Schumacher Simply Superlative

By: Arunava Biswas For well over a decade, Michael Schumacher has dominated the world of Formula One like a colossus, claiming one record after another. Love him or hate him, Schumacher arouses passion like none of his contemporaries, keeping alive the fires started by the likes of Ayrton Senna, Gilles Villeneuve and Juan Manuel Fangio before him.‘Schumi’ as he is famously called retired after finishing fourth in the Brazilian Grand Prix and did so as the most successful Formula One driver of all time. That much is beyond debate. Whether Ferrari`s seven-time world champion is also the greatest is another question altogether. He is one of the greats, a figure who transcends his sporting arena. A generation of fans has grown up watching Schumacher win.

Aside from a string of controversies, the German will leave behind a legacy of unprecedented success - the only meaningful record to elude him will be most career starts. His 91 wins and 76 fastest laps stand testimony to that. His love for racing in all its forms – he still goes karting for the fun of it – his inspiration, devotion, incisiveness and fortitude are what set him apart from the rest. So few drivers have been able to combine all these qualities. His records have long been considered unbreakable, generated by a sporting one-off, a man whose astonishing ascendancy coincided with the retirement of a whole generation of greats. As a driver Michael had no known weakness, though some say that he had occasional lapses of concentration brought about by boredom when running alone at the head of a race! He was awesome in the rain and is rated along with the late Ayrton Senna as the best there has ever been. Schumacher was noted for his ability to get the most out of his team and car.

No other driver trained as hard and no driver has worked harder for the Ferrari team as Michael has. His relationship was exceptional and he was by far the most popular driver the Ferrari team has ever had. He has a record 7 hat tricks of victories at the same venue, at – Catalunya 2001-2004, Imola 2002-2004, Indianapolis 2003-2005, Melbourne 2000-2002, Montreal 2002-2004, Spa 1995-1997 and Suzuka 2002-2004 as well as the maximum wins at any circuit – 7 each at Magny-Cours 1994-1995, 1997-1998, 2001-2002 and 2004 and Montreal 1994, 1997-1998, 2000, 2002-2004. He and his younger brother Ralf, who has won 6 races, are the only brothers who have won races in F1.

Schumacher’s retirement will leave the door open for Fernando Alonso, who is a double world champion at the age of 25, to tear into the records. Schumacher’s controversies

For all those who mourn the end of an incomparable era after Schumacher’s retirement, there will be those who celebrate the long-awaited exit of Formula One`s most controversial figure. Many feel that the 37-year-old German`s career has been too chequered for him to be due the worship accorded to Fangio, Jim Clark or Ayrton Senna -- even if the latter was no angel himself.

All that success came at a price and many would argue Schumacher sacrificed sportsmanship for glory. That he had the talent to dominate Formula One without the repeated accusations of foul play is without doubt - a handful of dubious moves alone do not win seven world titles.

At this year`s Monaco Grand Prix, when Schumacher was punished for deliberately impeding rivals to ensure he took pole position, was the latest in a list of controversies to have enraged rivals over time. But Schumacher`s flaws are part of his mystique and no matter whether he is a hero or a villain; Formula One will sorely miss him. This is apt as a banner in Monza read, "Without you in Formula One, the rest do not exist".

However long Schumacher`s records last, his mark is indelibly made on Formula One. For a generation, the sport has known only Schumacher and the success intrinsically linked to his name. His departure will leave a vacuum no current driver can be expected to fill.