Michael Schumacher
Michael Schumacher
Michael Schumacher; born 3 January 1969) is a German retired racing driver. He is a seven-time Formula One World Champion and is widely regarded as one of the greatest Formula One drivers of all time. He was named Laureus World Sportsman of the Year twice. He won two titles with Benetton in 1994 and 1995 before moving to Ferrari where he drove for eleven years. His time with Ferrari yielded five consecutive titles between 2000 and 2004...
NationalityGerman
ProfessionRace Car Driver
Date of Birth3 January 1969
CityHurth, Germany
CountryGermany
Your ups and downs in sports, I think they are as normal as daily life: One day you wake up and feel great, the next day you wake up and feel maybe less great.
I think I was five when I had my real first go-kart.
My kids are not known, and I think that is very important. So far they have lived a normal life, and will continue to do so. I feel they should have the possibility to live a free life without the burden of fame I have created.
I don't feel like promising big things to my fans. I'm not thinking about victory at all. I'll do my best to get on the podium at least, although I must admit I feel fairly pessimistic.
I decided on a vision. I think I maybe join Toyota at the midpoint of a project, whose long-term goal is winning world championships. Also I have my big ambition, the drivers' world championship. That is not abandoned - entirely the opposite. I am young enough and motivated enough to make a new start in order to reach this goal.
I know what I am, and what I have to do in my profession, so I can handle the pressure. It's the way I think.
If I didn't even stand a chance of winning races and competing for the title, I don't think I would be that interested in continuing my career.
If you do things to the limit, and don’t purposely go over that limit, then I think it’s fine to do whatever you want. So long as you enjoy it. That’s what’s important.
I'm not very comfortable with what people sometimes say or think about me - things I don't feel responsible for.
Never think that success is down to your own performance alone. If you start listening only to yourself you take the first step back towards the bottom. The flowers of victory belong in many vases.
I look forward to fighting them again next season.
I have been in Formula One for 12 years, and out of that I had one year with the perfect car.
I feel very different. After you've had a story of success like we had, to then have a hard season, you sort of get tired by the end of it. To then be off the pace all winter would be very tough. Very consuming on the energy side. Now, it's the opposite of last season. You feel so much more motivated and happy to run with this car, to see you're there and that you can fight them, maybe. It's great.
It was a bit of a struggle, but luckily we know overtaking is nearly impossible here.