Here’s a look at the life of seven-time Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher.
Personal:
Birth date: January 3, 1969
Birth place: Hurth-Hermulheim, Germany
Birth name: Michael Schumacher
Father: Rolf Schumacher, go-kart track manager and bricklayer
Mother: Elizabeth Schumacher, go-kart track worker
Marriage: Corinna (Besch) Schumacher (1995-present)
Children: Mick, 1999 and Gina-Maria, 1997
Other Facts:
Winner of a record seven Formula One (F1) championships, in 1994-1995 and 2000-2004.
Has 91 Grand Prix wins, more than any other F1 racer, and 155 podium finishes.
In 2012, Forbes estimated Schumacher’s career earnings at $823 million.
Began driving go-karts at the age of four and won his first club championship at age six.
His younger brother, Ralf Schumacher, was also a F1 driver.
Timeline:
1984 and 1985 – Winner of the German Junior Kart Championship.
1987 – Wins the German and European Kart Championships.
1990 – German Formula Three champion.
1991 – Makes his Formula One debut with Jordan, qualifying in seventh at the Belgium Grand Prix.
1994 – Wins his first Formula One championship, with Benetton, in a controversial finish. At the title-deciding Australian Grand Prix, Schumacher wins by a point after colliding with challenger Damon Hill and causing both cars to retire.
1995 – Wins his second straight Formula One championship with Benetton.
1999 – Breaks his leg in a crash at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
2000 – Wins the Formula One championship with Ferrari. It is Ferrari’s first championship since 1979.
2000-2004 – Wins five straight F1 championships with Ferrari.
2006 – Announces his retirement.
2009 – Is diagnosed with a mild concussion after a motorbike crash in Spain.
2010 – Returns after three years of retirement, to race for Mercedes.
2012 – Retires for the second and final time.
December 29, 2013 – Suffers severe head trauma in a skiing accident at the French Alps resort of Meribel. He undergoes two operations and is put into a medically induced coma.
January 30, 2014 – Manager Sabine Kehm says that Schumacher’s sedation is being reduced to start the “waking up process.”
June 16, 2014 – Schumacher’s manager issues a statement saying Schumacher is no longer in a coma.
September 9, 2014 – Schumacher is released from a Swiss hospital and returns home, according to his spokeswoman.
November 14, 2014 – Schumacher is presented with the Bambi “Millennium” Award. He is honored with the award for his many years of service and inspiration to the German people. His manager Sabine Kehm accepts the award as Schumacher continues to recover from head injuries sustained in 2013.