Recently Roger Federer made headlines for winning the Wimbledon title for the seventh time.
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| The Pele of MotorSport; Michael Schumacher |
Likewise, when we talk of Motorsport, the name of Michael Schumacher stands out prominently as he too has won the World Champion for seven times.
Born at Hurth-Hermulheim, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany 3 Janurary 1969, Michael Schumacher, who drives for the Mercedes team, is no doubt one of the greatest Formula 1 drivers of all times, like Muhammad Ali of Boxing, Pele of Football, Woods of Golf, and of course Federer of tennis.
In 2002 he became the only driver in Formula One history to finish in the top three in every race of a season and then also broke the record for most consecutive podium finishes. In fact, Michael Schumacher has won more world championship and races than any other driver.
Schumacher made his debut drive for Jordan at Spa in 1991 and rocked the Formula 1. He then went on to drive for Benetton 1991-1995, Ferrari 1996-2006 and finally for Mercedes in 2010.
In 1995 Michael became the youngest double Formula 1 World Champion (1994 and 1995 seasons) of the time ever. His sixth title in 2003 beat Juan Manuel Fangio's long standing record of five championships from the 1950s. Michael's last championship title in 2004 was secured before the season end, taking his total number of titles to 7. Memorably, he did this by finishing 2nd at Spa in Belgium, in Ferrari's 700th race, to accumulate enough points to seal the deal.
Michael also holds the F1 records for: most career wins (91), most wins in a season, most career pole positions, most points during a season (148 in 2004), most consecutive world championships (5), most consecutive race wins (2004), most podium finsihes (154), most laps leading, most fastest laps (76), plus several others!
Michael and his younger brother Ralf Schumacher are the only brothers to win races in Formula One, and they were the first brothers to finish 1st and 2nd in the same race, in Montreal in 2001, and there again (in switched order) in 2003.
From 2010 onwards, Michael has contract fo three years with Mercedes team. Nico Rosberg is his team mate. The move sees Michael reunited with Ross Brawn, who he worked with to win all of his world titles.
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| Michael with Mercedes |
In honour of Schumacher's racing career and his efforts to improve safety and the sport, he was awarded an FIA Gold Medal for Motor Sport in 2006.[131] In 2007, in recognition of his contribution to Formula One racing, the Nürburgring racing track renamed turns 8 and 9 (the Audi and Shell Kurves) as the Schumacher S, and a month later he presented A1 Team Germany with the A1 World Cup at the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport 2007 awards ceremony. He was nominated for the Prince of Asturias Award for Sport for 2007, which he won both for sporting prowess and for his humanitarian record.
In 2008 the Swiss Football Association appointed Schumacher as the Swiss ambassador for the 2008 European football championship.
On 30 April 2010, Schumacher was honored with the Officier of Légion d'honneur title from French prime minister François Fillon.
Off the track Schumacher is an ambassador for UNESCO, joining the other eight which include Pelé, Sergey Bubka and Justine Henin, and a spokesman for driver safety. He has been involved in numerous humanitarian efforts throughout his life and donated tens of millions of dollars to charity.
Schumacher, in conjunction with Schuberth, helped develop the first lightweight carbon helmet. In 2004, a prototype was publicly tested by being driven over by a tank; it survived intact. The helmet keeps the driver cool by funneling directed airflow through fifty holes.
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