Michael Schumacher’s 9 greatest F1 races | GRR

After appearing in his first race for Eddie Jordan at Spa in 1991, he was soon picked up by Benetton to compete for the rest of the season. He quickly matched the speed of his teammate, three-time world champion Nelson Piquet. By the time he had participated in six Formula 1 races, it was clear that Schumacher was on track to become the top driver in the sport.

With 91 grand prix victories over a remarkable 21-year career, it’s hard to capture all the reasons why he will forever be regarded as one of the greatest drivers in racing history. He had a unique ability to get more out of a car than anyone else, often dominating the competition for long stretches of time. Michael Schumacher delivered numerous unforgettable performances throughout his career, and here’s our selection of the races that we believe were his finest.

1992 Belgian Grand Prix Highlights

A good starting point is Michael Schumacher's initial win in Formula 1. By the time he reached the midpoint of his first complete season, he had consistently earned points in every race he completed, securing podium finishes in Mexico, Brazil, Spain, Canada, and Germany. Heading into the Belgian Grand Prix, he was positioned fourth in the drivers' standings, trailing the two top Williams drivers. Nigel Mansell had already clinched the championship, while Schumacher was engaged in an ongoing rivalry with Ayrton Senna for the next spot behind the frontrunners.

Just about a year after making his Formula 1 debut, Schumacher qualified in third position, trailing behind Mansell and Senna. However, he slipped to fourth by the first lap when Patrese took advantage of his higher-performing Williams car. As rain began to fall at the race's start, Schumacher was one of the first drivers to switch to wet tires as the conditions deteriorated.

In challenging weather, he managed to stay close to the Williams pair while they pursued Senna’s McLaren, which was still on slick tires. However, midway through the race, Schumacher made a mistake that sent him off the track. Once a dry line started forming, he opted to switch back to slicks. After leaving the pits, he quickly increased his speed and started catching up to the two Williams drivers. He eventually took the lead after Mansell made his second pit stop.

After that moment, he never glanced back and surged ahead to win by over 36.5 seconds ahead of Mansell, showcasing his impressive skills in the rain for the first time. The initial win is a memorable milestone for any driver, but Schumacher claimed this victory in a style that would become familiar in the years to come.

1994 Spanish Grand Prix Highlights

Following an impressive 1993 season where Schumacher secured a spot on the podium in every race he completed, he had firmly established himself as a future champion. However, no one was prepared for the surprise as he clinched victory in the first two races of the new season, especially while Senna faced difficulties with his new Williams car. Schumacher continued to triumph, winning again at Imola under tragic conditions, and then secured his fourth consecutive win in Monaco.

When he got to Spain, he had a substantial 30-point advantage in the drivers' standings and secured the second pole position of his career, beating the competition by over half a second, which served as a warning to the others on the grid. He took the lead right from the start and, just like he had done all season, began to pull away from Damon Hill. It seemed like it was going to be yet another win for the German driver, making it five out of five.

A Look Back At Schumacher’s First F1 Title

As Schumacher got ready for his first pit stop on lap 20, he suddenly slowed down considerably. This allowed Johnny Herbert in the Lotus to catch up and eventually pass him to unlap himself as they both left the pits. Just two laps later, Mika Häkkinen overtook him for the race lead, making it evident that the Benetton was experiencing issues.

In fifth gear, Schumacher had to carefully manage the car under incredibly challenging conditions, with over 40 laps remaining on a Catalunya circuit filled with tight corners. It appeared highly unlikely that he could complete the race, yet he persevered and astonishingly kept a steady pace, holding onto second place behind the new leader, Damon Hill.

After finishing a quick pitstop in fifth gear and somehow keeping the car going as he exited the pit, Schumacher impressively maintained his second-place position in the race. He sped forward, often recording faster lap times than Hill, despite driving a car that was barely in shape to finish. This race was definitely one of his finest performances.

1995 Belgian Grand Prix Highlights

By 1995, Schumacher had become a world champion and was recognized as the top driver in Formula 1. Throughout that season, he frequently delivered outstanding performances, securing five wins and taking the lead in the championship before the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa, the track where he first demonstrated his exceptional skills.

After being disqualified for finishing first in a race a year before, Schumacher's comeback at Spa seemed likely to bring more frustration, especially since he qualified in 16th place. However, it didn't take long for him to turn things around, as he quickly moved up into the top ten by the end of the second lap.

By the sixth lap, he managed to move up to fifth position, but he found it tough to overtake Eddie Irvine’s Jordan car. It wasn't until lap 11 that he finally got past him, although at that point, he was already 20 seconds behind the leader, David Coulthard. When the Williams car stopped because of a gearbox problem, Schumacher moved up to third place. He quickly surged to take the lead as Hill and Berger, who were ahead of him, made their initial pit stops.

As the rain began to pour, Der Regenmeister found himself with the chance to demonstrate his skills in wet conditions once more. Hill opted for a second pit stop to switch to wet tires, while Schumacher decided to remain on slicks. Initially, it seemed he had made a poor decision as Hill quickly closed in on him in the slippery weather. Nevertheless, the German held his ground, executing a series of impressive defensive maneuvers, particularly at Les Combes, to maintain his lead. By the time he finally allowed Hill to pass, the rain was already starting to let up, and it wouldn't be long before the Williams driver would have to make another pit stop to change back to slick tires.

With 17 laps remaining, the rain made a comeback, bringing fresh turmoil to the race. This prompted the deployment of the safety car, allowing Schumacher to make a quick pit stop for wet tires and effectively take the lead in the grand prix. When the race resumed, his pace was incredible; he quickly built a two-second lead within the first half lap. From that point on, his victory seemed assured. A ten-second stop-and-go penalty for Hill further secured Schumacher's win, as he crossed the finish line nearly 20 seconds ahead of the competition.

1996 Spanish Grand Prix Highlights

Following his consecutive world championship wins with Benetton, Schumacher made the unexpected choice to join Ferrari in 1996, a team that hadn't claimed a drivers' title since 1979. His time at Ferrari began somewhat inconsistently; in the first six races, he secured three podium finishes but also faced three retirements. It was further complicated by a first-lap collision while starting from pole at the rain-soaked Monaco Grand Prix.

A couple of weeks later, the conditions for the Spanish Grand Prix were even more challenging, and Schumacher was facing a winless streak that was his longest since 1993. With Williams showing a strong performance, it would require something exceptional for him to secure a victory in 1996. However, when the rain poured down, you could never underestimate Schumacher's ability to rise to the occasion.

Despite having a tough time at the beginning, Schumacher managed to gain ground quickly, moving up to fifth place by the end of the first lap. As Hill went off the track, Schumacher continued to advance. For a good portion of the early laps, he was clearly the quickest driver on the circuit. He soon caught up to Jean Alesi, who was in second place, keeping an eye on the leader, Jacques Villeneuve.

As the situation appeared to deteriorate, Schumacher applied pressure skillfully, executing a fantastic maneuver on the inside of Alesi while narrowly avoiding any collision. He quickly targeted Villeneuve, replicating that same move a lap later to seize the lead in the race.

His pace in this race is particularly remarkable, especially since nearly all the other drivers had difficulty maintaining control of their cars on the track. The championship frontrunner Hill experienced three spins and ultimately had to retire due to damage on the tenth lap. Meanwhile, Schumacher built an impressive 37-second lead by the end of lap 23, clocking about two seconds faster per lap. After his first pit stop, he continued to improve his lap times, consistently running about four seconds faster than Villeneuve and Alesi, who were trailing him.

With just ten laps remaining, he had stretched his lead to nearly a minute. Even though he eased off significantly to ensure he could finish the race safely, he secured his first win with Ferrari, delivering one of the best performances of his career.

1997 Monaco Grand Prix Highlights

A pattern is emerging, isn't it? The 1997 Monaco Grand Prix took place under exceptionally challenging conditions, with the track changing between wet and dry. Schumacher lined up in third place on wet tires, positioned next to the two Williams drivers, Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Villeneuve, who chose to begin the race on slick tires.

Schumacher's choice quickly paid off when he surged into the lead even before reaching the first turn. The Williams drivers fell back as other racers on wet tires overtook them, allowing Schumacher to pull ahead. Having overcome the disappointments of the previous year, the German driver raced off to an impressive 6.6-second lead within the first lap, while the others cautiously navigated the track behind him.

He stretched his lead to 11 seconds a lap later, showcasing his unmatched skills in the Formula 1 Grand Prix as he discovered a pace that others couldn’t match. With incredible car handling and unwavering resolve, Schumacher put on a display that brought to mind Ayrton Senna’s dazzling performances on the streets of Monaco, solidifying his status as a master in rainy conditions.

He almost made the same error Senna did in 1988. With a huge lead, he barely managed to evade trouble as he went off the track at St. Devote. Luckily, since he was ahead by more than a minute, he didn't have to worry about losing his position. In the end, he secured his first Monaco Grand Prix victory, finishing 53 seconds ahead of the competition.

1998 Hungarian Grand Prix Highlights

Following his disqualification from the 1997 drivers' championship, it seemed like Schumacher would have to hold off on claiming his first title with Ferrari until 1998, as McLaren emerged as the leading team in the sport. Once again, the German driver had to address a performance gap in his competition with Mika Häkkinen. Nevertheless, he achieved victory in six races that year, highlighted by an especially memorable performance at the 1998 Hungarian Grand Prix.

Schumacher started in his usual third position on the grid, right behind the two McLaren drivers, Häkkinen and David Coulthard. He did his best during the early part of the race to stay close to the leaders. He made his first pit stop on lap 24 and another one on lap 43, following a unique strategy that prompted McLaren to respond with Coulthard.

However, it was too late by that point, as Schumacher’s Ferrari had suddenly gained speed. He managed to get ahead of Coulthard just before it became a popular move and launched into one of the most remarkable runs in Formula 1 history, consistently clocking qualifying lap times while chasing down Häkkinen. Schumacher’s speed was so impressive that when Häkkinen came out of his own second pit stop, Schumacher had already done enough to move into the lead of the race.

Not even a blunder at the last corner could throw him off his game. He kept pressing forward relentlessly, while Häkkinen struggled with suspension problems and started to drop back. When it was time for his third and final pit stop, Schumacher had created a solid 27-second cushion over Coulthard, ensuring he returned to the track in first position.

This could be the highlight of Schumacher’s extensive career. If you get the opportunity, it’s definitely worth revisiting that incredible third stint, which was praised by figures like Ross Brawn as the finest they had ever witnessed. It served as a reminder, for those who needed it, of why Schumacher was a two-time world champion and foreshadowed the dominance he would soon display.

2004 French Grand Prix Highlights

By 2004, Michael Schumacher had already clinched the title of Formula 1 world champion six times, and as he headed into the French Grand Prix that season, he was on track to secure another championship. His season began flawlessly, with only one setback in Monaco where he had to retire, but he had achieved an impressive eight victories in the first nine races, making this year one of his most remarkable in his racing career.

Fernando Alonso, Schumacher’s latest competitor, secured the top spot at Magny-Cours, quickly establishing a solid lead at the start of the race. Schumacher was managing to stay close but was only holding his position just within reach. This marked one of the initial moments where we would witness these two rivals clash directly, foreshadowing their battles in the following two years. Up until that point in 2004, Ferrari had faced no real threats, so Alonso's speed might have raised some alarms for Schumacher. Still, the experienced German seemed at ease, maintaining a gap of about one to two seconds behind Alonso.

Schumacher was the first to pit, but he was unable to gain enough time to pull off the undercut this time. Meanwhile, Alonso was able to increase his lead a bit as he exited his own pit stop. The two drivers remained in close formation for the next 15 laps until Schumacher made another pit stop.

Upon rejoining the track, he showcased an impressive speed, setting a new lap record on his next circuit. Now completing laps one and a half seconds faster than Alonso, Schumacher surged into the lead once the Renault made its second pit stop.

In recent years, Schumacher had often leveraged his advanced equipment to dominate his rivals. However, during the French Grand Prix, it was he who stepped up when it counted the most. He unleashed a remarkable set of rapid laps at just the right moments, securing yet another win and solidifying his status as the top driver in the world.

2006 Chinese Grand Prix Highlights

Following his defeat by Alonso in 2005, Schumacher aimed to reclaim his title in 2006. This marked the beginning of an incredible championship rivalry that spanned the whole season, with both drivers consistently securing wins.

Shortly after securing his sixth victory of 2006 at the Italian Grand Prix, Schumacher revealed his decision to retire from racing at the end of the year. This announcement signaled that he had just three races remaining in his celebrated career. The first of these races took place in China, where Schumacher found himself two points behind Alonso in the championship standings. The stage was set for an intense showdown.

During that period, there was intense competition between Michelin and Bridgestone tires, and in rainy conditions, the cars equipped with Michelins had the upper hand. Consequently, Schumacher qualified in sixth place, making him the sole Bridgestone car to break into the top ten. Remarkably, the next fastest Bridgestone car was Mark Webber's Williams, which was way down in 14th position.

The rainy conditions persisted into race day, and Schumacher was once again anticipated to face challenges. Alonso secured the pole position and appeared poised to gain a significant advantage in the championship standings. As the race began in the damp weather, by the tenth lap, the Ferrari had climbed to fifth place, but it lagged about 20 seconds behind the front-runner.

Slowly but surely, the track began to dry out, and Schumacher's speed started to pick up as he approached Giancarlo Fisichella, who was in second place with his Renault. Schumacher was the first among the top three to make his pit stop and was still quite far behind Alonso after the Spaniard completed his pit stop. However, the situation changed as Alonso began to have difficulties following his decision to change his front tires in the pits, allowing Schumacher to quickly close the distance between himself and the two Renaults.

While Fisichella fought hard to defend his teammate, Schumacher was determined to catch up, and soon both drivers had Alonso in a tough spot. They battled it out until their second and last pit stops, with Schumacher being the first to come in, aiming to take advantage of new tyres. Fisichella managed to keep his lead as he exited the pits, but when Schumacher entered turn one with his tyres already warmed up, he sliced past Fisichella on the inside and took the lead with just 15 laps remaining.

At the time, we had no idea that this would be Schumacher's last win in Formula 1. It's quite poetic that this particular race highlighted his remarkable determination, as he successfully overcame the competition from both Renault drivers to claim victory under tough circumstances.

2006 Brazilian Grand Prix Highlights

When it comes to determination, we can't overlook one of Schumacher's most remarkable performances. Back then, we believed that this could be his last Formula 1 race. He was aware that winning was essential for him to have a chance at his eighth world championship, counting on Alonso not finishing in the points. In many respects, this moment would have been an ideal way to wrap up a groundbreaking career.

The race got off to a rough start for Schumacher, who was unable to clock a time in the last qualifying round, leaving him to start in tenth place. Right from the start, he went on the offensive, trying to squeeze past three cars heading into the first turn. He maintained that aggressive approach as they raced towards turn four. By the end of the first lap, he had moved up to seventh place and kept pushing forward until a safety car came out on lap two.

You could see from how Schumacher's car was moving that he was determined as he closely pursued Fisichella, aiming for fifth place. Unfortunately, trouble hit on the eighth lap when Schumacher attempted a daring overtaking maneuver on the outside of turn one. Fisichella's front wing grazed Schumacher's rear left tire, resulting in a puncture that sent the German to the last position in the race. The championship title now seemed unattainable, but it appeared that Schumacher wasn’t aware of that.

Currently sitting in 18th place, the Ferrari quickly became the quickest vehicle on the track as Schumacher, with determination, launched into an exciting comeback. It had been some time since we witnessed Schumacher performing at such an electrifying level, but it felt as if we had returned to 1998, when he consistently topped the timing charts. Clocking in fastest lap after fastest lap, he ascended back into the top ten, but he wasn’t done yet.

He wouldn't back down, even while Alonso was comfortably securing the championship in second place. This driver demonstrated once again why he's considered one of the greatest in history. In the end, he managed to climb to fourth place, wrapping up his career with an impressive maneuver on Kimi Räikkönen with just three laps remaining.

Though there was no official title or championship win, this moment could have served as the ideal conclusion to Michael Schumacher's racing career. He had accomplished more than any other driver in history, and finishing on such a thrilling note, passionately displaying his love for the sport, felt like a fitting and poetic way to wrap up his legacy.

Photos provided by Motorsport Images.