skysports.com looks at the career of Michael Schumacher, who has announced his F1 return.
skysports.com looks at the career of Michael Schumacher
Love him or hate him, Michael Schumacher is undoubtedly one of the greatest Formula One drivers in history.
A seven-time world champion, the single-minded German is the ultimate competitor and he will now put all his ability to the test as he returns to F1 more than three years after retiring from the sport.
Never one to make do with second place, it will be fascinating to see how Schumacher, who will be 41 years old when he lines up on the grid for the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix in March, copes with the new kids on the block.
His career achievements can never be taken away from him though, so here we look at the highs and lows of Schumacher in our factfile - could there be more glory yet to come?
Michael Schumacher
1969: Born on January 3 in Huerth-Hermuelheim, Germany.
1973: Made his racing debut in a kart race.
1987: Won German and European kart championships.
1988: Finished fourth in German Formula Ford championship and second in the European series in first year of car racing.
1990: Won first major single-seater title, clinching the German Formula Three crown. Stepped up to sportscars, driving for Mercedes.
1991: Made Formula One debut for Jordan in Belgium, qualifying seventh before retiring. Poached by Benetton for the rest of the season.
1992: Takes first grand prix win in Belgium on his way to third in the championship.
1994: Wins title, with eight wins to his name, after controversial last-race clash with Damon Hill.
1995: Retains world crown, taking nine victories.
1996: Moves to struggling Ferrari and manages three wins on his way to third in championship.
1997: Wins five races but is stripped of second in the championship for attempting to take out title rival Jacques Villeneuve at Jerez.
1999: Breaks his leg at Silverstone when easily leading the championship.
2000: Finally wins Ferrari's first world title since 1979, amassing nine wins on the way.
2001: Another nine wins and another title, setting a new record for all-time victories on the way.
2002: Wins championship in record time, setting a new mark of 11 victories.
2003: Wins title by a point after six victories, breaking Juan Manuel Fangio's record of five championships.
2004: Breaks his own record for wins in a season to take title number seven.
2006: September 10 - Announces his retirement at end of 2006 season after winning Italian Grand Prix.
2009: July 29 - Announces shock return to Formula One with Ferrari, deputising for Felipe Massa until the Brazilian is recovered from injuries suffered in the Hungarian Grand Prix.
2009: August 11 - After testing two-year old Ferrari, calls off comeback after deciding a neck injury sustained in a motorbike accident earlier in the year has not healed sufficiently.
2009: December 23 - World Champions Mercedes (formerly Brawn) GP announce that Schumacher is to race for them in 2010.
