Famous Formula One racecar driver Michael Schumacher was born January 3, 1969 to parents Roth and Elisabeth. A young Michael became infatuated with racecars after the family's move to Kerpin-Manheim, a town outside of Cologne, Germany. The entire family became involved in the sport of karting, and soon Michael would prove to have a knack for making hairpin turns on fast tracks. Only four-years-old at the time he was given his first kart, Michael slowly began to build what would later become a World Championship career.

Go-karts were an obsession for the entire family in the 1970s, and no one in the family loved it more than Michael. Rolf began work as a go-kart repairman, due to his mechanical talents, and Michael always had one of the best karts on the track. In 1980, Michael and his family make the trek to Belgium for the World Karting Championship. It is here that Schumacher first met his idol, Ayrton Senna. It wasn't long after when Schumacher began making a name for himself, winning the German Junior Championship in 1984 and the European Championship in 87.

When Schumacher made the jump to Formula racing, he was in desperate need of sponsorship. He found sponsors in Germany, including Jurgen Dik, and thus began racing in the Formula series. His first year of competition and Michael had impressively won nine of ten rounds. Schumacher's future manager, Willie Weber, was impressed with Michael's abilities and gave him a test run in a Formula Three car. Amazed by what he was seeing as Michael began setting track times better than the original driver, Weber quickly allowed the boy a spot on the team. His first year in Formula Three wasn't easy, as he was in stiff competition with future Formula One drivers, Karl Wendlinger and Heinz-Harald Frentzen.

Wendlinger took home the Formula Three championship that year, but Michael dominated the field the following year. However, instead of making a class-up jump to Formula 3000, Weber had his young driver enter the Mercedes junior team. Schumacher would go on to state that the decision to race in the junior league was one of the defining moments of his career, as his talents for driving were honed against the competition and brilliantly performing car. His smooth trademark style was born.

In the top class, Formula One, Schumacher was given a chance to take the wheel when Jordan's driver, Bertrand Gachot, ended up in jail. Jordan wanted to sign Schumacher to a three-year contract to drive immediately, but Michael's manger urged against the move. Instead, a temporary deal was worked out, and Michael's debut at Spa in Belgium was nothing less than mind-blowing. He wouldn't win his first race until the following year, but he always let his talent show on the track in every race.

Schumacher came back for Jordan in 1994, and won his first World Championship. Michael quickly showed the world that this wasn't a freak occurrence, as he battled fellow driver Damon Hill to become the sport's youngest double champion. In 1996, Schumacher made the move to team Ferrari. By the time Aryton Senna died, Michael was the sports only real competition in F1 racing.

Schumacher retired in 2006, leaving behind some very impressive numbers. He won 91 races, earned 68 Pole Positions, recorded 76 fastest laps, and was a 7-time World Champion.