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| Michael Schumacher |
Micheal Schumacher or just Schumi was an incredible Formula One driver who epitomized driving in his era. His heroics for Ferrari is always remembered with flair and poise. His driving on the track was intense, sometimes piercing into oneself.
German born, his career began with Jordan racing team, although its his association with Benetton in 1994 that he won his first Formula One Driver's championship. It was in Benetton that his lifelong relationship with Ross Brawn began who was the then technical director in Benetton. Soon his success caught attention of the Prancing horse "Ferrari". Ferrari were desperate to be recognized as a serious competitor and to remain relevant in the racing arena. They had last won the Constructor's Championship back in 1983. They were desperately looking for a savior, Michael became theirs and they became Michael's. It was like mixing salt to water, they both gelled well so very soon and so very good. Change of winds were blowing now thick and fast.
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| Schumacher with Ferrari after win in Australian GP |
Schumacher was soon becoming he driver he wanted to become. His contemporaries Coulthard, Mika Hakkinen, Villenueve gave him a tough run for money in his Ferrari until 1999. It was until this time that the Ferrari car was being tuned again and again race after race to prepare for what would known for them to be as Golden years with Schumacher.
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| Unveiling the Prancing horse |
Schumi famously won race after race, stamping his authority on the sport with each and every win. He would not only win the race, but would let his opponents never get ahead of his game. Be it the trickier Spa Franchorchamps or at Monza he would prove he was worth the mettle. His kitty track would be Magny-Cours where he won 8 of his wins creating a record for most wins at a venue which lasts to date.
Schumacher would love to have duels, be it with Juan Pablo Montoya or Rubens Barrichello or later in his career with Fernando Alonso. He would mostly come out on top. He led Ferrari to 5 consecutive Constructor's Championship while he himself winning all 5 of them as Driver's Championship. It was during this time that his aura was at its paramount, his driving legendary. He went past record of his idol Ayrton Senna and also being as the driver with most wins (91).
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| Ferrari was a monster when Schumacher drove |
With him and Ferrari there emerged a scour of fanatics who started following the sport. He was instrumental in making the niche sport which was popular mostly in Western nations a worldwide mania which attracted a lot of interest.He retired in 2006 ending his long standing relatioship with Ferrari and other friends such as Jean Todt, Ross Brawn and Rory Bryne who were instrumental in his success in Formula One. It was only a matter of time which kept him away from racing and now in 2010 he returned to Formula One with newly formed Mercedes GP which was headed by his former boss and friend Ross Brawn.
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| Rubens Barrichello, Ross Brawn, Jean Todt and Michael Schumacher |
His second stint at racing was not as successful as his previous one; some credit the failure to the newly formed team and car (although Mercedes GP was born out of Brawn GP team which was tried and tested), however he gave us the fans a lot to savour from his driving and memories which were reminiscence of his past glory. He retired in 2012.
On 29th December 2013 he met with an ski accident on a holiday while gliding down slopes in the French Alps above Meribel,France. He was fortunate to have worn the helmet while skiing, during the accident he hit his head onto a rock which split the helmet into pieces and saved Schumacher from grievous injuries to the head. However due to the impact of the collision he went into coma and is currently recuperating. It is sad now to see the legend in dire straits who is battling life due to a freak ski accident unknown to the rest of the world around him. I pray to God to give him strength and more luck so that he would be back to being his usual best once again.
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| Formula One Legend |
Good luck Champ! Win the race!
Truly yours,
Ram
