Michael Schumacher

Biography

Michael Schumacher was born in Hürth, North Rhine-Westphalia, on 3 January 1969. He began kart racing at the age of four and became European karting champion in 1987. In 1990 he won the German Formula Three title and joined the Mercedes junior programme in the World Sportscar Championship.

Schumacher made his Formula One debut for Jordan at the 1991 Belgian Grand Prix and was racing for Benetton later that season. With Benetton he won the drivers' championship in 1994 and 1995; the 1994 title was decided when he and Damon Hill collided at the Australian Grand Prix and both retired. He moved to Ferrari in 1996. After a collision with Jacques Villeneuve at the 1997 European Grand Prix at Jerez, an FIA hearing excluded him from that season's standings. From 2000 to 2004 he won five consecutive titles with Ferrari.

He left Ferrari at the end of 2006, having taken his last win at the Chinese Grand Prix that year. From 2010 to 2012 he raced for Mercedes, making his final start at the 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix. His career totals are seven world titles, 91 wins and 68 pole positions from 306 starts. In December 2013 he suffered a traumatic brain injury in a skiing accident and was kept in an induced coma for six months.