A look at Michael Schumacher’s career and seven championships – Formula 1 Special – Part 1
Formula 1 has produced many legendary and championship winning drivers over the years but some drivers tend to leave such deep mark on history which makes them most prominent among their own league. Michael Schumacher is one such driver.
The German driver first began his racing endeavours at the age of four with his pedal kart which had been modified by his father by adding a small motorcycle engine. Later his parents took him to a Karting track in Kerpen-Horrem so that he became the youngest
member of that club. He obtained his first Kart licence at the age of 12. Who would have thought at that time that Schumacher was a racing hero in the making.
The German driver raced in F1 for the first time with the Jordan-Ford team in 1991. Although he impressed the team members and also the German media after the qualifying round of the race but had to retire during the first lap on race day due to clutch problems.
The same year, Schumacher joined the Benetton team which was challenged by Jordan but their case was lost as they had not signed the contract yet. He remained with the team until the end of 1995 during which he won his first two titles hence commencing the
beginning of his seven championships.
First two consecutive championships: 1994 – 1995
Schumacher won his first F1 world championship in 1994 F1 season. This particular season is known to be a significant one in the history of the sport due to the death of Brazilian driver and three times world champion, Ayrton Senna, and also because of
many F1 teams, especially the Benetton F1 team were blamed to be involved in breaking the technical regulations of the sport.
Schumacher was the closest driver to witness the death of Senna as he was behind him in the second place. Benetton was accused of using a gearbox that was a form of ‘launch control’ that was helping Schumacher make perfect starts which was against the rule.
However, no evidence was found to prove the allegation.
Even though surrounded by these controversies, Schumacher emerged victorious at the end of the season which also made him the first German to win the F1 championship.
Schumacher won his second championship the very next season with the same team. The season was a witness to the rivalry between the German and the British driver, Damon Hill. The two were part of many collisions throughout the season including the most discussed
one during the British Grand Prix that happened after an overtake move by Hill and was the cause of retirement for both drivers.
Schumacher won nine races out of a total of seventeen and beat Hill by 33 championship points. He not only helped his team win their first ever constructors’ title but also became the youngest driver to win two consecutive championships of that time.
Five consecutive championships with Ferrari: 2000 – 2004
In 1996, Schumacher joined the Ferrari team which was at that time was going through one of its rough patches. The team had not won any drivers’ championship since 1979 and was known to have a poor performing car. However, Schumacher changed the fortunes
of the team four years after joining it.
That season, Schumacher finished third in the drivers’ championship and helped Ferrari secure second place in the constructors’ championship. In 1997, Schumacher fought for the title against Jacques Villeneuve. At the final race, Schumacher had an advantage
of a one point lead over his rival but when Villeneuve tried to overtake him during the race, the German tried to cause an accident but failed and was retired himself. Villeneuve won ultimately won the championship. Later, Schumacher was penalised for his
behaviour.
To be continued...
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