Seven-time Formula One World Champion, Michael Schumacher raced in over 300 Grands Prix and won a record 91 of them. So it would be almost impossible to pick just five races considered to be his very best performances wouldn’t it? Well I gave it a shot anyway…
1995 Belgian Grand Prix
Schumacher was a master of Spa-Francorchamps, having impressed on his debut there in 1991 and then taking his maiden win at the circuit just a year later. By 1995 Schumacher was fighting for his second world title with rival Damon Hill but despite starting the race in 16th place, not only did Schumacher get the better of Hill, he even went on to win the race… by almost 20 seconds!
The highlight of the race came when Schumacher somehow managed to keep Hill behind for a number of laps on a wet track while on slick tyres. That’s why they called him ‘The Rainmaster.’
1996 Spanish Grand Prix
Another race that showcased Schumacher’s wet weather abilities and one that many believe to be his greatest ever drive. The German dropped down to sixth place after a terrible start but in just 13 laps, he’d wrestled his Ferrari (in absolutely appalling conditions) into the lead.
Schumacher went on to win the race by over 45 seconds, at some points lapping the Circuit de Catalunya a full three seconds faster than his rivals.
1997 Belgian Grand Prix
A combination of his favourite track in his favourite conditions led to a Schumacher master-class which left the rest of the Formula One grid looking like total chumps.
Schumacher passed both Jean Alesi and Jacques Villeneuve to take the lead of the race on lap five and crossed the line 5.8 seconds clear of the pack! By the next lap he was 16.9 seconds clear, within five laps he was over 40 seconds clear and by lap 13 his lead was a ridiculous 67 seconds! Unbelievable.
2005 San Marino Grand Prix
A race that will be remember by British viewers as the one ITV ruined with adverts but by F1 fans as an incredible fight between Fernando Alonso and Michael Schumacher. Schumi was having a disastrous year in 2005 but at the San Marino Grand Prix in Imola, he proved why he was a seven-time world champion.
After starting 13th, Schumacher managed to catch race leader Fernando Alonso (despite getting caught behind a Trulli train for most of the race) and came within 0.215 seconds of taking a win against all the odds.
2006 Brazilian Grand Prix
Schumacher went into his “final F1 race” with a chance (if only a small one) of winning an eighth world title, 10 points behind championship leader, Fernando Alonso. Starting 10th, Schumi fought his way through the back only to get a puncture while passing Giancarlo Fisichella (Alonso’s teammate of all people) and dropping the German right to the very back of the field and almost a lap down on the leaders.
Despite all his poor luck, Schumacher still managed to show his brilliance with the fightback of all fightbacks. He made pass after pass to finish in fourth place and only a handful of seconds off taking a podium in his farewell race… until of course he came back for another go with Mercedes in 2010.
Share your favourite Michael Schumacher race in the comments below