Seven-Time World Champion · Formula 1

Michael Schumacher

Seven world titles, 91 victories, and the driver who turned Ferrari back into the benchmark of Formula 1. The official Schumacher collection: Benetton, Maranello and the red years.

Nationality
German
Born
3 January 1969 · Hürth, Germany
Teams
Jordan · Benetton · Ferrari · Mercedes
F1 career
1991–2006, 2010–2012
Championships
7 (1994, 1995, 2000–2004)
Standing record
77 fastest laps, the most in F1 history
Michael Schumacher
Seven-Time World Champion
1991 — 2012
7
World Championships
91
Grand Prix Wins
68
Pole Positions
155
Podium Finishes

Who is Michael Schumacher?

Michael Schumacher (born 3 January 1969) is a German former Formula 1 driver and seven-time World Champion, a record he held alone until Lewis Hamilton equalled it in 2020. He won 91 Grands Prix, took 68 pole positions and 155 podiums, and won five consecutive titles with Ferrari from 2000 to 2004. He retired in 2012.

Full name
Michael Schumacher
Nationality
German
F1 career
1991–2006, 2010–2012
Best known for
Five straight titles with Ferrari
Rider Profile

Michael Schumacher: Full Biography

Michael Schumacher is a German former racing driver who won seven Formula 1 World Championships, a record he held alone until Lewis Hamilton equalled it in 2020.

From Kart Track to Formula 1 Born in Hürth to a working-class family, he began karting at four in a pedal kart built from discarded parts. He won the European karting title in 1987, the German Formula Three championship and the Macau Grand Prix in 1990, and made his Formula 1 debut for Jordan at Spa in 1991 — a single qualifying performance that persuaded Benetton to sign him within a week.

The Ferrari Era Two titles with Benetton in 1994 and 1995 were followed by a move to a Ferrari team that had not won a drivers’ championship since 1979. It took four years and cost him a broken leg in 1999, but from 2000 to 2004 he won five consecutive titles, including thirteen wins from eighteen races in 2004.

Records and Retirement He retired in 2006 holding the records for wins, poles and podiums, returned with Mercedes from 2010 to 2012, and still holds the record for the most fastest laps. In December 2013 he suffered a severe head injury in a skiing accident; his family has requested privacy and little has been made public since.

The Career

Three Chapters That Defined Michael Schumacher

Chapter 01

The Benetton Years

Schumacher was entered for the 1991 Belgian Grand Prix by Jordan as a late replacement, qualified seventh at a circuit he had never raced, and was in a Benetton by the next round. His first win came at Spa a year later. The 1994 championship was settled by a collision with Damon Hill at Adelaide that put both cars out and remains disputed; the 1995 title, with nine wins, was not. He was 26 and a double World Champion, and he left for a team that had not won a drivers' title in sixteen years.

Benetton · 1991–1995
Chapter 02

The Ferrari Project

Ferrari had not won a drivers' championship since 1979. Schumacher brought Ross Brawn and Rory Byrne with him from Benetton and built the team around a single car and a single driver. Three victories came in the difficult first year, near misses followed in 1997 and 1998, and a broken leg at Silverstone ended his 1999 title challenge. The breakthrough came in 2000, and then five consecutive championships to 2004 — 48 wins in five seasons, and thirteen in 2004 alone.

Scuderia Ferrari · 1996–2006
Chapter 03

The Record Book

He retired in 2006 holding the records for wins, pole positions and podium finishes, then returned at 41 with the new Mercedes team under Ross Brawn. Three seasons brought one podium, at Valencia in 2012, and a final pole at Monaco. His 91 wins stood until 2020 and his seven titles were equalled the same year; the record of 77 fastest laps still stands. On 29 December 2013, a year after his last race, he suffered a severe head injury while skiing at Méribel.

Mercedes · 2010–2012
Career Timeline

Michael Schumacher Career Timeline: 1969–Present

Born in Hürth

Michael Schumacher is born on 3 January in Hürth, North Rhine-Westphalia, and starts karting at the age of four.

European karting champion

Wins the Karting European Championship, the result that opens the way to single-seaters.

German F3 champion

Takes the German Formula Three title and wins the Macau Grand Prix, while racing sportscars for Sauber Mercedes.

Formula 1 debut at Spa

Debuts for Jordan at the Belgian Grand Prix and is signed by Benetton for the rest of the season.

First Grand Prix win

Wins at Spa-Francorchamps, one year to the weekend after his debut at the same circuit.

First World Championship

Wins eight races and takes the title after a collision with Damon Hill at the final round in Adelaide.

Second title with Benetton

Nine victories and 102 points make him the youngest double World Champion at the time.

Moves to Ferrari

Joins a team without a drivers' championship since 1979, and wins three races in his first season.

Broken leg at Silverstone

A brake failure at Stowe ends his title challenge and keeps him out for six races.

Ferrari's first title in 21 years

Beats Mika Häkkinen to give Ferrari its first drivers' championship since Jody Scheckter in 1979.

Seventh World Championship

Wins thirteen of eighteen races, the fifth title in a row and the last of his career.

Return with Mercedes

Comes out of retirement at 41 for the new Mercedes team, scoring one podium in three seasons.

Skiing accident

On 29 December he suffers a severe head injury skiing at Méribel; his family has asked for privacy since.

By the Numbers

Michael Schumacher F1 Career Record, Season by Season

Michael Schumacher season-by-season record: team, wins, poles, podiums, points and final standing.
SeasonTeamWins PolesPodiumsPointsPos.
1991 Jordan · Benetton 0 0 0 4 14
1992 Benetton 1 0 8 53 3
1993 Benetton 1 0 9 52 4
1994 Benetton 8 6 10 92 1
1995 Benetton 9 4 11 102 1
1996 Ferrari 3 4 8 59 3
1997 Ferrari 5 3 8 78 DSQ
1998 Ferrari 6 3 11 86 2
1999 Ferrari 2 3 6 44 5
2000 Ferrari 9 9 12 108 1
2001 Ferrari 9 11 14 123 1
2002 Ferrari 11 7 17 144 1
2003 Ferrari 6 5 8 93 1
2004 Ferrari 13 8 15 148 1
2005 Ferrari 1 1 5 62 3
2006 Ferrari 7 4 12 121 2
2010 Mercedes 0 0 0 72 9
2011 Mercedes 0 0 0 76 8
2012 Mercedes 0 0 1 49 13

Championship seasons are highlighted. Career totals: 91 wins · 68 pole positions · 155 podiums · 1,566 points from 308 Grand Prix entries and 306 starts. He was disqualified from the 1997 championship after the collision with Jacques Villeneuve at Jerez, having finished second on points. Figures verified 28 July 2026.

Michael Schumacher in his own words

In His Own Words
I enjoyed most of it. It wasn't as successful as before but I still learned a lot for life. I found that losing can be both more difficult and more instructive than winning.
Michael Schumacher · on his Mercedes years · Formula1.com Hall of Fame
Frequently Asked

Michael Schumacher: Frequently Asked Questions

How many championships did Michael Schumacher win?

Seven: 1994 and 1995 with Benetton, then 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 with Ferrari. He held the record alone until Lewis Hamilton equalled it in 2020.

How many races did Michael Schumacher win?

91, from 308 entries and 306 starts, along with 68 pole positions and 155 podium finishes. All three were records when he retired in 2006.

What records does Michael Schumacher still hold?

The most fastest laps in Formula 1 history, with 77. He also remains the only driver to win five consecutive World Championships, from 2000 to 2004.

Which teams did Michael Schumacher drive for?

Four: Jordan for a single race in 1991, Benetton from 1991 to 1995, Ferrari from 1996 to 2006, and Mercedes from 2010 to 2012.

Why is Michael Schumacher associated with Ferrari?

He joined in 1996 when the team had not won a drivers' championship since 1979, brought Ross Brawn and Rory Byrne with him, and won five consecutive titles from 2000. Jackie Stewart considered the transformation of Ferrari his greatest achievement.

What happened to Michael Schumacher?

On 29 December 2013 he suffered a severe head injury in a skiing accident at Méribel in the French Alps and was placed in a medically induced coma. He has been cared for at home since September 2014. His family has asked for privacy, and little information about his condition has been made public.

Is Mick Schumacher related to Michael Schumacher?

Yes. Mick Schumacher is his son and raced in Formula 1 for Haas in 2021 and 2022. Michael's brother Ralf Schumacher also raced in Formula 1 and won six Grands Prix.

References

Sources & Further Reading

Every statistic on this page is drawn from the following records.

  1. Michael Schumacher — Hall of Fame profile · Formula1.com (official)
  2. Michael Schumacher driver database · Motor Sport Magazine
  3. Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile · FIA, governing body records
  4. Michael Schumacher — official site · Official
  5. Michael Schumacher · Wikipedia
  6. List of career achievements by Michael Schumacher · Wikipedia
  7. Michael Schumacher (Q9671) · Wikidata entity record

How this page is made

Rider profiles are compiled from official series records and cross-checked against independent statistical databases before publication.

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