The Flying German

There have been many great race car drivers through racing history, but almost none of them have achieved what Michael Schumacher has during his entire career. A motor sport enthusiast since childhood, Schumacher, whose career spawns from the late 80s up until now, has achieved almost everything a race car driver could wish for: world championships, lap records, most-wins, most podiums, countless awards, etc. This is why according to many experts he is one of the most important and influential sportsmen in Formula One history, and perhaps in racing history too.

Michael Schumacher's origins were as ordinary as any other person alive. He grew up in the small town of Hurth-HermÑŒlheim in Germany, where his father run a small kart track where Michael and his brother Ralf, who is also a Formula 1 driver, would drive small karts that their father build for them. Around that time, his passion for motor sports started to grow dramatically even after suffering some accidents in his small machine, like crashing into a lamppost several times. He started to compete in many regional kart championships where he would win frequently. His parents, realizing his son's potential, arranged many sponsorship deals with wealthy enthusiasts that helped the young Michael to work his way up the ranks (Donaldson). Between 1986 and 1990 Michael won many national and European competitions, including the German and European Kart championships, his greatest triumphs yet. His winning streak continued through much of the late 80s, he also won many races in Japan and Mexico. He managed to clinch the German Formula 3000 championship in 1990 too. This achievement caught the attention of many Formula One team principals who saw in Michael a future Formula One star. In 1991 he tested for some Formula One teams whom where impressed by Michael's speed. During one of this tests at Silverstone, England; he greatly impressed Jordan Grand Prix team principal Eddie Jordan, who at the time was looking for a driver who could replace Bertrand Gachot behind the wheel of one his cars. Michael convinced him that he would not disappoint him and with some help from Bernie Ecclestone (Codling and Clarkson 43) he made his Formula One debut at the Belgian Grand Prix of that year where he shocked the entire world by delivering a great performance even though he was a rookie. Michael's longtime dream of making it into Formula One became a reality that October.

After only one but very impressive race during his maiden season in Formula One, he was quickly snatched by the Benetton team thanks to smart negotiations between Michael's agent and Tom Walkinshaw, who at the time was a key member in the team (Codling and Clarkson 44). With this new team Michael spent 4 great seasons. During the first 2, 1992 - 1993, Michael kept demonstrating to the world why he was considered by many the next king of Formula One, especially after showing that he was capable of winning races despite of being driving a bad car. A good example of this happened during the Grand Prix of Portugal in 1993 where he beat 4-time world champion Alain Prost and another former world champion, Ayrton Senna. Michael considers this race one of his bests (Bijganath). Michael reached the pinnacle of motor sports in 1994 when he became Formula One world champion after a very dramatic season. In 1995 he repeated this feat when he clinched the championship again; thus, becoming a two-time Formula One world champion. In 1996