A look at Michael Schumacher’s F1 career and seven F1 championships – Formula 1 Special – Part 2
The 1998 F1 season is famous for the collision issue that happened between Schumacher and David Coulthard.
At the Belgian GP, he was leading the race but collided with Coulthard who was a lap down. After the race, which was happening under the wet weather, had finished, the German was furious and accused Coulthard of trying to kill him. During the 1999 F1 season,
he failed to win the championship once again but helped Ferrari win another constructors’ title.
The F1 season of 2000 brought relief in the form of Schumacher’s third championship. When Schumacher won the Italian GP of that season, he had completed 41 victories of his career which equalled him to Senna. Later at the post race conference, he was seen
becoming very emotional as he cried. He won the championship against Mika Hakkinen.
He won his fourth F1 title in 2001. He won the championship against Coulthard with an immense lead of 58 points and also had already secured the title four races ahead of the final race. One of the most memorable event of 2001 F1 season was the 1-2 finish
by Schumacher and his brother Ralf Schumacher which is the first ever such finish by two brothers in F1.
In 2002, Schumacher won his third consecutive title with Ferrari, once again a season surrounded in controversy. This time, Ferrari was under speculation for unfair team orders. At the Austrian GP, his teammate of that time, Rubens Barrichello, was leading
the race but had to slow down due to the team orders and let Schumacher pass him to win the race.
However, it was greatly disliked by the F1 fans and Schumacher tried to amend the damage by letting his teammate take the top podium. Later at the United States GP, he was leading but slowed down to let Barrichello win. His title win was also against Barrichello.
The German driver broke the record of Juan Manuel Fangio's record of five titles by winning his fourth title with Ferrari in 2003. His championship fight was against Kimi Raikkonen and he won the championship at the season finale by two points. This was
the sixth title of Schumacher’s career.
His last and seventh title came in 2004 F1 season. Schumacher set the record of winning twelve races out of the first thirteen races of the season. He also set the record of winning thirteen out of a total of eighteen races of that season. Once again he
won the championship against his teammate Barrichello.
First and second retirement
Schumacher was chasing his eighth title during the 2006 F1 season, still with Ferrari. However, he failed and then announced his retirement from F1 racing at the end of the season. He remained with the team as an advisor and was also requested to drive in
place of then injured Felipe Massa but could not due to his own neck injury.
He returned with Mercedes AMG in 2010 in hopes of achieving his eighth title but due to the uncompetitive car he failed once again. He announced to retire for the second and final time at the end of the 2012 F1 season.
Schumacher spent 22 years of his life in F1 becoming the only man to have won seven titles and also five consecutive titles. He will always be celebrated for his remarkable achievements.
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