Michael Schumacher: 50 Years of Brilliance - Part 1
- Muhammad Humais
- Dec 29, 2018
- 2 min read
Updated: Jan 7, 2019
On this day, 5 years ago, one of greatest drivers of all time in F1 suffered an incident that changed him forever. On 18th December 2018, several sources confirmed he can move around and recognize people. That man was Michael Schumacher, one of most influential drivers in the sport and most successful driver ever. And yet he won another battle, battle of death and life. As 3rd January marks his 50th Birthday, here is the look back into the life of a legend, whose legacy remains unmatched to this day despite ups and downs in his career.
Early life and Karting days
Michael was born on 3rd January 1969 in Hurth, Germany. He belonged to a middle class family. Yet he had some spark inside him that his father sensed and took him to local karting track, after he crashed his pedal kart powered by a motorcycle engine. His father: Rolf Schumacher built a kart for him from some parts and at age of six, Michael won his first championship. To further fuel his racing passion, his parents did multiple jobs but his parents couldn't really afford it. Yet as a young talent, he caught the sight of local businessmen as well as industrialists and continued.
Schumacher got his first license at age of 12, but from Luxembourg to quickly get into racing. He won the German Junior Karting Championship before getting his license in 1983. From 1984, he won several European and German championships, with great drivers like Allan McNish.
Formula Racing and a Short Career in Endurance Racing
In 1988, Schumacher got first taste of racing a single-seater car and won Formula Koenig.
He joined the Willi Weber's F3 team in 1989 and won the Macau GP as well as 1990 Championship.
Everyone by now was already quite sure that Michael would join F3000 and make his way to F1 but he, instead, joined World Sportscar Championship as advised by his F3 team boss so he could have experience in powerful cars and gain confidence through press conference. That thing polished him and he got stronger.
He joined Mercedes in 1990 World Sportscar Championship season, racing Sauber C11, getting 9th position after winning race in Mexico, but only joining 3 races. He continued through 1991 and won race in Autopolis as well as 5th position in Le Mans 24 Hours race.
One important thing to note through his short Sportscar career was, he was always hungry and passionate for competition. In the 430 km Nurburgring race, he ran into Derek Warwick since Schumacher lost time in the Qualifying session and wanted to take revenge from Warwick. As Warwick pitted, he chased Schumacher through pits and almost physically hit Schumacher, only to be prevented by Jochen Mass.
While he won the F3000 Championship, a team owner by the name of Eddie Jordan, decided to give him his drive at 1991 Belgian Grand Prix. This was just the beginning of the era for a future legend. An ever-fighting warrior for the rest of his life...
Shahmir Khan
Editor-in-Chief WEC & WRC, Member news desk.
In his own words, “17-year-old guy who is avid motorsports gamer. Petrolhead, die-hard F1 and motorsports fan and loves to write about cars and motorsports.”
Shahmir can be easily reached by the following address:
Gmail: shahmirkhan9181@gmail.com
Although his stats have been greater, for me, he has never been on Senna's level of fierceness and toughness.
He was a legendary driver indeed. Keep fighting Michael.