Michael Schumacher profile

Michael Schumacher F1 driver profile Full name: Michael Schumacher Nationality: Germany     Latest News of Michael Schumacher Di Resta on Mercedes radar to replace Schumacher Mon, 21 May 2012 Rosberg and Schumacher expect W03 to suit Monaco Fri, 18 May 2012 Schumacher brands Senna an idiot Sun, 13 May 2012 Testing benefit shows Schumacher Fri, 11 May 2012 Schumacher clarifies tyre stance Thu, 10 May 2012 Schumacher second in all timer earners list Tue, 08 May 2012 Schumacher continues to criticise tyres Tue, 08 May 2012 Schumacher happy with latest updates Wed, 02 May 2012 Schumacher criticises tyres Pirelli responds Mon, 23 Apr 2012 Schumacher hit with grid penalty Sun, 22 Apr 2012 Schumacher blames DRS for poor qualifying Sat, 21 Apr 2012 Schumacher fast lap ruined by traffic Fri, 20 Apr 2012 Close races very exciting Schumacher Thu, 19 Apr 2012 Schumacher praises Rosberg for perfect victory Sun, 15 Apr 2012 Spin decides Schumacher afternoon Sun, 25 Mar 2012 Schumacher eyeing podium finish Sat, 24 Mar 2012 F duct wont put Mercedes on pole Schumacher Thu, 22 Mar 2012 Malaysia will show cars true pace Schumacher Tue, 20 Mar 2012 Schumacher explains retirement cause Sun, 18 Mar 2012 Schumacher pips Hulkenberg in FP2 Fri, 16 Mar 2012

Michael Schumacher's talent was first spotted by his career-long manager Willi Weber while racing in karts. Weber guided him to the German Formula 3 championship in 1990 and then to success in sportscars and F3000 in 1991. In the same year Eddie Jordan gave him his first drive in F1 at the daunting Spa Francorchamps circuit. The opportunity came about when Jordan's regular driver Bertrand Gachot was jailed for spraying CS gas in a London taxi driver's face. Schumacher seized the chance and he qualified in an impressive seventh place on his first attempt. Unfortunately his start was a little bit too enthusiastic and he burnt the clutch, forcing him into retirement. But he had impressed the right people, and was instantly signed up by Flavio Briatore to drive for Benetton for the rest of the season. His first win came a year later, and by 1994 he was world champion. In 1995 he made it back-to-back titles, beating Hill again but this time without the controversy. For 1996 he moved to Ferrari and, alongside Todt, began building the team that would eventually dominate the sport. He started reaping the rewards in 2000 when he took his first title with the Italian marquee. It could have come a year earlier, but he was ruled out of half of the 1999 season when he crashed at Silverstone and broke his leg. Championships followed in 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 as he went from strength to strength and took a record 13 wins in the '04 season. 2005 then proved difficult, as Ferrari's tyre supplier Bridgestone struggled with new regulations. He still finished third in the championship but his only win came at Indianapolis when 14 Michelin runners were prevented from racing. In 2006 he came close to the title but was beaten by Fernando Alonso and Renault. He had proved he was still competitive but his mind was made up, and at an emotional press conference at Monza, he announced his retirement. He became a trackside consultant at Ferrari and started racing motorbikes as a hobby. However, after several accidents and few successes he jumped at the opportunity to return to F1 with Ferrari in 2009 to replace the injured Felipe Massa. Unfortunately one of his motorbike accidents proved more serious than first thought and doctors warned him against making a return. But the desire to race was still there and in late 2009 a deal was signed with Mercedes to return in 2010. He is now fully fit and ready to pick up where he left off in 2006, in what is bound to be one of the most exciting seasons of his career.