Words of a true champion. Proud, yet humble. Simple, yet profoundly analytical. And history is made yet again.
Seven world championships is nothing to sneeze at. But then again, breaking world records are what it’s all about. Michael Schumacher may win the driver’s world title 20 times; but it will not matter as much if the record stands at 21 times.
Now you may be wondering why I talk about breaking world records when the great German driver has already accomplished this very feat last year with his sixth title — breaking the late, great Argentine Juan Manuel Fangio’s five world championship-record in the process.
That’s because there is a school of thought that Michael has only just won his sixth world title instead of his seventh. This belief stems from Michael’s controversial first title in 1994 when he, driving a Benetton-Ford, ran into championship rival Damon Hill’s Williams in the title-deciding last race of the season. Both drivers DNF’d and Schumacher claimed victory by virtue of a miniscule points lead. To many racing fans around the world (this writer included), the title truly belonged to the Englishman.
The FIA later declared the incident a "racing accident" and upheld the results. Still, memories of Schumacher’s other dubious "incidents" would haunt him — notably his 1990 Macau Formula 3 Grand Prix championship when he snatched victory with a controversial collision with then-championship rival Mika Hakkinen who was about to overtake him for the race lead and the title; and his 1997 failed attempt to sideswipe eventual championship winner Jacques Villeneuve into retirement. The obvious unsportsmanlike gesture, which the German later apologized for, was widely criticized in all sporting circles around the world.
But with the 2004 title safely tucked under his belt — despite having four races left in the season — Michael Schumacher well and truly has set a new record. No matter how you count it. And he took his last five titles a stunning five consecutive times!
The German has accomplished something extraordinary that seems impossible to match, let alone exceed, with the burgeoning crop of extremely talented drivers like Kimi Raikkonen, Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso, each of whom has a genuine chance to take the title any year. If and when the German is ready to relinquish it.
What makes this feat even more impressive is the fact Schumacher didn’t always take the title in a vastly superior car. While he clinched the 1995 (in the dominant Benetton-Renault), 2001, 2002 and 2004 titles relatively unchallenged, the native from Kerpen, Germany was stretched to the limit by Damon Hill in 1994, Mika Hakkinen in 2000, and Kimi Raikkonen (by a mere two points) last year. Interestingly, all his championship titles with Ferrari have been closely fought with the McLaren-Mercedes team — with the sole exception of this year.
Another impressive aspect of Schumacher’s record-braking feat is the fact that he steadfastly refuses to be compared to Fangio; insisting that racing in the ‘50s were done in much more dangerous circumstances — something that the German is candid enough to admit made Fangio’s five-time record all the more unique and unmatchable.
Nevertheless, the great Argentine’s record has been broken and a new one has been set. And history is set to be made yet again as Michael Schumacher gets ready to defend his title next year with a team which, the recent Belgian Grand Prix excluded, has yet to show any sign of weakness or vulnerability. Retirement rumors? We’ve heard that as early as two years ago. And the man just keeps winning. And winning. And winning.