Michael Schumacher: 15 things you may not know about the F1 legend

Michael Schumacher is a motorsport legend whose status has often overshadowed the man underneath it all. Following his much-publicized accident in 2013, the narrative around Schumacher is focused more on his health than anything else. Today we look at the all the great and quirky aspects of the F1 GOATS career and personality.

Despite winning seven championships, Schumacher singled out his 2000 World Championship – his third world title – with Ferrari as his most emotional. The win at Suzuka ended Ferrari’s 21-year title drought, and the sheer weight of that achievement brought Schumacher to tears on the podium.

Schumacher grew up around karting, with his father Rolf managing a track in Kerpen, Germany. This gave him early access to racing, allowing him to refine his skills from a young age, as RTR Sports recounted. He later supported his son Mick’s karting journey on the same tracks.

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Schumacher respected all his competitors, but he held Mika Hakkinen in the highest regard. Their duels in the late 1990s and early 2000s were intense but clean, a rivalry built on mutual admiration and sportsmanship.

But it wasn't just the sport's elite that Schumacher respected – he never underestimated any Formula 1 driver and studied them all. "To develop yourself, to find other steps, you look at the car, yourself and other drivers," he said as reported by Formula 1 media. "You don't just look at the front drivers, you look at everybody. Because everybody has something special that I wanted to know."

In 2007, Schumacher took the wheel of a slow taxi driver in Germany to get his family to the airport in time. "It was sheer lunacy," taxi driver Tuncer Yilmaz recalled, speaking to Muenchener Abendzeitung.

Photo Credit: Mike Tsitas on Unsplash

One of F1's 'Rain Masters' (or 'Regenmeister' in German, if you will) Schumacher was unmatched in wet-weather conditions in his time. His 1996 Spanish Grand Prix victory, where he dominated in torrential rain in a struggling Ferrari, is often regarded as one of the greatest performances in F1 history.

When Schumacher joined Ferrari in 1996, the team was far from its former glory. Over five seasons, he worked tirelessly with engineers and team principal Jean Todt to transform Ferrari into a championship-winning powerhouse, leading to five consecutive titles from 2000 to 2004.

On that note, Schumacher was known for his technical feedback, often helping engineers improve car setups. His meticulous approach to detail made him more than just a driver; he was an integral part of his team’s development process.

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Off the track, Schumacher had a deep love for football. He was a lifelong 1. FC Köln fan and his sporting hero was German national team goalkeeper Toni Schumacher. He frequently played in charity matches and was occasionally played for Swiss club FC Echichens when time away from the track was permitted. His athleticism and competitive nature shone in every match.

It's crazy to think, but Schumacher was never comfortable about his ability on the track. For much of the seven-time world champions' career, he struggled with immense self-doubt. "I always felt I wasn't good enough and I needed to work on myself. That was one of the recipes that made me what I became," he said, as reported by F1 media.

Schumacher often wore an African Shamballa bracelet (pictured) for good luck. After his skiing accident in 2013, the bracelet was reportedly recovered from the snow at the crash site, a poignant reminder of his vibrant past.

Those not so au fait with the sport would not imagine fitness was an essential part, and in fact it wasn't always – Michael Schumacher changed that. His unprecedented levels of fitness and training regime gave him an edge over his competitors that ultimately set the standard for what it took to be an F1 driver.

After retiring from F1 in 2006, Schumacher briefly ventured into motorcycle racing, even competing in professional events, such as the IDM Superbike Championship. While he didn’t achieve the same level of success, it was a moved that highlighted his sheer love of motorsport in all forms.

Schumacher was deeply committed to giving back. He donated millions to UNESCO, disaster relief efforts, and even funded a hospital for war victims in Sarajevo, as Newstalk reported. His donation to UNESCO alone was a reported €1.5m (approximately £1.3m/$1.6m). Despite his fame, he rarely sought recognition for his charitable acts.

Showing off his fun side, Schumacher lent his voice to the 'Michael Schumacher Ferrari' character in Pixar’s 'Cars' (2006), making a brief but memorable appearance. He recorded his lines in the multiple languages – English, German and Italian – which he was fluent in.

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