Love him or hate him, there is only one Michael Schumacher. Some of his previous teammates still seem bitter about how bad he made them look but Eddie Irvine best sums up what it was like to try to match Schumacher every grand prix weekend in the same car. Irvine; "It's like being hit over the head with a cricket bat every couple of weeks".
Murray Walker, who has first hand witnessed every legend partake in the sport from the creation of the Formula One World Championship in 1950 to present day gives his thoughts on Michael Schumacher.
To give an idea of Michael Schumacher's incredible talent, in the 10 years from his first full season in 1992 to the end of the 2001 season before qualifying went into idiotic format, the average difference between him and his teammate was a massive 1.090s. The head to head qualifying battle between him and the only other person in the same car was a ridiculous 150-8 hammering over that same 10 year period. Schumacher's average grid spot was 2.7, his teammates 7.5.
To give the stats some more context, Schumacher out-qualified every team-mate he had at every grand prix from the end of the 1991 season until the start of the 1996 season, with the exception of the 1995 Belgian GP when it started to rain and Schumacher hadn’t set a lap in the dry. Incidentally that weekend he qualified 15th and still went on to win the race in typically spectacular Spa wet weather driving fashion.
From Schumacher's first full season in 1992 to his first retirement in 2006 his race head to head with teammates was a staggering 113-23 in races both finished. Average finish position for Schumacher was 2.5 and for his teammates 5.2 over that same 15 year period.
(Click link for an overview of Senna vs Schumacher (1991-1994) cross referencing their teammates)
The breakdown of Michael Schumacher's performances against teammates-
1991
Michael Schumacher vs Andrea de Cesaris (One Grand Prix)
Qualifying
7.0 vs 11.0 (average qualifying position)
1 vs 0 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed qualifying)
0.774s (average lap-time Schumacher was faster by)
Race
0 vs 0 (average finishing position)
0 vs 0 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed race)
Michael Schumacher vs Nelson Piquet
Qualifying
7.3 vs 8.3 (average qualifying position)
4 vs 1 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed qualifying)
0.108s (average lap-time Schumacher was faster by)
Race
5.7 vs 6.0 (average finishing position)
2 vs 1 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed race)
1992
Michael Schumacher vs Martin Brundle
Qualifying
4.7 vs 7.4 (average qualifying position)
16 vs 0 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed qualifying)
1.019s (average lap-time Schumacher was faster by)
Race
3.2 vs 3.6 (average finishing position)
4 vs 3 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed race)
1993
Michael Schumacher vs Riccardo Patrese
Qualifying
3.8 vs 7.6 (average qualifying position)
16 vs 0 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed qualifying)
1.147s (average lap-time Schumacher was faster by)
Race
2.2 vs 6.4 (average finishing position)
5 vs 0 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed race)
1994
Michael Schumacher vs Jos Verstappen
Qualifying
2.1 vs 10.8 (average qualifying position)
8 vs 0 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed qualifying)
1.920s (average lap-time Schumacher was faster by)
Race
1.0 vs 4.7 (average finishing position)
1 vs 0 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed race)
Michael Schumacher vs JJ Lehto
Qualifying
1.3 vs 13 (average qualifying position)
6 vs 0 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed qualifying)
2.287s (average lap-time Schumacher was faster by)
Race
1.4 vs 7.7 (average finishing position)
2 vs 0 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed race)
Michael Schumacher vs Johnny Herbert
Qualifying
1.5 vs 6.0 (average qualifying position)
2 vs 0 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed qualifying)
1.075s (average lap-time Schumacher was faster by)
Race
0 vs 0 (average finishing position)
0 vs 0 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed race)
1995
Michael Schumacher vs Johnny Herbert
Qualifying
2.9 vs 7.4 (average qualifying position)
16 vs 1 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed qualifying)
1.357s (average lap-time Schumacher was faster by)
Race
2.3 vs 4.2 (average finishing position)
9 vs 0 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed race)
1996
Michael Schumacher vs Eddie Irvine
Qualifying
2.6 vs 7.9 (average qualifying position)
15 vs 1 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed qualifying)
0.856s (average lap-time Schumacher was faster by)
Race
4.7 vs 10.2 (average finishing position)
3 vs 0 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed race)
1997
Michael Schumacher vs Eddie Irvine
Qualifying
3.6 vs 9.4 (average qualifying position)
16 vs 1 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed qualifying)
0.754s (average lap-time Schumacher was faster by)
Race
2.8 vs 6.7 (average finishing position)
7 vs 0 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed race)
1998
Michael Schumacher vs Eddie Irvine
Qualifying
3.1 vs 5.4 (average qualifying position)
15 vs 1 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed qualifying)
0.710s (average lap-time Schumacher was faster by)
Race
2.6 vs 3.8 (average finishing position)
10 vs 1 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed race)
1999 (Schumacher out most of year with a broken leg and gifts Irvine the win in Malaysia for Eddie's title bid)
Michael Schumacher vs Eddie Irvine
Qualifying
2.7 vs 5.3 (average qualifying position)
9 vs 1 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed qualifying)
0.871s (average lap-time Schumacher was faster by)
Race
3.0 vs 3.0 (average finishing position)
5 vs 2 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed race)
2000
Michael Schumacher vs Rubens Barrichello
Qualifying
2.0 vs 4.8 (average qualifying position)
15 vs 2 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed qualifying)
0.483s (average lap-time Schumacher was faster by)
Race
1.6 vs 2.8 (average finishing position)
8 vs 1 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed race)
2001
Michael Schumacher vs Rubens Barrichello
Qualifying
1.7 vs 4.5 (average qualifying position)
16 vs 1 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed qualifying)
0.600s (average lap-time Schumacher was faster by)
Race
1.5 vs 3.9 (average finishing position)
10 vs 1 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed race)
2002
Michael Schumacher vs Rubens Barrichello
Qualifying
1.8 vs 2.9 (average qualifying position)
13 vs 4 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed qualifying)
0.227s (average lap-time Schumacher was faster by)
Race
1.4 vs 2.3 (average finishing position)
8 vs 4 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed race)
2003
Michael Schumacher vs Rubens Barrichello (From here until Schumacher's comeback qualifying gets a bit rubbish as many gimmick systems are brought in which makes analysis a bit hit and miss) (Single lap system this year)
Qualifying
4.3 vs 3.6 (average qualifying position)
10 vs 6 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed qualifying)
-0.121s (average lap-time Schumacher was faster by)
Race
3.6 vs 3.5 (average finishing position)
7 vs 4 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed race)
2004
Michael Schumacher vs Rubens Barrichello (Race fuel qualifying system this year)
Qualifying
3.4 vs 4.7 (average qualifying position)
13 vs 5 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed qualifying)
0.646s (average lap-time Schumacher was faster by)
Race
2.1 vs 3.1 (average finishing position)
13 vs 3 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed race)
2005
Michael Schumacher vs Rubens Barrichello (Unfortunately the ridiculous race fuel qualifying system still continues)
Qualifying
8.5 vs 10.7 (average qualifying position)
12 vs 7 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed qualifying)
0.198s (average lap-time Schumacher was faster by)
Race
4.7 vs 7.5 (average finishing position)
10 vs 1 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed race)
2006
Michael Schumacher vs Felipe Massa (Race fuel qualifying system is replaced by bizarre complicated fuel burn off system)
Qualifying
3.8 vs 6.1 (average qualifying position)
14 vs 4 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed qualifying)
0.357s (average lap-time Schumacher was faster by)
Race
2.6 vs 4.4 (average finishing position)
11 vs 3 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed race)
2010
Michael Schumacher vs Nico Rosberg (Proper qualifying again)
Qualifying
9.4 vs 7.3 (average qualifying position)
5 vs 14 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed qualifying)
-0.153s (average lap-time Schumacher was faster by)
Race
6.5 vs 8.6 (average finishing position)
3 vs 11 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed race)
2011
Michael Schumacher vs Nico Rosberg
Qualifying
10.3 vs 7.6 (average qualifying position)
3 vs 16 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed qualifying)
-0.411s (average lap-time Schumacher was faster by)
Race
4.7 vs 7.5 (average finishing position)
6 vs 7 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed race)
2012
Michael Schumacher vs Nico Rosberg
Qualifying
9.0 vs 9.5 (average qualifying position)
10 vs 10 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed qualifying)
0.113s (average lap-time Schumacher was faster by)
Race
7.5 vs 8.8 (average finishing position)
7 vs 3 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed race)
Formula 1 World Championship Standings - Michael Schumacher
(Full seasons which doesn't include 1991 & 1999)
1992 3rd (1st Mansell - Williams, 2nd Patrese - Williams, 3rd Schumacher Benetton, 4th Senna - McLaren) (Teammate Brundle 6th)
1993 4th (1st Prost - Williams, 2nd Senna - McLaren, 3rd Hill - Williams, 4th Schumacher Benetton)(Teammate Patrese 5th)
1994 1st Schumacher - Benetton (Various teammates)
1995 1st Schumacher - Benetton, (Teammate Herbert 4th)
1996 3rd (1st Hill - Williams, 3rd Schumacher - Ferrari) (Teammate Irvine 10th)
1997 2nd (1st Villeneuve - Williams, 2nd Schumacher - Ferrari disqualified) (Teammate Irvine 7th)
1998 2nd (1st Hakkinen - McLaren, 2nd Schumacher - Ferrari) (Teammate Irvine 4th)
2000 1st Schumacher - Ferrari (Teammate Barrichello 4th)
2001 1st Schumacher - Ferrari (Teammate Barrichello 3rd)
2002 1st Schumacher - Ferrari (Teammate Barrichello 2nd)
2003 1st Schumacher - Ferrari (Teammate Barrichello 4th)
2004 1st Schumacher - Ferrari (Teammate Barrichello 2nd)
2005 3rd (1st Alonso - Renault, 3rd Schumacher - Ferrari) (Teammate Barrichello 8th)
2006 2nd (1st Alonso - Renault, 2nd Schumacher - Ferrari) (Teammate Massa 3rd)
2010 9th (1st Vettel - Red Bull, 9th Schumacher Mercedes) (Teammate Rosberg 7th)
2011 8th (1st Vettel - Red Bull, 8th Schumacher Mercedes) (Teammate Rosberg 7th)
2012 13th (1st Vettel - Red Bull, 13th Schumacher Mercedes) (Teammate Rosberg 9th)
Michael Schumacher was beaten on points in the 3 years against Nico Rosberg. When one looks below the surface it reveals a different insight. Schumacher was well beaten in 2010 in the first year of his comeback but 2011 and 2012 are very different stories.
In 2011 we have a mild foretaste of what was to come in 2012 in Schumacher's side of the Mercedes garage. 5 DNF's compared to Rosberg's 2. Schumacher's were puncture, airbox fire, gearbox, one accident his own fault and the other not. Rosberg's were 2 accidents with neither his fault.
2012 was Michael Schumacher's strongest year at Mercedes and he would have been easily ahead of Nico Rosberg if not for multiple car failures.
Schumacher was in the top 3 in the first 3 races of 2012 only to retire with a gearbox failure in Australia, spun by Roman Grosjean and sent to the back of the pack in Mayalsia and then retire in China when his wheel was fitted incorrectly.
In Bahrain, qualifying was destroyed by a faulty DRS, Monaco - fuel pickup failure and just for good measure hit by Grosjean at the start again, Canada - no second flying lap because team miscalculated time needed but also for good measure a stuck DRS in the race leading to a 5th retirement in 7 races.
Michael Schumacher finished the season with a further two car failures. He never saw the chequered flag in 8 out of 20 races. Two of those times being incidents he was found at fault and very severally punished for which included loosing his pole at Monaco with a 5 place grid penalty and a 10 place grid penalty at Suzuka.
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Highlighted below are a collection of races that help to cast some light on Michael Schumacher's enormous brilliance behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car. Notice nearly all are from the 1990's when the stats above show Schumacher was at his best or perhaps more likely the cars then allowed the driver to make more of a difference than latter years.
In a recent interview with Auto Motor und Sport, Schumacher spoke of the greater difference the driver used to make rather than the all importance of the car in recent years. Schumacher; "In my early days, there was always the chance to be quicker than another driver not just by a couple of tenths, but a full second.
"Why? Because the cars aerodynamically were not so balanced and were therefore very sharp to drive. As a driver, you then had many more possibilities yourself. Today, the cars are aerodynamically stable and well balanced; the window in which you work is not as big."
Included are highlight clips of the races from the BBC archive, some extensive. Unfortunately the clips can only be viewed in the UK but if links are made to YouTube videos of race footage they will only be taken down by FOM.
In chronological order apart from the first which is arguably the best.
1996 Spanish Grand Prix
Perhaps Michael Schumacher's greatest performance and a prime example of why he is known as the Rain Meister. In a rain soaked Spanish GP in a car that was far from the best the Rain Meister isn't happy in just beating his rivals but in embarrassing them. Dropping to 9th after a poor start where he almost stalled, Schumacher starts to carve his way through the field.
On lap 12 Schumacher overtook Jacques Villeneuve for the lead and two laps later set the fastest lap of the race which was some 4 seconds quicker than 2nd and 3rd placed Villeneuve and Jean Alesi respectively were lapping. When Schumacher pitted on lap 24 he was 40 seconds ahead of the 2nd placed man and just before he pitted on lap 42 he was a staggering 90 seconds ahead and this despite having a sick sounding engine from lap 33. At the end the German legend had lapped the entire field up to 3rd position.
It later transpired his engine was on nine cylinders for a time but cured itself and the main problem was a broken exhaust. Williams senior operations engineer James Robinson best sumed up Schumacher's performance: "I don't think the Ferrari was that brilliant. It looked like it was on ice to me. That guy is something else. It was pretty amazing."
BBC highlights of race
1992 Belgian Grand Prix
The first of Michael Schumacher's 91 grand prix wins. A typical mixed weather day at Spa with Schumacher making the right call at the right time to go on slicks with pole man Nigel Mansell and 2nd place man Ayrton Senna making the wrong calls.
BBC highlights of race
1994 Brazilian Grand Prix
The race where the two legends were in a league of their own. Ayrton Senna is on pole with Michael Schumacher 2nd on the grid. Senna out-qualifies his teammate Damon Hill by 1.592 sec and 3 grid spots and Schumacher his teammate Jos Verstappen by 1.893 sec and 7 grid spots.
In the race Schumacher looses a place at the start to Jean Alesi. Schumacher gets by the French man on lap 2 but already a 4 second gap has opened to Senna in the lead. By the time both Senna and Schumacher pit for fuel on lap 21 the gap is down to 1 second and they enter the pitlane together. Benetton's pit stop is much faster than Williams and Schumacher leaves the pitlane in the lead.
Schumacher's lead was 10 seconds after the second pit stops, after which Senna started to close the gap. On lap 55 with the gap down to 5 seconds, Schumacher and Senna lap 3rd place man Damon Hill. The following lap, Senna spun his Williams and had to retire.
Schumacher ended up winning the race and in the process lapping everyone else.
Recently F1 Racing asked it's readers to quiz Michael Schumacher and one of the questions applied to this grand prix.
What's your best memory of Ayrton Senna? (Montero Moises, Spain)
This is very clear. It was Brazil 1994 when I beat him and he spun off while he was fighting with me. Actually, in a way, the fact that he spun off made me extra proud because he had this unbeatable nature about him.
Then there was the fact of where we came from in 1993 – in '94 this small Benetton team with the Ford engine was not supposed to be the best, but it was suddenly a very good package and we were able to run in front of the Williams. Then he spun off and I thought, 'Well, that was a good moment.'
Full Race YouTube
BBC highlights of race
1994 Spanish Grand Prix
Michael Schumacher started on pole and eased away from second place man Damon Hill. Around the first pit-stops Schumacher's car developed gear selection problems leaving it stuck in fifth gear(from a 6-speed gearbox). Despite being unable to use any other gear but fifth, Schumacher pitted twice without stalling and changed his whole driving style to finish 2nd behind Damon Hill.
In the post race press conference Schumacher mentioned that he’d lost all gears but 5th and nobody believed him until Benetton showed the press the telemetry from the car.
BBC highlights of race
1995 Belgian Grand Prix
Michael Schumacher wins in the usual mixed weather conditions at Spa after starting 16th on the grid.
BBC highlights of race
1997 Monaco Grand Prix
Michael Schumacher puts in another wet weather masterclass and wins by 53 seconds around the streets of Monaco.
Full Race Dailymotion
1998 Hungarian Grand Prix
Stuck behind David Coulthard's McLaren, Ferrari change Michael Schumacher's strategy to a 3 stop that would only work if Schumacher was able to do 19 qualiying laps in a row. The German legend went on to lap over a second faster than the McLaren's of Hakkinen and Coulthard, eventually building up a 27 second gap which was enough to give him time to stop again and come out in the lead.
The 7 time world champion speaking to the BBC in 2011 about the race; "This race sums up the great relationship I had - and still have - with Ross Brawn. We were behind the McLarens of Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard for the first part of the race and Ross decided that the only chance of beating them was to switch to a three-stop strategy - one stop more than them. It was a brilliant plan but it wasn't easy. I still remember the radio message from Ross that I had to make up something like 25 seconds in 19 laps.
BBC highlights of race
1998 Belgian Grand Prix
The Rain Meister walks on water again until a lapped David Coulthard lifts of in front of him totally unsighted. After a variety of accidents in the wet at the start of the race Schumacher takes the lead from Damon Hill and races away from the field at 3 seconds a lap quicker.
At nearly 37 seconds in the lead Schumacher came up to lap David Coulthard. After being instructed over the team radio to let Schumacher past, Coulthard slowed down, but stayed on the main racing line. Due to the spray behind Coulthard, Schumacher was completly unsighted and drove into the back of the Mclaren not expecting Coulthard to lift on the racing line in zero visibility conditions.
BBC highlights of race
1998 Japanese Grand Prix
A race where from qualifying Michael Schumacher and championship rival Mika Hakkinen were in a league of their own. Pole sitter Schumacher out qualifyed team mate Eddie Irvine by an incredible 2 seconds with 2nd on the grid Hakkinen out qualifying team mate David Coulthard by a second.
After an aborted start by Jarno Trulli stalling, Schumacher stalled on the next start and was sent to the back of the grid. From the back of the grid Schumacher made it up to third before suffering a right rear tyre explosion after running over debris from a crash between Esteban Tuero's Minardi and Tora Takagi's Tyrrell.
1999 Malaysian Grand Prix
Michael Schumacher returns from a broken leg and three month absense. He qualifies on pole at an incredible 0.947 seconds ahead of teammate Eddie Irvine in 2nd place. Irvine is in a titantic struggle with McLaren's Mika Hakkinen for the championship so it's time for Schumacher to play the number 2 driver.
In the race Schumacher first shows his superiority by stretching out a lead of 3.2 seconds after just 2 laps. On lap 4 he slows down to let Irvine pass and take the lead. Schumacher then precedes to keep Hakkinen behind to help Irvine in his title bid. Because Schumacher was on a one stop strategy he lets Irvine by a second time to take the lead and the win.
To sum up Schumacher hadn't dove an F1 car in anger in 3 months after breaking his leg. He puts it on pole by nearly a second and then plays the best number 2 driver in the history of Formula 1. He lets Irvine pass him twice and keeps his teammates title rival Hakkinen behind him the entire race.
Irvine speaking in the post-race press conference: "This guy (Schumacher) is depressing - not only is he the best number one (driver), he's also the best number two!"
2000 Japanese Grand Prix
The 7 time world champion again speaking to the BBC in 2011 about the race; "This is probably both the toughest and most beautiful race of my career. Mika and I were flat out all the way, really on the edge every lap on a great driver's circuit with the world championship at stake. And the race was really tricky because of changing conditions in the drizzle. I managed to get out ahead after my final pit stop and won. What makes it all the more special was that it was my first world title for Ferrari - this race certainly is my personal number one."
BBC highlights of race
2006 Brazilian Grand Prix
Michael Schumacher picks up a puncture and precedes to battle from 19th place and 10 seconds away from being lapped to bring his Ferrari home in 4th place. In the process he sets a fastest lap, 0.715s quicker than race winner and team mate Felipe Massa.
BBC highlights of race
2012 Monaco Grand Prix Qualifying
Beforehand the 43 year old legend said he was going to get pole and start 6th because of his prior penalty but then proceed to win the race from 6th.
Romain Grosjean ended any chance of the second part but the first part was special considering if the penalty didn't apply Schumacher would have been the oldest pole sitter since Jack Brabham in 1970.
Best I could get of the footage is below.
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A few video clips below.
Eddie Jordan who gave Schumacher his first opportunity in F1.
Ron Dennis tries to lure Schumacher to his team at McLaren.
Former British ex F1 drivers Damon Hill, John Watson and Johnny Herbert talk about what sets Michael Schumacher apart from the rest.
Michael Schumacher documentary.
More Michael Schumacher articles -
Murray Walker, who has first hand witnessed every legend partake in the sport from the creation of the Formula One World Championship in 1950 to present day gives his thoughts on Michael Schumacher.
To give an idea of Michael Schumacher's incredible talent, in the 10 years from his first full season in 1992 to the end of the 2001 season before qualifying went into idiotic format, the average difference between him and his teammate was a massive 1.090s. The head to head qualifying battle between him and the only other person in the same car was a ridiculous 150-8 hammering over that same 10 year period. Schumacher's average grid spot was 2.7, his teammates 7.5.
To give the stats some more context, Schumacher out-qualified every team-mate he had at every grand prix from the end of the 1991 season until the start of the 1996 season, with the exception of the 1995 Belgian GP when it started to rain and Schumacher hadn’t set a lap in the dry. Incidentally that weekend he qualified 15th and still went on to win the race in typically spectacular Spa wet weather driving fashion.
From Schumacher's first full season in 1992 to his first retirement in 2006 his race head to head with teammates was a staggering 113-23 in races both finished. Average finish position for Schumacher was 2.5 and for his teammates 5.2 over that same 15 year period.
(Click link for an overview of Senna vs Schumacher (1991-1994) cross referencing their teammates)
The breakdown of Michael Schumacher's performances against teammates-
1991
Michael Schumacher vs Andrea de Cesaris (One Grand Prix)
Qualifying
7.0 vs 11.0 (average qualifying position)
1 vs 0 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed qualifying)
0.774s (average lap-time Schumacher was faster by)
Race
0 vs 0 (average finishing position)
0 vs 0 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed race)
Michael Schumacher vs Nelson Piquet
Qualifying
7.3 vs 8.3 (average qualifying position)
4 vs 1 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed qualifying)
0.108s (average lap-time Schumacher was faster by)
Race
5.7 vs 6.0 (average finishing position)
2 vs 1 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed race)
1992
Michael Schumacher vs Martin Brundle
Qualifying
4.7 vs 7.4 (average qualifying position)
16 vs 0 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed qualifying)
1.019s (average lap-time Schumacher was faster by)
Race
3.2 vs 3.6 (average finishing position)
4 vs 3 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed race)
1993
Michael Schumacher vs Riccardo Patrese
Qualifying
3.8 vs 7.6 (average qualifying position)
16 vs 0 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed qualifying)
1.147s (average lap-time Schumacher was faster by)
Race
2.2 vs 6.4 (average finishing position)
5 vs 0 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed race)
1994
Michael Schumacher vs Jos Verstappen
Qualifying
2.1 vs 10.8 (average qualifying position)
8 vs 0 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed qualifying)
1.920s (average lap-time Schumacher was faster by)
Race
1.0 vs 4.7 (average finishing position)
1 vs 0 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed race)
Michael Schumacher vs JJ Lehto
Qualifying
1.3 vs 13 (average qualifying position)
6 vs 0 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed qualifying)
2.287s (average lap-time Schumacher was faster by)
Race
1.4 vs 7.7 (average finishing position)
2 vs 0 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed race)
Michael Schumacher vs Johnny Herbert
Qualifying
1.5 vs 6.0 (average qualifying position)
2 vs 0 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed qualifying)
1.075s (average lap-time Schumacher was faster by)
Race
0 vs 0 (average finishing position)
0 vs 0 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed race)
1995
Michael Schumacher vs Johnny Herbert
Qualifying
2.9 vs 7.4 (average qualifying position)
16 vs 1 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed qualifying)
1.357s (average lap-time Schumacher was faster by)
Race
2.3 vs 4.2 (average finishing position)
9 vs 0 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed race)
1996
Michael Schumacher vs Eddie Irvine
Qualifying
2.6 vs 7.9 (average qualifying position)
15 vs 1 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed qualifying)
0.856s (average lap-time Schumacher was faster by)
Race
4.7 vs 10.2 (average finishing position)
3 vs 0 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed race)
1997
Michael Schumacher vs Eddie Irvine
Qualifying
3.6 vs 9.4 (average qualifying position)
16 vs 1 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed qualifying)
0.754s (average lap-time Schumacher was faster by)
Race
2.8 vs 6.7 (average finishing position)
7 vs 0 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed race)
1998
Michael Schumacher vs Eddie Irvine
Qualifying
3.1 vs 5.4 (average qualifying position)
15 vs 1 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed qualifying)
0.710s (average lap-time Schumacher was faster by)
Race
2.6 vs 3.8 (average finishing position)
10 vs 1 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed race)
1999 (Schumacher out most of year with a broken leg and gifts Irvine the win in Malaysia for Eddie's title bid)
Michael Schumacher vs Eddie Irvine
Qualifying
2.7 vs 5.3 (average qualifying position)
9 vs 1 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed qualifying)
0.871s (average lap-time Schumacher was faster by)
Race
3.0 vs 3.0 (average finishing position)
5 vs 2 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed race)
2000
Michael Schumacher vs Rubens Barrichello
Qualifying
2.0 vs 4.8 (average qualifying position)
15 vs 2 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed qualifying)
0.483s (average lap-time Schumacher was faster by)
Race
1.6 vs 2.8 (average finishing position)
8 vs 1 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed race)
2001
Michael Schumacher vs Rubens Barrichello
Qualifying
1.7 vs 4.5 (average qualifying position)
16 vs 1 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed qualifying)
0.600s (average lap-time Schumacher was faster by)
Race
1.5 vs 3.9 (average finishing position)
10 vs 1 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed race)
2002
Michael Schumacher vs Rubens Barrichello
Qualifying
1.8 vs 2.9 (average qualifying position)
13 vs 4 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed qualifying)
0.227s (average lap-time Schumacher was faster by)
Race
1.4 vs 2.3 (average finishing position)
8 vs 4 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed race)
2003
Michael Schumacher vs Rubens Barrichello (From here until Schumacher's comeback qualifying gets a bit rubbish as many gimmick systems are brought in which makes analysis a bit hit and miss) (Single lap system this year)
Qualifying
4.3 vs 3.6 (average qualifying position)
10 vs 6 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed qualifying)
-0.121s (average lap-time Schumacher was faster by)
Race
3.6 vs 3.5 (average finishing position)
7 vs 4 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed race)
2004
Michael Schumacher vs Rubens Barrichello (Race fuel qualifying system this year)
Qualifying
3.4 vs 4.7 (average qualifying position)
13 vs 5 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed qualifying)
0.646s (average lap-time Schumacher was faster by)
Race
2.1 vs 3.1 (average finishing position)
13 vs 3 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed race)
2005
Michael Schumacher vs Rubens Barrichello (Unfortunately the ridiculous race fuel qualifying system still continues)
Qualifying
8.5 vs 10.7 (average qualifying position)
12 vs 7 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed qualifying)
0.198s (average lap-time Schumacher was faster by)
Race
4.7 vs 7.5 (average finishing position)
10 vs 1 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed race)
2006
Michael Schumacher vs Felipe Massa (Race fuel qualifying system is replaced by bizarre complicated fuel burn off system)
Qualifying
3.8 vs 6.1 (average qualifying position)
14 vs 4 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed qualifying)
0.357s (average lap-time Schumacher was faster by)
Race
2.6 vs 4.4 (average finishing position)
11 vs 3 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed race)
2010
Michael Schumacher vs Nico Rosberg (Proper qualifying again)
Qualifying
9.4 vs 7.3 (average qualifying position)
5 vs 14 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed qualifying)
-0.153s (average lap-time Schumacher was faster by)
Race
6.5 vs 8.6 (average finishing position)
3 vs 11 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed race)
2011
Michael Schumacher vs Nico Rosberg
Qualifying
10.3 vs 7.6 (average qualifying position)
3 vs 16 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed qualifying)
-0.411s (average lap-time Schumacher was faster by)
Race
4.7 vs 7.5 (average finishing position)
6 vs 7 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed race)
2012
Michael Schumacher vs Nico Rosberg
Qualifying
9.0 vs 9.5 (average qualifying position)
10 vs 10 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed qualifying)
0.113s (average lap-time Schumacher was faster by)
Race
7.5 vs 8.8 (average finishing position)
7 vs 3 (teammate finishing above other where both cars completed race)
Formula 1 World Championship Standings - Michael Schumacher
(Full seasons which doesn't include 1991 & 1999)
1992 3rd (1st Mansell - Williams, 2nd Patrese - Williams, 3rd Schumacher Benetton, 4th Senna - McLaren) (Teammate Brundle 6th)
1993 4th (1st Prost - Williams, 2nd Senna - McLaren, 3rd Hill - Williams, 4th Schumacher Benetton)(Teammate Patrese 5th)
1994 1st Schumacher - Benetton (Various teammates)
1995 1st Schumacher - Benetton, (Teammate Herbert 4th)
1996 3rd (1st Hill - Williams, 3rd Schumacher - Ferrari) (Teammate Irvine 10th)
1997 2nd (1st Villeneuve - Williams, 2nd Schumacher - Ferrari disqualified) (Teammate Irvine 7th)
1998 2nd (1st Hakkinen - McLaren, 2nd Schumacher - Ferrari) (Teammate Irvine 4th)
2000 1st Schumacher - Ferrari (Teammate Barrichello 4th)
2001 1st Schumacher - Ferrari (Teammate Barrichello 3rd)
2002 1st Schumacher - Ferrari (Teammate Barrichello 2nd)
2003 1st Schumacher - Ferrari (Teammate Barrichello 4th)
2004 1st Schumacher - Ferrari (Teammate Barrichello 2nd)
2005 3rd (1st Alonso - Renault, 3rd Schumacher - Ferrari) (Teammate Barrichello 8th)
2006 2nd (1st Alonso - Renault, 2nd Schumacher - Ferrari) (Teammate Massa 3rd)
2010 9th (1st Vettel - Red Bull, 9th Schumacher Mercedes) (Teammate Rosberg 7th)
2011 8th (1st Vettel - Red Bull, 8th Schumacher Mercedes) (Teammate Rosberg 7th)
2012 13th (1st Vettel - Red Bull, 13th Schumacher Mercedes) (Teammate Rosberg 9th)
Michael Schumacher was beaten on points in the 3 years against Nico Rosberg. When one looks below the surface it reveals a different insight. Schumacher was well beaten in 2010 in the first year of his comeback but 2011 and 2012 are very different stories.
In 2011 we have a mild foretaste of what was to come in 2012 in Schumacher's side of the Mercedes garage. 5 DNF's compared to Rosberg's 2. Schumacher's were puncture, airbox fire, gearbox, one accident his own fault and the other not. Rosberg's were 2 accidents with neither his fault.
2012 was Michael Schumacher's strongest year at Mercedes and he would have been easily ahead of Nico Rosberg if not for multiple car failures.
Schumacher was in the top 3 in the first 3 races of 2012 only to retire with a gearbox failure in Australia, spun by Roman Grosjean and sent to the back of the pack in Mayalsia and then retire in China when his wheel was fitted incorrectly.
In Bahrain, qualifying was destroyed by a faulty DRS, Monaco - fuel pickup failure and just for good measure hit by Grosjean at the start again, Canada - no second flying lap because team miscalculated time needed but also for good measure a stuck DRS in the race leading to a 5th retirement in 7 races.
Michael Schumacher finished the season with a further two car failures. He never saw the chequered flag in 8 out of 20 races. Two of those times being incidents he was found at fault and very severally punished for which included loosing his pole at Monaco with a 5 place grid penalty and a 10 place grid penalty at Suzuka.
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Highlighted below are a collection of races that help to cast some light on Michael Schumacher's enormous brilliance behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car. Notice nearly all are from the 1990's when the stats above show Schumacher was at his best or perhaps more likely the cars then allowed the driver to make more of a difference than latter years.
In a recent interview with Auto Motor und Sport, Schumacher spoke of the greater difference the driver used to make rather than the all importance of the car in recent years. Schumacher; "In my early days, there was always the chance to be quicker than another driver not just by a couple of tenths, but a full second.
"Why? Because the cars aerodynamically were not so balanced and were therefore very sharp to drive. As a driver, you then had many more possibilities yourself. Today, the cars are aerodynamically stable and well balanced; the window in which you work is not as big."
Included are highlight clips of the races from the BBC archive, some extensive. Unfortunately the clips can only be viewed in the UK but if links are made to YouTube videos of race footage they will only be taken down by FOM.
In chronological order apart from the first which is arguably the best.
1996 Spanish Grand Prix
Perhaps Michael Schumacher's greatest performance and a prime example of why he is known as the Rain Meister. In a rain soaked Spanish GP in a car that was far from the best the Rain Meister isn't happy in just beating his rivals but in embarrassing them. Dropping to 9th after a poor start where he almost stalled, Schumacher starts to carve his way through the field.
On lap 12 Schumacher overtook Jacques Villeneuve for the lead and two laps later set the fastest lap of the race which was some 4 seconds quicker than 2nd and 3rd placed Villeneuve and Jean Alesi respectively were lapping. When Schumacher pitted on lap 24 he was 40 seconds ahead of the 2nd placed man and just before he pitted on lap 42 he was a staggering 90 seconds ahead and this despite having a sick sounding engine from lap 33. At the end the German legend had lapped the entire field up to 3rd position.
It later transpired his engine was on nine cylinders for a time but cured itself and the main problem was a broken exhaust. Williams senior operations engineer James Robinson best sumed up Schumacher's performance: "I don't think the Ferrari was that brilliant. It looked like it was on ice to me. That guy is something else. It was pretty amazing."
BBC highlights of race
1992 Belgian Grand Prix
The first of Michael Schumacher's 91 grand prix wins. A typical mixed weather day at Spa with Schumacher making the right call at the right time to go on slicks with pole man Nigel Mansell and 2nd place man Ayrton Senna making the wrong calls.
BBC highlights of race
1994 Brazilian Grand Prix
The race where the two legends were in a league of their own. Ayrton Senna is on pole with Michael Schumacher 2nd on the grid. Senna out-qualifies his teammate Damon Hill by 1.592 sec and 3 grid spots and Schumacher his teammate Jos Verstappen by 1.893 sec and 7 grid spots.
In the race Schumacher looses a place at the start to Jean Alesi. Schumacher gets by the French man on lap 2 but already a 4 second gap has opened to Senna in the lead. By the time both Senna and Schumacher pit for fuel on lap 21 the gap is down to 1 second and they enter the pitlane together. Benetton's pit stop is much faster than Williams and Schumacher leaves the pitlane in the lead.
Schumacher's lead was 10 seconds after the second pit stops, after which Senna started to close the gap. On lap 55 with the gap down to 5 seconds, Schumacher and Senna lap 3rd place man Damon Hill. The following lap, Senna spun his Williams and had to retire.
Schumacher ended up winning the race and in the process lapping everyone else.
Recently F1 Racing asked it's readers to quiz Michael Schumacher and one of the questions applied to this grand prix.
What's your best memory of Ayrton Senna? (Montero Moises, Spain)
This is very clear. It was Brazil 1994 when I beat him and he spun off while he was fighting with me. Actually, in a way, the fact that he spun off made me extra proud because he had this unbeatable nature about him.
Then there was the fact of where we came from in 1993 – in '94 this small Benetton team with the Ford engine was not supposed to be the best, but it was suddenly a very good package and we were able to run in front of the Williams. Then he spun off and I thought, 'Well, that was a good moment.'
Full Race YouTube
BBC highlights of race
1994 Spanish Grand Prix
Michael Schumacher started on pole and eased away from second place man Damon Hill. Around the first pit-stops Schumacher's car developed gear selection problems leaving it stuck in fifth gear(from a 6-speed gearbox). Despite being unable to use any other gear but fifth, Schumacher pitted twice without stalling and changed his whole driving style to finish 2nd behind Damon Hill.
In the post race press conference Schumacher mentioned that he’d lost all gears but 5th and nobody believed him until Benetton showed the press the telemetry from the car.
BBC highlights of race
1995 Belgian Grand Prix
Michael Schumacher wins in the usual mixed weather conditions at Spa after starting 16th on the grid.
BBC highlights of race
1997 Monaco Grand Prix
Michael Schumacher puts in another wet weather masterclass and wins by 53 seconds around the streets of Monaco.
Full Race Dailymotion
1998 Hungarian Grand Prix
Stuck behind David Coulthard's McLaren, Ferrari change Michael Schumacher's strategy to a 3 stop that would only work if Schumacher was able to do 19 qualiying laps in a row. The German legend went on to lap over a second faster than the McLaren's of Hakkinen and Coulthard, eventually building up a 27 second gap which was enough to give him time to stop again and come out in the lead.
The 7 time world champion speaking to the BBC in 2011 about the race; "This race sums up the great relationship I had - and still have - with Ross Brawn. We were behind the McLarens of Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard for the first part of the race and Ross decided that the only chance of beating them was to switch to a three-stop strategy - one stop more than them. It was a brilliant plan but it wasn't easy. I still remember the radio message from Ross that I had to make up something like 25 seconds in 19 laps.
BBC highlights of race
1998 Belgian Grand Prix
The Rain Meister walks on water again until a lapped David Coulthard lifts of in front of him totally unsighted. After a variety of accidents in the wet at the start of the race Schumacher takes the lead from Damon Hill and races away from the field at 3 seconds a lap quicker.
At nearly 37 seconds in the lead Schumacher came up to lap David Coulthard. After being instructed over the team radio to let Schumacher past, Coulthard slowed down, but stayed on the main racing line. Due to the spray behind Coulthard, Schumacher was completly unsighted and drove into the back of the Mclaren not expecting Coulthard to lift on the racing line in zero visibility conditions.
BBC highlights of race
1998 Japanese Grand Prix
A race where from qualifying Michael Schumacher and championship rival Mika Hakkinen were in a league of their own. Pole sitter Schumacher out qualifyed team mate Eddie Irvine by an incredible 2 seconds with 2nd on the grid Hakkinen out qualifying team mate David Coulthard by a second.
After an aborted start by Jarno Trulli stalling, Schumacher stalled on the next start and was sent to the back of the grid. From the back of the grid Schumacher made it up to third before suffering a right rear tyre explosion after running over debris from a crash between Esteban Tuero's Minardi and Tora Takagi's Tyrrell.
1999 Malaysian Grand Prix
Michael Schumacher returns from a broken leg and three month absense. He qualifies on pole at an incredible 0.947 seconds ahead of teammate Eddie Irvine in 2nd place. Irvine is in a titantic struggle with McLaren's Mika Hakkinen for the championship so it's time for Schumacher to play the number 2 driver.
In the race Schumacher first shows his superiority by stretching out a lead of 3.2 seconds after just 2 laps. On lap 4 he slows down to let Irvine pass and take the lead. Schumacher then precedes to keep Hakkinen behind to help Irvine in his title bid. Because Schumacher was on a one stop strategy he lets Irvine by a second time to take the lead and the win.
To sum up Schumacher hadn't dove an F1 car in anger in 3 months after breaking his leg. He puts it on pole by nearly a second and then plays the best number 2 driver in the history of Formula 1. He lets Irvine pass him twice and keeps his teammates title rival Hakkinen behind him the entire race.
Irvine speaking in the post-race press conference: "This guy (Schumacher) is depressing - not only is he the best number one (driver), he's also the best number two!"
2000 Japanese Grand Prix
The 7 time world champion again speaking to the BBC in 2011 about the race; "This is probably both the toughest and most beautiful race of my career. Mika and I were flat out all the way, really on the edge every lap on a great driver's circuit with the world championship at stake. And the race was really tricky because of changing conditions in the drizzle. I managed to get out ahead after my final pit stop and won. What makes it all the more special was that it was my first world title for Ferrari - this race certainly is my personal number one."
BBC highlights of race
2006 Brazilian Grand Prix
Michael Schumacher picks up a puncture and precedes to battle from 19th place and 10 seconds away from being lapped to bring his Ferrari home in 4th place. In the process he sets a fastest lap, 0.715s quicker than race winner and team mate Felipe Massa.
BBC highlights of race
2012 Monaco Grand Prix Qualifying
Beforehand the 43 year old legend said he was going to get pole and start 6th because of his prior penalty but then proceed to win the race from 6th.
Romain Grosjean ended any chance of the second part but the first part was special considering if the penalty didn't apply Schumacher would have been the oldest pole sitter since Jack Brabham in 1970.
Best I could get of the footage is below.
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A few video clips below.
Eddie Jordan who gave Schumacher his first opportunity in F1.
Ron Dennis tries to lure Schumacher to his team at McLaren.
Former British ex F1 drivers Damon Hill, John Watson and Johnny Herbert talk about what sets Michael Schumacher apart from the rest.
Michael Schumacher documentary.
More Michael Schumacher articles -
