ACTOR · BORN 1969
Michael Schumacher
- Born
- 3 January 1969
8 archived facts 3 topics
Michael Schumacher (born 3 January 1969) is an actor.
8 Interesting Facts About Michael Schumacher
Interesting Facts (4)
- #001
Has stated publicly that, despite the records he holds in Formula One, Ayrton Senna was the greatest driver in the history of the sport. By coincidence, Schumacher was directly behind Senna at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix when Senna crashed fatally. The moment haunted him for years and led to an on-camera breakdown at the post-race press conference after his 2000 Italian Grand Prix win, when he was asked what equalling Senna's 41 Grand Prix victories (then the second-highest total in Formula 1) meant to him.
- #002
Seconds after the start of the 1999 British Grand Prix at Silverstone in England, a rear brake failure sent Michael Schumacher's Ferrari F399 straight through the Stowe corner and into the tire barrier. Data downloaded from the car's black box shows he was travelling at 307 km/h when he first braked, his wheels locked at 204 km/h, and he hit the tires at approximately 108 km/h.
- #003
- #004
For the 1991 Belgian GP, Eddie Jordan picked Michael Schumacher to fill Bertrand Gachot's seat rather than Stefan Johansson. Mercedes-Benz's financial support and the insistence of manager Willi Weber were the main factors, and they outweighed Jordan's initial wish for an experienced driver.
Career & Awards (2)
- #005
Has also drawn criticism for collisions with other drivers, most notably Damon Hill at the 1994 Australian GP and Jacques Villeneuve at the 1997 European GP, and for cutting across rivals at the start of races or while fighting for position, a move so common it became known as 'The Schumacher Chop'. For most of his career he also held uncontested number one status, with team-mates rarely permitted or able to race him fairly without restrictions.
- #006
From his Formula 1 debut at the 1991 Belgian Grand Prix, Michael Schumacher never took pole position in the 41 Grands Prix he contested alongside Ayrton Senna; over that period Senna claimed 8 poles, including the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, the last of his career. Schumacher's first pole came at the Monaco Grand Prix, the first race without Senna.
Life & Family (2)
- #007
- #008
In December 2013, while skiing off-piste at the French Alpine resort of Meribel, he struck rocks at speed and sustained a severe head injury. Taken to a hospital in Grenoble, France, he had two operations to clear blood clots from his brain and was then placed in a medically induced coma to help reduce swelling. He remained in the coma for 6 months, regained consciousness and was moved to a hospital in Lausanne, Switzerland, in June 2014. That September he returned to his home near Lake Geneva for long-term rehabilitation. A press statement said: "Henceforth, Michael's rehabilitation will take place at his home. Considering the severe injuries he suffered, progress has been made in the past weeks and months. There is still, however, a long and difficult road ahead".
Sources & editorial notes
Reference databases
- IMDb
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