25 Years This Week

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On the 13 th of this month a few days ago it was 25 years since Michael Schumacher won his first of 7 world titles. The last of his World Championship titles was in 2004 and the last of his Formula One victories was in China in 2006. I am getting old and it is stories like this saying 25 years ago which seems like only a few years ago really hits home.

Michael retired from Formula One at the end of 2006 and stayed on with Ferrari as an advisor and then as a road car developer. He helped out with the Ferrari team testing electronics and tyres and was a key part of Jean Todt's team acting as a "super assistant"

Michael was lured out of retirement by Mercedes in 2010 as working with team principal Ross Brawn and a German car was too good to refuse. He was partnered by Nico Rosberg and the team struggled as this was the development stage. Michael's highest finish was 4th over the next 3 seasons and finally stepped away handing the seat to Lewis Hamilton.

The car wasn't far off it's final spec as Hamilton won the championship in 2014 and Schumacher and Brawn were the main force behind achieving the groundwork. I think it must have been challenging and tough for someone who was used to winning and now you were starting on a donkey trying to make it into a thoroughbred.

There are a few things I found interesting reading up on him. He was the first $ Billionaire athlete reported by Forbes and his rumored pay in 2004 was $80 million a season without sponsorship endorsements. Michael along with the company Schubert developed a light weight carbon fiber racing helmet. This was so strong a tank drove over it with no damage and it had inlets allowing for ventilation.

Unfortunately we all know about his skiing accident which rocked the sporting world. I am just glad he made enough over his career to secure his privacy from the rest of the world. His family and some selected trusted people are allowed to see him like Jean Todt who recently said the friendship is obviously different these days. I have noticed renewed interest in Michael lately and the press must just leave the family alone .Just seems crazy that something in his downtime caused the injury and he spent 21 years in Formula One taking the car to it's limits.

Michael's son Mick is also a racing car driver and has been part of the Ferrari Academy so there will most likely be another Schumacher racing around the Formula One circuit in the years to come.