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Michael Schumacher by emperornie- Wikimedia commons

Top Ten Amazing Facts about Michael Schumacher

Michael Schumacher is a former German racing driver. He was born on 3 January 1969. He was born in the West German town of Hurth, North Rhine-Westphalia. He was born to Rolf, a bricklayer (who later ran the kart track), and Elisabeth Schumacher, who operated the track’s canteen.

The parents of course were a working-class family. Schumacher competed in Formula One. He married Corina Betsch, a German animal rights activist and accomplished horse rider. The two were blessed with two children. In the article are the top ten amazing facts about Michael Schumacher.

1. He has seven World Drivers’ Championship titles

Michael Schumacher byDirk Goldhahn-

Formula One is abbreviated as F1. It is the highest rank of open-wheeled auto racing defined by the Federation Internationale de I’Automobile. FIA is the motorsport’s world governing body. The “formula” in the name refers to a set of rules all participants and cars must adhere to. Grands Prix is a series of races in F1

Michael held all his records in Formula One at the time of his retirement. He retired in 2012. He held the record for the most wins which were 91, pole positions (68), podium finishes (155), and the record for the fastest laps (77). There were other records but these ones were the major records of concern.

2. His younger brother also was a racer in Formula One

Ralf Schumacher by 9EkieraM1 –

This is quite entertaining! Ralf Schumacher born on 30th June 1975, a German former racing driver, was the younger brother of the seven-time Formula One World Champion Michael Schumacher! Isn’t that awesome that the pair from one family all were into racing? Well, that’s quite entertaining apparently.

Ralf first drove in Formula One with Jordan Grand Prix for the 1997 season. He moved to the Williams team in 1999 where he finished 6th. In 2001, he won his first Grandprix and appeared fourth in the Driver’s Championship. Ralf won five more races in the course of two years.

The brothers were the only siblings to win races in Formula One. They were also they were the first siblings to finish first and second in the same race. This was a feat repeated in four subsequent races.

3. Michael Schumacher is an ambassador for UNESCO

UNESCO is an abbreviation for the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. The United Nations body is aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences, and culture.

The body has 193 member states and 11 associate members. Schumacher has been involved in humanitarian projects as an ambassador for UNESCO. He has donated tens of millions of dollars to charity

4. Schumacher’s brain injury scandal

Well, some hobbies can be fatal in case of accidents. In December 2013, Michael Schumacher suffered a severe brain injury in a skiing accident. The Formula One legend hit his head on a rock while skiing off-piste in the French Alps. He was with his son Mick who was 14 then.

Schumacher was placed in a medically induced coma after two surgeries. The oma lasted until 2014. He was left in the hospital in Grenoble for further rehabilitation at the Lausanne University Hospital. Later he was transferred to his home for further treatment and rehabilitation.

5. Schumacher started racing at a young age

Michael Schumacher by Srikrishna Narasimhan –

After Michael crashed his pedal kart at the age of 4, his parents took him to the karting track at Kerpen-Horrem. Karting is a road racing variant of motorsport with open-wheel, four-wheeled vehicles known as go-karts or shifter karts. Michael became the youngest player at Kerpen-Horrem.

His father built him a kart from discarded parts. when he was six, Michael won his first club championship. Since his parents were not well off in terms of wealth, Michael was supported by the local businessmen.

6. Michael is the first racer to get a driving license at a young age

Michael joined the kart track at a young age. He also started winning the championship at a young age. However, regulations in German require a driver to be at least 14 years old so as to obtain a kart license. This was an exception for Schumacher.

He received his kart license when he was 12 years old. Isn’t that cool? Like how can a country go against its own set of regulations to make an exemption for a racer? Well, I guess the race and wins are what matter and not the occasion. He obtained his German license in 1983, a year when after he won the German Junior Kart Championship.

7. Michael Schumacher’s accident with Derek Warwick

It was during the 1991 430 km of Nurburgring when Michael was involved in the accident with Derek Warwick. Actually, this was the fifth round of the 1991 World Sportscar Championship season. Schumacher was trying to set his flying lap in qualifying when he encountered Warwick’s Jaguar on a slow lap. This resulted in lost time for Schumacher.

Schumacher swerved his Sauber into Warwick’s car since he was on his way. He hit Jaguar’s nose and front wheel. Warwick became enraged to the extent that he wanted to be physical with Schumacher. Fortunately, several mechanics and Jochen Mass, Schumacher’s assistant intervened to prevent Warwick from fighting.

8. He is nicknamed The Rain King

Michael Schumacher by

In 2003, Motosport author Christopher Hilton observed Schumacher’s capabilities. In him was a measure of a driver’s capabilities in his performances in wet races, because the most delicate car control and sensitivity are needed.

His records in wet races involved very minimal mistakes. Schumacher won 17 of the 30 races in wet conditions he contested. Some of his best performances occurred in wet conditions. Thus, he was given the name “Rain King”

9. Schumacher is also known as The Red Baron

Michael Schumacher Ferrari by Rick Dikeman-

The Red Baron originates from Schumacher’s career with the Ferrari. He joined the Ferrari team in 1996. He was paid a salary of $60 million over two years. He joined Ferrari while the vehicle was badly reputed. Its famous V12 engine was no longer competitive against the smaller, lighter, and more fuel-efficient V10s by the competitors.

Schumacher was one of the team members that have been credited for turning the struggling team, into the most successful team in Formula one history. Jackie Stewart the Three-time World Champion believed the transformation of the Ferrari team was Schumacher’s greatest feat.

10. Schumacher helped develop the first lightweight carbon helmet

Michael Schumacher helmet by Morio –

This was not Schumacher’s only effort but he worked in conjunction with Schuberth, a German producer of safety helmets. In 2004 the prototype was publicly tested by being driven over by a tank. The helmet surely survived intact.
Schumacher has been honored many times. In 1992 he was awarded by the German

Motorsport Federation 1992 the ONS Cup, the highest accolade in German motorsport. In 1993, he won the Bambin Sports Award. He was also the first player to receive the Golden Steering Wheel and many more.