Michael Schumacher
Nationality: German. Age: 32.
Born: Jan 3, 1969, Huerth-Hermuelheim, Germany. Lives in Switzerland. Married to Corinna. Children Gina Marie (3) and Mick (1). Elder brother of Williams driver Ralf.
Grand Prix starts: 158. Wins: 51. Poles: 41
Total races with Ferrari: 89 - wins 32.
Career points to date: 772 - 469 with Ferrari. Schumacher is second in all-time points list behind Alain Prost (789.5).
Podiums with Ferrari: 56. Wins: 32, Seconds: 17 seconds. Thirds: 7
World champion: 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001.
- Points tally includes 78 from 1997 when Schumacher was excluded from the final standings after his collision with Jacques Villeneuve at Jerez.
First Grand Prix: Belgium 1991.
2000 season: Champion, 108 points. Nine wins - equalling record for number of wins in a single season held jointly by him and Briton Nigel Mansell. Second: 2, Third: 1, Fifth: 1. Retired: 4. Pole: 9
2001 season: 94 points (four races to go). Wins: 7. Second: 4. Retired: 2.
Career highlights:
First drove a go-kart at the age of four.
1984 - German junior go-kart champion.
1987 - European Kart champion.
1990 - German Formula 3 champion, won Macau GP.
1991 - Grand Prix debut with Jordan in Belgium, qualifying seventh on unfamiliar circuit. Joined Benetton after legal tussle. Five races. 12th overall, four points.
1992 - Benetton. First win in Belgium. Third, 53 points.
1993 - Benetton. Fourth, 52.
1994 - Benetton. Champion. Eight wins. 92 points.
1995 - Benetton. Champion. Nine wins, 102.
1996 - Joined Ferrari. Third, 59 points.
1997 - Stripped of second place overall as punishment for ramming Jacques Villeneuve in final race. Five wins, 78 points.
1998 - Ferrari. Second, 86.
1999 - Ferrari. Fifth. 44.
Other facts:
- Given his Formula One chance at Jordan as a replacement for the jailed Belgian Bertrand Gachot and he never looked back.
- Now acclaimed as the best driver of his generation and has won more races (44) than any driver except Alain Prost (51).
- Broke his leg at Silverstone in 1999, ending his championship hopes. Won twice that season.
- Won 1994 title by a single point after controversial collision in final race with Damon Hill.
- His 2000 title made him Ferrari's first world champion driver for 21 years.
- Highest paid driver in Formula One, his contract with Ferrari expired at the end of 2002 but he extended this in May until the end of the 2004 season. - Reuters