I like to share my life, and spend time with someone I love. That has worked 100 per cent with my wife.
I will do everything I can to bring the Number One to Ferrari. The whole team and all the fans deserve it.
In sport there is never any moment that is the same as the other. I have been in Formula One for 12 years, and out of that I had one year with the perfect car.
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.
My overriding memory of childhood is having the freedom to decide which way to go in life and having my parents' support.
When you start out in a team, you have to get the teamwork going and then you get something back.
For Michael's last race, the 2006 Brazilian Grand Prix, he used a helmet with a special design. The design included his favorite Chinese character, as well as a list of every Grand Prix he won on either side of the helmet.
In 2006, Michael slightly changed his helmet design, replacing the German triband on the side of his helmet with a plain red color and the Prancing Horse at the back of his helmet with the full Ferrari logo.
On May 1st, 2007, Michael made a surprise appearance on an America's Cup yacht. With Michael as the '18th Man' on Emirates Team New Zealand's yacht, the New Zealand crew took a comfortable victory over the +39 Challenge team in a Round Robin contest as part of the Louis Vuitton Cup, a qualifying event for the America's Cup. Michael was effectively enjoying a passenger ride, as the 18th Man does not participate in the sailing of the yacht.
In April 2007, Michael and wife Corinna were spotted lying beside a luxury hotel swimming pool in Miami (USA) with a huge cigar between his fingers. Another photo showed them perched on a sun bed at South Beach's Ritz-Carlton, reading magazines. 'Bild' humorously concluded that Schumacher had swapped pole position for 'pool position'. Over the years, vacations in the United States were often chosen by the Schumachers as they offered a somewhat 'fan-free' destination in a land where F1 has yet to really break through.
In April 2007, Lewis Hamilton revealed that Michael inspired him as he 'always gave 100 per cent.' Lewis recalled Michael stopping him at the 2006 Turkish GP and complimented him on his race in the GP2 class. Lewis went on to say that Michael was a role model, not just as a driver, but as a person as well.
In late March 2007, the Italian daily sports newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport conducted a poll asking for the most popular Ferrari driver, with 49 per cent of the 16,887 readers who responded voting for Michael. In second place was Gilles Villeneuve, who died whilst practicing in his Ferrari in Belgium in 1982. Gilles netted 22.6 per cent of the vote, ahead of Jean Alesi (10.8%), Nigel Mansell (6%), Niki Lauda (3.8%), and the late Michele Alboreto (3.7%) and Clay Regazzoni (1.7%).
In March 2007, Gerhard Berger denied reports that he was considering selling the Toro Rosso team to Michael. Gerhard, the former ten-time Grand Prix winner who owns half of the Faenza based team, rejected Michael’s manager Willi Weber's claim that Michael might see team ownership as his future.
In February 2007, Ray Evernham, the chief of NASCAR chief issued an open invitation to Michael to sample stock car racing.
Michael treated himself to an extravagant present in January 2007. Michael splashed out on a Shelby Cobra Daytona Super Coupe - one of the world's rarest super cars. Only six of the original cars - valued today at several million dollars - were ever built in the mid Sixties, ironically in a bid to wrestle the GT title from dominant Ferrari.
Michael missed out on being named Germany's sportsman of the year in 2006, despite racing in Formula One for the last time and nearly clinching an eighth drivers' title. The nation's sportswriters instead voted that Michael Greis, a Winter Olympic biathlete, is more deserving of the plaudit which was presented at a gala ceremony in Baden-Baden. Michael amassed 1,645 votes compared to Greis' 3,126. International football striker Miroslav Klose came in third.
Since 1996, Michael has relaxed during F1’s winter months on his ski ranch in Trysil, 200 kilometres north of Oslo, Norway. In November 2006, Michael sold his ranch.
In December 2006, Michael received the keys to the city of Maranello in Italy, from Maranello Mayor Lucia Bursi. Michael gave his acceptance speech in Italian.
In October 2006, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum gave Michael a piece of the man-made island paradise 'The World', located off the coast of the United Arab Emirates.
On December 8th and 9th, 2006, Michael was back at the wheel for a 24-hour kart race. At his own 'Michael Schumacher Kart Centre' circuit in Kerpen, Germany, the retired seven time World Champion lead one of 18 teams with 280 drivers taking part in total. One of the other racers was long time Ferrari test driver Luca Badoer.
In 2006, one of Michael's fans has nominated the retired seven time world champion for Germany's highest state decoration - the 'Bundesverdienstkreuz' – a federal cross of merit. In 2004, it was proposed that Michael receive the German honour, but it was rejected on the basis that sporting achievements alone do not justify such an award.
Ferrari team chiefs Luca di Montezemolo and Jean Todt revealed in late October 2006, that Michael turned down an offer to become a regular test driver for Ferrari in 2007 and beyond.
Martin Brundle lost the bet to see who would present Michael with the comedy retirement present from ITV Sport. He presented Michael with a signed England shirt from the 1966 World Cup Final (which England won). Michael views all UK media warily, but he did a good job of accepting it even if the two former team-mates were a little wary in each other’s presence.
In October 2006, Michael’s manager, Willi Weber, told the media they were reviewing offers they’d received to make a movie based on Michael’s life and career.
Michael is an ambassador for UNESCO.
Just prior to Michael’s final race, Jacques Villeneuve said he did not doubt either the success or the dedication of the Ferrari veteran, however thought the 7-time world champion often drove 'inconsiderately', 'unfairly', and 'made his own rules'.
Michael Jordan, advised Michael to find a hobby that will fill the void left by his lifelong passion. He recommended golf as that hobby.
In 2006, the ‘manager-magazin’ publication listed Michael at position 161 on the annual list of the wealthiest German people. His fortune is estimated at approximately $750m.
Michael had a fitting send-off by staff at the 'Montana' restaurant, which is located next to Ferrari's Fiorano test circuit. The restaurant staff collected money to commission a bronze statue of the multiple world champion.
Michael cracked the elusive 20,000 RPM barrier in his Ferrari, whilst testing at Jerez in October 2006.
After winning the 2006 Italian GP, Michael annouced his retirement to begin at the end of the season. This brought the Schumacher era to an end. Michael is the statistically greatest driver ever in the sport.
Michael was listed as thirtieth on Forbes' Celebrity 100 list for 2006. In 2005, Forbes ranked him 17th.
Michael continued in his role as president of the Grand Prix Drivers Association after escaping censure when the GPDA met at Silverstone over his Monaco incident. The majority of drivers felt he had served his penalty at the time, when he was stripped of Pole position at the 2006 Monaco GP and sent to the back of the grid.
Michael attended the 2006 Mugello MotoGP in June 4th 2006 to watch Valentino Rossi win one of the most exciting MotoGP races in memory.
On June 1 2006, Michael broke the unofficial lap record at Circuit de Catalunya during testing with a best lap of 1:13.471s.
In 2006's Imola GP, Michael and Ferrari got their first competitive win in 18 months, since the last race of the 2004 season.
In 2004, Michael broke his own record by winning his 7th title. The year was an excellent one for Michael, with 13 wins out of 18 races and only one retirement.
In 2003, Michael had a poor start to his season and was challenged hard by both Kimi Raikkonen and Juan Pablo Montoya.
In 1998, Michael took the championship battle to the last race at Suzka in Japan. Unfortunately he stalled at the start of the race and lost the championship to McLaren driver, Mika Hakkinen.
In 1996, Michael moved from Benetton to Ferrari.
In 1994, Michael won his first F1 World Drivers' Championship with Benetton, however this was very controversial as he collided with rival Damon Hill in the final race of the season.
Although Michael debuted with Jordan, he was only there for one race after which he moved to Benneton.
Micheal's nickname's include Schumi, Schuey, the Rain Master, and Red Baron.
Michael got his first race for Jordan by luck! He was under contract to Jordan but he was not to be on the grid, Jordan driver Bertrand Gachot was jailed for assault so Michael got the call to race at Spa 91 and his raw talent was on show for the world to see!
Michael is Ferrari's most successful driver ever!
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