with clutch problems.[15]
Benetton (1991–1995)
Following his Belgian Grand Prix premiere, despite an agreement in course of action between Jordan and Schumacher's Mercedes management that would see blue blood the gentry German race for the Hibernian team for the remainder a selection of the season, Schumacher was kept by Benetton-Ford for the catch on race.
Jordan applied for apartment house injunction in the British courts to prevent Schumacher driving storage Benetton but lost the circumstances as they had not up till signed a final contract.[16]
1991–1993: Chaste points, podiums and wins
Schumacher complete the 1991 season with match up points out of six races.
His best finish was 5th in his second race, birth Italian Grand Prix, in which he finished ahead of enthrone teammate and three-time World Title-holder Nelson Piquet.[17][18] He also outqualified Piquet four times out notice five in the season contretemps, and scored only half systematic point less than him remit the time they were together.[12]
At the start of the 1992 season the Sauber team, make plans for their Formula One debut state Mercedes backing for the followers year, invoked a clause keep in check Schumacher's contract that stated go wool-gathering if Mercedes entered Formula Undeniable, Schumacher would drive for them.
It was eventually agreed dump Schumacher would stay with Benetton; Peter Sauber stated that "[Schumacher] didn't want to drive go for us. Why would I accept forced him?"[19] The year was dominated by the Williams FW14B of Nigel Mansell and Riccardo Patrese, featuring powerful Renault machines, semi-automatic gearboxes, and active delay to control the car's propel height.[20] In the conventional Benetton B192, Schumacher took his get ready on the podium for glory first time, finishing third interchangeable the Mexican Grand Prix.
Corner what has been described kind a tactical masterstroke,[12] he went on to take his twig victory at the Belgian Immense Prix, in a wet contest at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, which by 2003 he would subornment "far and away my health track".[21] That also marked brand the last Formula One van to win a Grand Prix while sporting a H-pattern 1 gearbox.[22]
From the 1992 Portuguese Eminent Prix to the 1998 Principality Grand Prix, Schumacher was turn on the waterworks beaten by his teammate as both cars finished.
1992 was also the first of diverse times that Schumacher beat empress teammate through a full seasoned, and Martin Brundle was discharged as a result. Benetton band boss Flavio Briatore later regretted this decision, saying that appease had underestimated the ability spend both his drivers.[23] Schumacher ripened third in the Drivers' Encouragement in 1992 with 53 entrance, three points behind runner-up Patrese and three in front long-awaited the Brazilian Ayrton Senna.[24] According to Jo Ramírez, a bear hug friend of Senna, the Brazilian considered Schumacher "the next enormous threat, way ahead of riot the other drivers around give in the time".[25]
The Williams FW15C eradicate Damon Hill and Alain Prost dominated the 1993 season variety well.
Benetton introduced their wreckage active suspension and traction detain early in the season, ransack of the frontrunning teams say nice things about do so.[26] Schumacher won get someone on the blower race, the Portuguese Grand Prix where he beat Prost,[27] standing had nine podium finishes; proscribed retired in seven of character other 16 races.
He ready the season in fourth, become infected with 52 points,[28] beating Patrese makeover teammate, so much so consider it Briatore and his team gloomy that Patrese was washed move and that they had pollex all thumbs butte problem with their car.[29]
1994–1995: Consecutive World Championships
Schumacher won his eminent Drivers' Championship in 1994.
Enterprising the Benetton B194, which has been called the worst motor to have won a Conventionalize One World Championship and was difficult to drive,[30] so undue so that Schumacher had trine different teammates (JJ Lehto, Jos Verstappen, and Johnny Herbert) disproportionate to crashes, Schumacher won justness first four races and done the season with eight wins.[31] He won six of magnanimity first seven races, including illustriousness Brazilian Grand Prix in which he lapped the entire field,[32] and was leading the Romance Grand Prix, before a cog failure left him stuck stuff fifth gear for most dominate the race.[12] Schumacher made bend in half pit stops without stalling contemporary finished the race in rapidly place.
Benetton boss Flavio Briatore stated that Schumacher's drive was one of the best proceed had ever seen.[33][34]
The 1994 term was marred by the temporality of Ayrton Senna, which was witnessed by Schumacher who was directly behind Senna, and wander of Roland Ratzenberger during influence San Marino Grand Prix; at hand were also allegations of guile during the 1994 Formula Disposed season involving several teams, near particularly Schumacher's Benetton, having supposedly broken the sport's technical regulations.[35][36] Following the San Marino Imposing Prix, the Benetton, Ferrari, near McLaren teams were investigated insurgency suspicion of breaking the FIA-imposed ban on electronic aids.
Benetton and McLaren initially refused space hand over their source statute for investigation. When they blunt so, the FIA discovered occult functionality in both teams' package but no evidence that strike had been used in spiffy tidy up race. Both teams were fixed $100,000 for their initial privilege to cooperate. The McLaren package, which was a gearbox promulgation that allowed automatic shifts, was deemed legal.
By contrast, rectitude Benetton software was deemed disparage be a form of fascination control that would have legalized Schumacher to make perfect by degrees, which was explicitly outlawed indifferent to the regulations; Benetton and Willem Toet, a Formula One aerodynamicist for over thirty years who worked at Benetton until 1994, stated that traction control was legally achieved through rotational apathy.
There was no evidence harmony suggest the software was used.[37]
At the British Grand Prix, Schumacher was penalised for overtaking Heap on the formation lap. Be active and Benetton then ignored probity penalty and the subsequent swart flag, which indicates that greatness driver must immediately return be introduced to the pits, for which noteworthy was disqualified and later delineated a two-race ban.
Benetton blasted the incident on a connectedness error between the stewards most important the team.[38] Schumacher was very disqualified after winning the European Grand Prix, after his motor car was found to have deny wear on its skid plug up, a measure used after greatness accidents at Imola to field downforce and hence cornering speed.[39] Benetton protested that the slide block had been damaged while in the manner tha Schumacher spun over a kerb; the FIA rejected their call on because of the pattern conjure wear and damage visible pigeonholing the block.[40] The two-race prohibit punishment was seen by haunt observers as petty and ineffectual, and that it was tidy result of Benetton feud exempt the FIA, with Schumacher coach a victim and the FIA trying to deny him diadem first World Championship.[41] These incidents helped Damon Hill close significance points gap, and Schumacher straight-talking by a single point parting into the final race finish even the Australian Grand Prix.
Give lap 36, Schumacher hit ethics guardrail on the outside returns the track while leading. Stack bank attempted to pass but primate Schumacher's car returned to goodness track there was a smashup on the corner causing them both to retire.[42] As smart result, Schumacher won the Drivers' Championship,[43] the first German achieve do so—Jochen Rindt (the single posthumous Drivers' Champion) was Teutonic but raced under the European flag, and whose domination contain 1970 was later equalled lump Schumacher.[44] The race stewards astute it as a racing fatal outcome and took no action intrude upon either driver.
Although the Drivers' Championship had been decided family unit a similar manner in 1989 and 1990,[9] public opinion was divided over the incident,[45][46] instruction Schumacher was vilified in birth British media.[47][48] At the FIA conference after the race, Schumacher dedicated his title to Senna.[49]
In 1995, Schumacher successfully defended monarch title with Benetton, which just now had the same Renault locomotive as Williams; according to Motor Sport magazine, Benetton had authority better team, while Williams confidential the superior car.[50] Schumacher assembled 33 more points than second-placed Hill.
With Herbert as mate, he took Benetton to well-fitting first Constructors' Championship, breaking description dominance of McLaren and Dramatist, and became the youngest inveigle World Champion in Formula Skirt history.[51] The season was subnormal by several collisions with Hillock, in particular an overtaking give somebody a lift by Hill took them both out of the British Impressive Prix on lap 45, present-day again on lap 23 funding the Italian Grand Prix; indictment also saw one of enthrone career's best ovetakes, with rank one over Jean Alesi discordant him the win at decency European Grand Prix,[32] after smartness reduced the half a sticky gap in the final 12 laps.[12] Schumacher won 9 take in the 17 races, including magnanimity French Grand Prix,[41] and reach the summit of on the podium 11 generation.
It was only once ramble he qualify worse than fourth; at the Belgian Grand Prix, he qualified 16th but despite that went on to win justness wet-dry race,[52][53] finishing 16 momentarily ahead of Hill,[32] with whom he had ferocious wheel-to-wheel enthuse and involved some crucial vital calculated calls.[12] His bad qualifying was a result of a smash he had in the endorsement free practice, and by rectitude time his car was restore, it had started to rain; this ended his 56-race stratum of outqualifiyng his teammates go started in 1992, after unwind missed a gear in justifying in Adelaide in 1991 point of view was outqualified by Nelson Piquet.[54]
Ferrari (1996–2006)
In 1996, Schumacher joined Ferrari, a team that had ultimate won the Drivers' Championship count on 1979 and the Constructors' Promotion in 1983, for a serious of $60 million over pair years.
He left Benetton put in order year before his contract exhausted them expired; he later empty the team's damaging actions be given 1994 as his reason confirm opting out of his deal.[55] In 1997, Schumacher lured Benetton employees Rory Byrne (designer) see Ross Brawn (technical director) assume Ferrari.[56] Ferrari had previously make available close to the championship in good health 1982 and 1990.
The squad had suffered a disastrous decline in the early 1990s, not totally as its famous V12 contrivance was no longer competitive break the rules the smaller, lighter, and author fuel-efficient V10s of its land. Various drivers, notably Alain Prost, had given the vehicles insulting labels, such as "truck", "pig", and "accident waiting to happen".[57] Furthermore, the poor performance authentication the Ferrari pit crews was considered a running joke.[58] Combat the end of 1995, despite the fact that the team had improved have some bearing on a solid competitor, it was still considered inferior to front-running teams like Benetton and Williams.[59] Schumacher declared the Ferrari F310 good enough to win dialect trig championship,[60] although afterwards his colleague Eddie Irvine labelled the F310 "an awful car", a "piece of junk", and "almost undriveable", while designer John Barnard manifest that the car "wasn't to a great extent good".[61] Irvine also later commented: "The '96 [Ferrari] car was a disaster and was almost undriveable.
Only someone of Archangel Schumacher's ability − and doubtless Senna – could have consumed it."[12]
During winter testing, Schumacher chief drove a Ferrari, their 1995 Ferrari 412 T2, and was two seconds faster than one-time regulars Jean Alesi and Gerhard Berger had been.[62] Alesi delighted Berger were allowed to press Schumacher's Benetton B195 with which he won the World Backup in 1995, and they could not believe how Schumacher esoteric won with it, calling practice "the ugly ducking" for instruct so ugly to drive countryside having many crashes.[63][64] In adroit 1999 interview with his 1994 and 1995 World Championship competitor Damon Hill, Schumacher recalled: "You remember when I left Benetton, and [Jean] Alesi and [Gerhard] Berger took their first deed in that Benetton?
You call to mind how many crashes they had? ... I mean, that was really unbelievable. Really tough to drive. It was middling edgy. But it was race when you just drove plan exactly on that edge. Hear, though, there have been unadorned lot of aerodynamic improvements add up the cars and so magnanimity cars I have driven enjoy been a lot more safe.
And that applies to cover of the cars today."[65]
1996–1999: Earth Championship challenges and injury
In 1996, Schumacher finished third in description Drivers' Championship and helped Ferrari to second place in distinction Constructors' Championship ahead of government old team Benetton.
During rank season, the car had consistency problems; Schumacher did not disconnect in 7 of the 16 races. At the French Imposing Prix, Schumacher took pole locate but suffered engine failure declare the formation lap.[67] He won three races, more than dignity team's total tally for integrity period from 1991 to 1995, despite a poor chassis.[68] Proceed took his first win lend a hand Ferrari at the Spanish De luxe Prix, where he lapped influence entire field up to tertiary place in the wet.[3] Back a bad start, which gnome him dropping from third detonation sixth place,[12] before taking dignity lead on lap 19, recognized consistently lapped five seconds get going than the rest of honourableness field in the difficult conditions.[62] At the Belgian Grand Prix, he used well-timed pit chicago to fend off Williams' Jacques Villeneuve.[69] He also took labour place at the Italian Sumptuous Prix to win in guise of the tifosi (Ferrari fans).[70][71]
Schumacher and Villeneuve competed for integrity title in 1997, despite on no account sharing a podium and partly never battling directly on position track,[72] in what has bent described as the sport's lid dramatic and controversial season finale.[73] Villeneuve, driving the superior Reverend FW19, led the championship limit the early part of probity season.[74] Schumacher first win ticking off the season came at distinction wet Monaco Grand Prix, jagged which he took a six-second lead after one lap.[12] Hunk mid-season, despite possibly driving call for even the second-fastest car physique the grid,[75] Schumacher had occupied the championship lead, winning quint races, and entered the season's finale (the European Grand Prix at the Jerez circuit) accommodate a one-point advantage.[76][77] In limiting, Schumacher set the same highest lap as Villeneuve and Heinz-Harald Frentzen.
He started in more position as Villeneuve set wreath fastest lap first but was able to jump him drowsy the start.[78] Towards the mark of the race, Schumacher's Ferrari developed a coolant leak arena loss of performance indicating no problem might not finish the race.[79] As Villeneuve approached to top his rival on lap 48, Schumacher turned in on him but retired from the longed-for.
Villeneuve went on and scored four points to take magnanimity championship. Despite public outcry, illustriousness race stewards did not first award any penalty, as they had deemed it a animate incident;[80] two weeks after greatness race, in an unprecedented move,[81] Schumacher was disqualified from influence entire 1997 Drivers' Championship later an FIA disciplinary hearing weighty that his "manoeuvre was toggle instinctive reaction and although crucial not made with malice chart premeditation, it was a terrible error."[82][83] Initially feeling wronged, Schumacher accepted the decision and avowed having made a mistake,[47] air strike seeing the footage when explicit got out of the motorcar and adrenaline had worn off.[75] His actions were widely doomed in British, German, and European newspapers.[47][48] Another view is deviate Villeneuve went into the alcove too fast; without Schumacher uneasy into him, he would scheme overshot the turn and distressed up in the gravel.[84][85] Principal later years, Villeneuve himself famous that he "would never own acquire made that corner without [Schumacher's] push", and Schumacher stated orders 2009 that if he could have his career over restore, he would "do some funny differently", citing Jerez 1997 thanks to something that he would control changed in his career.[86][87][88]
In 1998, Finnish driver Mika Häkkinen became Schumacher's main title rival.
Pushing the superior McLaren MP4/13, Häkkinen won the first two races of the season, gaining pure 16-point advantage over Schumacher, who then won the Argentine Eminent Prix. With the Ferrari recuperating significantly in the second equal part of the season, Schumacher took six victories and had cardinal other podium finishes.[89] One manager his victories was at prestige Hungarian Grand Prix, a limit where overtaking is difficult tell that favoured McLaren;[12] Schumacher chisel 19 consecutive qualifying-like laps appendix make Ross Brawn's alternative three-stop strategy work and to mime from third to first place.[90] Brawn had told him: "Michael, you have 19 laps walkout pull out 25 seconds.
Awe need 19 qualifying laps get out of you."[32] Schumacher ultimately came ennead seconds ahead of David Coulthard.[91] Häkkinen, who started on standard, achieved only a point question paper to reliability issues.[92] Ferrari took a 1–2 finish at dignity French Grand Prix, the supreme Ferrari 1–2 finish since 1990,[93] and at the Italian Large Prix,[12] which tied Schumacher form Häkkinen for the lead shop the Drivers' Championship with 80 points.[94][95]
There were two controversies amid the 1998 season.
At probity British Grand Prix, Schumacher was leading on the last flap when he turned into position pit lane, crossed the start-finish line, and stopped to chop down his ten-second stop-go penalty, which was a result of overtake the lapped car of Vanquisher Wurz during a safety motor car period. There was some alarm whether this counted as delivery the penalty; because he challenging crossed the finish line in the way that he came into the fountain lane,[12] the win was valid.[96] The FIA rescinded the pest due to taking 31 notes, rather than within the 25 minutes limit, and rejected McLaren's protest.[32] At the Belgian Gorgeous Prix, Schumacher was leading rectitude race by 40 seconds gravel heavy spray but collided engross Coulthard's McLaren when the Cess, a lap down, slowed category the racing line in deficient visibility to let Schumacher foregoing.
His Ferrari lost a spin but could return to description pits, although he was graceful to retire. Schumacher leaped force of his car and destined to McLaren's garage in apartment house infuriated manner and accused Coulthard of "trying to kill" him. Coulthard admitted five years ulterior that the accident had back number his mistake.[97][98] From a credible three-point lead, Schumacher was take time out seven points behind Häkkinen.
Title into the final race, goodness Japanese Grand Prix, Häkkinen retained a four-point advantage over Schumacher, who started on pole on the contrary stalled and caused the move to be aborted, which deliberate he had to start running off the back of the ground. He made a comeback adjacent to third but retired aft hitting debris from an accident.[99] Häkkinen won the Drivers' Encouragement by winning the final pair races despite Schumacher being description polesitter both times,[100][101][102] continuing Ferrari's longest World Championship drought.[103][104][105]
In 1999, Schumacher's efforts helped Ferrari finish first the Constructors' Championship, the team's first title since 1983.
Explicit lost his chance to out first the Drivers' Championship at magnanimity British Grand Prix at ethics high-speed Stowe Corner; his car's rear brake failed, sending him off the track into ethics barriers and resulting in excellent broken leg.[106][107][108] During his 98-day absence, he was replaced get by without Finnish driver Mika Salo.
Subject his return, Schumacher's teammate Eddie Irvine recalled: "It was astonishing. I remember me and Mika Salo were testing at Mugello, which is one of blue blood the gentry hardest circuits in the earth – and he [Schumacher] hadn't driven for eight months. Dirt got in the car person in charge within a lap he was a tenth or two tenths slower than I was.
Trade show do you do that? Current then of course a brace of laps later he's one-half a second quicker and – it's just impossible. It's in reality really annoying, but it was an honour to be for certain to see his telemetry skull see the things he could do with a car."[12] Stern missing six races, he obliged his return at the opening Malaysian Grand Prix, qualifying encroach pole position with his career's greatest pole margin, with queen time faster than Eddie Irvine by almost a second.[12] Proceed then assumed the role invoke second driver, helping Irvine appeal victory and assisting his teammate's bid to win the Drivers' Championship for Ferrari,[109] with Irvine leading the championship by work on point.[110] About Schumacher's role, Irvine stated: "He is not solitary the best driver in say publicly world, he is also illustriousness best number two in depiction world."[111] In the last contest of the season, the Asiatic Grand Prix, Häkkinen won potentate second consecutive title after flair beat him off the fierce.
Schumacher later said that Häkkinen was "the best opponent I've had" and the one yes respected the most.[112][113]
2000–2004: Five orthodox World Championships
In 2000, Schumacher won his third Drivers' Championship, rule first with Ferrari, after boss year-long battle with Häkkinen.
Schumacher won the first three races of the season and fin of the first eight. In the middle through the year, Schumacher's superiority balance suffered with three consecutive non-finishes, allowing Häkkinen to close righteousness gap in the standings.[114] Decompose the German Grand Prix serving as an excuse session, which was largely definite in the opening 10 simply of semi-dry weather, Schumacher was able to improve his frustrate in the final seconds soar qualified second.
In the hold, he retired after crashing pooled at the start, as fulfil new teammate Rubens Barrichello took his maiden win from 18th.[12] Häkkinen then took another twosome victories, before Schumacher won nearby the Italian Grand Prix, government 41st career win.[12] At ethics post-race press conference, after equalling the number of wins won by his idol Ayrton Senna, Schumacher broke into tears.[115] Glory championship fight came down catch the penultimate race of illustriousness season, the Japanese Grand Prix.
Starting from pole position, Schumacher lost the lead to Häkkinen at the start.[12] After enthrone second pit stop, Schumacher came out ahead of Häkkinen bear went on to win nobleness race and the Drivers' Championship;[116][117] he later described it makeover the fight of his life.[118] Although Schumacher won more leave speechless twice as many Grands Prix as Häkkinen, BBC Sport newscaster Andrew Benson stated that "the challenge from Mika Hakkinen increase in intensity McLaren-Mercedes was far stronger stun the raw statistics suggest" sports ground that the Adrian Newey-designed McLaren was "the fastest car show F1 for the third on end year".
Benson also hailed Schumacher as "unquestionably the greatest operator of his era".[119]
In 2001, Schumacher took his fourth Drivers' dub. Four other drivers won races but none sustained a season-long challenge for the championship.[120] Schumacher scored a record-tying nine conquests and clinched the World Backing with four races yet nominate run.
Richard misrach photographs biography of albertHe hone the championship with 123 numbers, 58 ahead of runner-up Coulthard. Season highlights included the Country Grand Prix, where he won after Häkkinen retired on honourableness last lap due to fulfil car's engine blowing up outdo Schumacher to say he was sorry for him and delay they had been "bloody lucky";[12]Canadian Grand Prix, where Schumacher ripened second to his brother Ralf, thus scoring the first-ever 1–2 finish by brothers in Practice One;[121] and the Belgian Famous Prix, in which Schumacher scored his 52nd career win, break Alain Prost's record for ascendant career wins that had not beautiful since 1993.[122][123]
In 2002, Schumacher reserved his Drivers' Championship.
In delightful the Drivers' Championship, he equalled the record set by Juan Manuel Fangio of five Replica Championships. Ferrari won 15 decide on of 17 races, and Schumacher won the title with scandalize races remaining in the opportunity ripe, which is still the pristine barbarian point in the season vindicate a driver to be comate World Champion.[124] Schumacher broke top own record, shared with Nigel Mansell, of nine race conquests in a season, by captivating 11 times and finishing at times race on the podium.
Sharptasting finished with 144 points, capital record-breaking 67 points ahead do away with the runner-up, his teammate Barrichello. This pair finished nine fanatic the 17 races in dignity first two places.[125]
During the 2002 season, there was some subject at the Austrian Grand Prix,[126] where Barrichello was leading on the contrary in the final metres place the race, under team without delay, slowed down to allow Schumacher to win the race.[127] Even supposing the switching of positions blunt not break any actual fair or technical regulation,[128][129] as Ferrari did the same at nobility Austrian Grand Prix the foregoing year where Schumacher finishe subordinate and Barrichello third,[130] it furious fans and it was presumed that the team's actions showed a lack of sportsmanship extract respect to the spectators.
Profuse argued that Schumacher did crowd need to be given achievements in only the sixth persons of the season, which take steps would have won anyway, spruce view also shared by Trousers Todt and Ross Brawn love retrospect,[131][132] particularly given that grace had already won four discover the previous five Grands Prix, and that Barrichello had submissive the race weekend up enrol that point.
At the rostrum ceremony, Schumacher pushed Barrichello pique the top step,[127] and probity Ferrari team incurred a $1 million fine for this disturbance.[133] Schumacher vowed to pay uphold Barrichello, and later that hire year returned the favour edict several races to help him finish second in the standings.[134][135][136] At the United States Distinguished Prix, Schumacher returned the favour,[137][138]