Stuff I wrote for my college campus newspaper -3

Michael Schumacher

By Sanket Kambli (with inputs from Christopher Hilton)

He never got an actual chance to test his nerve against the legends Aryton Senna or Alain Prost, but his lively zeal and swiftness make him the finest of the crop of today’s generation of F1 drivers. By triumphantly regaining the World Championship for the prancing horse at Ferrari, and standing now as the most winning Grand Prix pilot of all time, he has clearly joined the ranks of the Formula One immortals! Do I have to tell you who he is?

Name: Michael Schumacher

Nickname: Schumi or Schuey

Date of Birth: 3rd January 1969

Nationality: German

Place of Birth: Hürth-Hermülheim, Germany

Height: 1.74m

Weight: 68kg

Residency: Vufflens-le-Château, Switzerland

Status: Married to Corinna Betsch since Tuesday 1st August 1995

Children: Gina-Maria, daughter (DOB 19/01/97) and son Mick (DOB 22/03/99).

Family: Rolf, Father, Elizabeth, Mother and Ralf, Brother (DOB 30/6/75).

His Hobbies: Soccer, tennis, swimming, skiing.

His Manager: Michael’s manager since 1989 has been Willi Weber. Schumacher was to receive a free drive in his WTS team for three years; Weber in return receives 20% of all income Michael earns from motor races. The initial agreement was to last 10 years; however it was later extended for a further several years.

F1 Teams Driven for:

Year Team Teammates

1991 Jordan 1991-Andrea de Cesaris

1991-1995 Benetton 1991-Nelson Piquet

1992-Martin Brundle

1993-Riccardo Patrese

1994-Jos Verstappen/JJ Lehto/ Jonny Herbert

1995-Jonny Herbert

1996- Ferrari 1996-1999 Eddie Irvine

2000-Rubens Barrichello

Michael Schumacher's Career Profile:

Seasons Races Wins Poles Fastest Laps Points F1 Titles

11 162 53 43 44 801 4

Michael Schumacher started out his racing career in the same way as all the great drivers, in karting. At four years old his father built him a kart and soon after enrolled him in the local kart club Kerpen Horrom.

In 1989 Michael signed with Willi Weber, whose team WTS he would drive for during 1989 and 1990 in the Formula 3 Championship. Weber paid the costs for both seasons (approximately 1 million DM). In the 1989 season Karl Wendlinger was champion, with Michael finishing 3rd behind Heinz-Harald Frentzen.

During 1990 and 1991 Schumacher moved into sports car racing, instead of the more usual step up to Formula 3000. Many managers believed this would block his progression to Formula 1, but Weber believed that exposure to professional press conferences and dealing with the cars of 700bhp would be beneficial.

The Belgian Grand Prix of 1991 at Spa was Michael's debut in the world's top racing series. His lucky break came as a result of Bertrand Gachot being imprisoned for spraying CS gas into a London taxi driver's face. Qualifying 7th, he unfortunately retired on the first lap from this race with clutch failure of his Jordan-Ford. Although Eddie Jordan wished to sign Michael to the team, Schumacher was advised by Weber to act cautiously, as Jordan was to use factory Yamaha power the following year. They suspected this engine might prove to be second class and they were proved correct.

The 1996 season saw Michael move to Ferrari with a reported salary of $30 million He stated the need for a new challenge as his reasoning, it being to return Ferrari to the pinnacle of motorsport. Eddie Irvine moved from Jordan to become his team mate in the same year. The Ferrari F310 car had poor handling and it was a testament to Michael's ability that he managed to gain three wins. One of his wins, at the Spanish GP of that year was a wet race and is regarded as one of the best drives ever. His method of attaining time from the car resulted in somewhat flamboyant and uncharacteristic driving, with oversteering et al.

Michael is Ferrari's most successful driver ever, ahead of Niki Lauda

Formula One History:

Year Position Points Championship

1991 12th (=) 0 F1 World Championship

1992 3^rd 53 F1 World Championship

1993 4th 52 F1 World Championship

1994 1^st 92 F1 World Championship

1995 1^st 102 F1 World Championship

1996 3rd 59 F1 World Championship

1997 2nd (DQ) - F1 World Championship

1998 2nd 86 F1 World Championship

1999 5^th 44 F1 World Championship

2000 1^st 108 F1 World Championship

2001 1^st 123 F1 World Championship

2002 1^st 144 F1 World Championship

2003 1^st 93 F1 World Championship

2004 1^st 110 F1 World Championship