Michael Schumacher - The Whole Story

By: Christopher Hilton .

Between 1994 and 2006, Grand Prix racing lived through the Michael Schumacher era. He dominated Formula 1 as no other driver had ever done. Sometimes the domination generated awe, sometimes admiration, sometimes anger amid bitter controversies.

Christopher Hilton, top Formula 1 biographer, tells the full story of this son of an ordinary builder from an ordinary part of Germany who, as a kid, had no interest in Grand Prix racing at all. Packed with anecdotes, action, opinion, race statistics and an account of each one of his 249 Grands Prix, the book explores Schumacher's entire career, from his childhood influences and the happy chance that brought him a little home-made kart, right through to his final race for Ferrari, battling to fourth place in the 2006 Brazilian Grand Prix.

It speaks for Schumacher's precocious talent that he got into single-seater racing despite having no money. He also brought a level of fitness and dedication that no-one had seen before. Signed by Mercedes as part of a team of youngsters chosen to campaign the 1991 World Sports Car Championship, he quickly moved to Ft There he showed an almost mysterious ability to exploit whichever car he got into, starting with the Jordan for his debut at Spa. His performance in qualifying was so stunning that it is regarded as a defining moment in the modern history of the sport. From that flowed the years at Benetton, two World Championships and recriminations in his struggle against Damon Hill.

Then came the greatest challenge of all: to make Ferrari great again. It took four difficult years — and more controversy when he crashed into Jacques Villeneuve. But by now Schumacher was at the height of his powers. He broke every significant record and moved powerfully past Juan-Manuel Fangio's record of five World Championships, which many good judges had thought would stand forever.

The story of this private, precise, seven-times World Champion is told using original material, a host of extensive interviews with the people who were there, and what Schumacher himself said.

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