Schumi: Still the very Best... Review on Michael Schumacher

For those who thought that Michael Schumacher is down and out and must retire, just beware and take a note of yesterday’s San Marino Grand Prix held at Imola, Italy that incidentally is also Ferrari’s Home Grand Prix.

All of you who have seen the Race would surely agree with me on inspite of driving a less powerful car than Renault’s Fernando Alonso, the Great Schumi held off his challenge for most part of the race and then won the race, I mean it shows that he still is the best and Alonso has still a very long way to reach the heights which Schumi has already reached.

Michael Schumacher was born on 3rd January 1969 in Cologne, Germany and began Kart Racing at the tender age of 4 and half years and used a homemade Kart made by his Dad. He started competitive racing at 12 when he got his license. He won various German and European kart championships, till 1991 he prepared himself for the big league.

Schumi made his F1 debut in 1991 for Jordan at the 1991 Belgian Grand Prix. (Our own fastest Indian Narain Karthikeyan also debuted with Jordan !!!) Schumi surprised everybody by qualifying at seventh position and outracing his much experienced Team Mate. After his smashing debut Benetton quickly signed him, and in 1992 he won his maiden Grand Prix at Belgium. In 1994 Schumi won his first World Championship and repeated his performance in 1995.

In 1996 Schumi took his biggest risk and signed with Ferrari considering that they had not won a race since 1979, but believe me it paid off well and it is seen to be believed !!! Till 1999 he could not win a single championship but nevertheless won 16 races in these 4 years (Quite less by Schumi’s standards). Ferrari won the Constructors Title in 1999 inspite of Schumi’s accident in the British Grand Prix due to which he could not compete in 6 races that year.

2000 saw Return of Schumi as the champion after a gap of 4 years and he won 9 races that year. He repeated his performance in 2001,2002,2003 and 2004 winning a total of 48 races in these 5 years, quite amazing !!!.

The 2005 Season was a bad season for Schumi and the year which saw the successful face of the young and dashing Fernando Alonso, Schumi just won 1 race and that too a Controversial four driver US Grand Prix.

He has started quite well in the 2006 season and as of now he is second and 15 points behind Alonso and has one race and finished twice on the Podium.

And now take a look at some awe-inspiring Statistics, Schumi holds the World Records for the following:

1. Most F1 Race Wins: 85

   
   




2. Most race wins with one team: 66

   
   




3. Most podium finishes: 144

   
   




4. Most second place finishes: 40

   
   




5. Most points finishes: 177

   
   




6. Most pole positions: 66

   
   




7. Most race wins from pole position: 38

   
   




8. Most championship points: 1,269

   
   




9. Most championship titles: 7

   
   




10. Most consecutive race wins: 7

    
    




11. Most race wins in a season: 13 (in 18 races)

    
    




12. Most podium finishes in a season: 17 (in 17 races)

    
    

Schumi has also won the coveted Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award in 2002 and 2004. He joins the elite group of sports personalities to win the award - golfer Tiger Woods, cyclist Lance Armstrong and tennis player Roger Federer.

Schumi married Corinna Betsch in August 1995 and have two children, daughter Gina-Maria and son Mick and live in Vufflens-le-Château, Switzerland.

In 2005, Schumacher donated US$10 million to charity for the 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake. In fact, his donation surpassed that of any other sportsperson, most sports leagues, many worldwide corporations and even some countries.

Now after so much of adulation and success Schumi has nothing left to prove and I believe he would finish as the Greatest Race Driver to adorn this Planet Earth and now he is enjoying all the races and inspite of being 36 years old he still is supreme fit and ready to give a challenge to a much younger Alonso, so what his 2005 season was bad. Wait till the end of 2006 Season believe me this is going to one of the most keenly fought F1 Season and may the best driver win.

All the Schumi Critics and Cynics out there just keep your mouths Shut and wait till the end of 2006…. I am not trying to sound rude but I really feel sad when people say that its time that Schumi Retires.

P.S.: Wishing our Great Indian Sachin Tendulkar a smashing 33rd Birthday and praying for him successful and injury-free years ahead.