SUMMARY
- Michael Schumacher easily won 7 championship titles and became a legend in the sport.
- Schumacher gained respect in the sport and became an idol for many upcoming drivers. However Schumacher decided to retire from the sport.
When talking about the many legends of the sport and what they have achieved and brought into F1, Michael Schumacher may be the first one to be mentioned. The German who walked into the sport and soon took 7 championship titles like it was no big deal was soon idolized by many.
Becoming the first seven-time world champion in F1 and holding that record until Lewis Hamilton entered the sport, there is no doubt that the legendary Schumacher earned massive respect in the sport and soon became an idol that many upcoming drivers looked up to. Nonetheless, his glory did not last too long as he announced his retirement yet again.
While Schumacher’s career has been watched carefully and his every move has been recorded in some headline, the driver confessed to liking the freedom more than the prisoned glory that F1 brought into his life. However, once a racer, always a racer, the legend returned to the sport after one important phone call.
What reignited Michael Schumacher’s fire to race?
The German champion was one of the many drivers who has been put high up on a pedestal for their great achievements and the brilliance that they possessed. From Ayrton Senna to Nelson Piquet, all the drivers have had their chance to shine in front of flashing cameras for their greatness in the sport.
And the same was for Schumacher who first started his F1 journey at Benetton. However, considering the team was not as competitive as the many others that graced the tracks, the champion managed to win two world championships with the team in a row.
One of the best wet-weather drives ever is Michael Schumacher’s 1st Ferrari win at the 1996 Spanish GP:
– 37s ahead after 24 laps
– Was 4s faster a lap than P2
– Won with 45-second gap to P2
– Lapped everyone till P3And the 1996 Ferrari was not the best car. GOAT stuff. pic.twitter.com/ZcyVPcKH73
— Daniel Valente 🏎️ (@F1GuyDan) December 26, 2023
After having two fantastic seasons with Benetton, he saw the golden opportunity to become a part of the amusing history of the Prancing Horses team in Formula 1 and soon rocked the red Ferrari race suit. Being under his close friend, Jean Todt‘s wing, the two achieved five world championships in a row, bringing Ferrari the most successful five seasons in a row.
However, after retiring from the sport soon after his seventh championship, the driver received an important phone call. Although he was not completely disinterested in returning to his beloved sport, he was enjoying his freedom a little too much too. Nonetheless, he said,
“I never felt I would want to participate again. But then, when Ross called me that November 2009, he triggered something in me. Suddenly I was on fire again, something I would have convincingly denied just before that call.”
The driver who once drove for Mercedes and worked with Ross felt like the coincidence was too good to be true and decided to not let the opportunity leave his hand. Although he did not win any championships with the team, he decided to retire again after two years.
Michael Schumacher turns to Mercedes to look for a cure
The seven-time world champion who once was known for flying too high is now mentioned for crashing down. After his retirement, the champion went on a skiing trip only to return with severe health issues and a tragic accident that would turn his life around.
Nonetheless, after grappling with as many consultants and cures as they possibly could, the Schumacher family turned to Mercedes to bring him back. As a part of his therapy, he was taken on a drive in the Mercedes AMG road car to help simulate the German’s brain with familiar noises along with some F1 tracks.
On this day in 2009, Michael Schumacher announced his return to Formula 1 & I think people don’t get how underrated his final year with Mercedes was:
7-3 vs. Nico Rosberg in races classified
10-10 vs. Rosberg in qualifying
Fastest in quali at MonacoHe did this at 43 years old. pic.twitter.com/wQjp0M2xTT
— Daniel Valente 🏎️ (@F1GuyDan) December 23, 2023
Schumacher continues to stay in complete privacy and is reported to have a minimum of 15 doctors, masseurs, and assistants who aid him every single day in their house in Switzerland.
