Michael Schumacher

Michael Schumacher (pronounced /mɪçaeːl ʃumaxɐ (help•info)/, born January 3, 1969, in Hürth Hermülheim, Germany)[1] is a former Formula One driver, and seven-time world champion. According to the official Formula One website, he is "statistically the greatest driver the sport has ever seen".[2] He is the first German to win the F1 World championship[3] and is credited with popularising Formula One in Germany.[4] In a 2006 FIA survey Michael Schumacher was voted the most popular driver with F1 fans.[5]

After winning two championships with Benetton, Schumacher moved to the Ferrari team in 1996, which had not won a drivers' championship since 1979. From 2000 to 2004, Schumacher won five consecutive drivers' titles with the team. Triple World Champion Jackie Stewart believes his transformation of the Ferrari team was Schumacher's greatest feat.[6] As of 2006, Schumacher holds nearly every record in Formula One, including most drivers' championships, race victories, fastest laps, pole positions, points scored and most races won in a single season. His career as a driver was not one free of controversy, most notably his disqualification from the 1997 championship for causing a collision with Jacques Villeneuve.[7]

Off the track, Schumacher is an ambassador for UNESCO and a spokesman for driver safety. He has also been involved in numerous humanitarian efforts throughout his life, donating at least $50 million in just the last four years of his driving career.[8]

On September 10, 2006, Schumacher announced his retirement as a driver.[9] It was revealed on 29 October 2006 that Schumacher will act as assistant to the newly appointed Scuderia Ferrari CEO Jean Todt for the 2007 Formula One Season, in particular scouting for new drivers.

// Extracted from Wikipedia (see full text clicking here)//

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