Editing Michael Schumacher (section)

=== Legacy ===
[[File:Michael Schumacher 2010 Malaysia.jpg|thumb|Schumacher in 2010, the year he made his comeback at 40. Although he did not win any race or had any pole positions, he set the fastest qualifying lap once, achieved his final podium, and became the second driver at the time to have started 300 Grands Prix.]]
Schumacher's career spanned three decades and left a lasting impact on the sport, Formula One in particular but also motorsport as a whole, and his influence extended beyond his own racing career;<ref name="Walfisz 2023" /> in 2020, he was voted the most influential person in Formula One history.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 May 2020 |title=Michael Schumacher named Most Influential Person in F1 History after fan vote |url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.winner-revealed-who-you-voted-as-the-most-influential-person-in-f1-history.1pwZWXyGUuXUhxh3TBTwah.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204195041/https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.winner-revealed-who-you-voted-as-the-most-influential-person-in-f1-history.1pwZWXyGUuXUhxh3TBTwah.html |archive-date=4 February 2021 |access-date=1 February 2021 |publisher=Formula One}}</ref> During a large part of his Formula One career, Schumacher was the president of the [[Grand Prix Drivers' Association]],<ref>{{Cite news |date=9 June 2006 |title=Schumacher retains GPDA position |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/5066186.stm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101202071129/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/5066186.stm |archive-date=2 December 2010 |access-date=30 November 2007 |publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> a representative body originally set up in 1961 that had been disbanded in 1982 and Schumacher had helped to relaunch in 1994.<ref name="Gibson 2016" /> Schumacher has also often been credited with popularising Formula One worldwide, especially in Germany, where it was formerly considered a fringe sport.<ref name="Goren 2001" /><ref name="Sapa 2006" /> When Schumacher first retired in 2006, three of the top ten drivers in that year's Drivers' standings were German, more than any other nationality. Younger German drivers, such as Sebastian Vettel, felt Schumacher was key in them becoming Formula One drivers.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Noble |first=Jonathan |date=25 September 2006 |title=Vettel sorry to see 'idol' Schumacher go |url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/54667 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930211714/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/54667 |archive-date=30 September 2007 |access-date=31 October 2006 |work=Autosport}}</ref> Schumacher was also credited for turning Ferrari into Formula One's most successful team; multi-time World Champion [[Jackie Stewart]] believed the transformation of the Ferrari team was Schumacher's greatest feat.<ref name=BBCOct2006 />

By the time of his first retirement in 2006 and his final retirement in 2012, Schumacher was widely considered among the greatest Formula One drivers,<ref>{{Cite news |date=18 October 2006 |title=Is Schumacher the greatest driver of all time? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2006/oct/18/formulaone.comment |access-date=8 February 2024 |work=The Guardian |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref name="Eichenberger & Stadelmann 2009">{{Cite journal|last1=Eichenberger|first1=Reiner|last2=Stadelmann|first2=David|date=December 2009|title=Who Is The Best Formula 1 Driver? An Economic Approach to Evaluating Talent|url=https://www.unifr.ch/finwiss/de/assets/public/research/academic%20publications/Who%20ist%20the%20best%20formula%201%20driver.pdf|journal=Economic Analysis & Policy|volume=39|issue=3|pages=389–406|doi=10.1016/S0313-5926(09)50035-5|access-date=10 February 2024|publisher=University of Fribourg|issn=0313-5926}}</ref><ref name="ABCgreatest" /> a trend that continued into the 2020s.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Longman|first=Will|date=6 November 2023|title=10 greatest Formula 1 drivers in history|url=https://motorsporttickets.com/blog/10-greatest-formula-1-drivers-in-history/|access-date=8 February 2024|website=Motorsport Tickets Blog}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last1=Gaines|first1=Cork|last2=Thawaranont|first2=Chay|date=21 July 2023|title=Who is the greatest Formula 1 driver of all time?|url=https://insider.com/who-is-the-greatest-formula-1-driver-of-all-time|access-date=8 February 2024|website=Insider}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Ostly|first=Ayrton|date=3 January 2024|title=Top three races of Michael Schumacher's career on legend's 55th birthday|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/motorsports/2024/01/03/michael-schumachers-best-wins-formula-one-health-news/72100502007/|access-date=8 February 2024|website=USA Today}}</ref> Several commentators and drivers, including among others multi-time World Champions Niki Lauda and Sebastian Vettel,<ref name="BBC Sport 2006">{{Cite news |date=22 October 2006 |title=Tributes to Schumi |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/6075194.stm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090802024407/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/6075194.stm |archive-date=2 August 2009 |access-date=24 October 2006 |publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Mann-Bryans|first=Mark|date=9 December 2021|title=Michael Schumacher will always be greatest F1 driver, Sebastian Vettel claims|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/f1/michael-schumacher-sebastian-vettel-lewis-hamilton-fernando-alonso-max-verstappen-b1973011.html|access-date=8 February 2024|website=The Independent}}</ref> former rival David Coulthard,<ref>{{Cite news|date=22 October 2006|title=Schumacher hailed as 'greatest'|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/6075050.stm|access-date=8 February 2024|publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> former Formula One driver Giancarlo Fisichella,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mee|first=Lydia|date=21 January 2023|title=Michael Schumacher Is The Greatest Driver in History According To Former Driver|url=https://www.si.com/fannation/racing/f1briefings/news/f1-news-michael-schumacher-is-the-greatest-driver-in-history-according-to-former-driver-lm22|access-date=8 February 2024|website=Sport Illustrated<!--F1 Briefings: Formula 1 News, Rumors, Standings and More-->}}</ref> and Mercedes team bosses Ross Brawn and Toto Wolff,<ref>{{Cite news|date=4 October 2012|title=Michael Schumacher is best driver this century – Ross Brawn|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/19828440|access-date=8 February 2024|publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Crebolder|first=Finley|date=12 December 2021|title=Toto Wolff: Nobody will ever be greater than Michael Schumacher|url=https://www.planetf1.com/news/toto-wolff-michael-schumacher-greatest|access-date=8 February 2024|website=PlanetF1}}</ref> have at times described him as the greatest of all time.<ref name="Gibson 2016" /> Schumacher has been described as statistically the most successful driver in Formula One history and the most complete Formula One driver ever.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McCarthy |first=Dan |date=27 February 2023 |title=Best F1 drivers of all time ranked |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sport/formula-1/best-f1-drivers-all-time/ |access-date=8 February 2024 |website=Radio Times}}</ref><ref name="Autosport 2009" /> Objective [[mathematical model]]s,<ref name="Eichenberger & Stadelmann 2009" /><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Bell |first1=Andrew |last2=Jones |first2=Kelvyn |last3=Sabel |first3=Clive E. |last4=Smith |first4=James |date=1 June 2016 |title=Formula for success: Multilevel modelling of Formula One Driver and Constructor performance, 1950–2014 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/274080402_Formula_for_success_Multilevel_modelling_of_Formula_One_Driver_and_Constructor_performance_1950-2014<!--https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/jqas-2015-0050/html--> |journal=Journal of Quantitative Analysis in Sports |volume=12 |issue=2 |pages=99–112 |doi=10.1515/jqas-2015-0050 |issn=1559-0410 |access-date=10 February 2024 |via=ResearchGate |hdl-access=free |hdl=1983/dd66908d-255b-47ec-94f1-e5e7acfeca49}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Paine |first=Neil |date=27 July 2018 |title=The Best Formula One Driver Might Be A Guy Who Hasn't Won Since 2013 |url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-best-formula-one-driver-might-be-a-guy-who-hasnt-won-since-2013/ |access-date=10 February 2024 |website=FiveThirtyEight}}</ref> such as Eichenberger and Stadelmann (2009, 3rd), original F1metrics (2014, 4th),<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 November 2014 |title=2014 model-based driver rankings |url=https://f1metrics.wordpress.com/2014/11/26/2014-model-based-driver-rankings/ |access-date=10 February 2024 |website=F1metrics}}</ref> Bell ''et al.'' (2015, 3rd), ''[[FiveThirtyEight]]'' (2018, 2nd), and updated F1metrics (2019, 1st), put Schumacher consistenly among the top 5 greatest Formula One drivers ever.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 July 2014 |title=Who was the greatest F1 driver? |url=https://f1metrics.wordpress.com/2014/07/18/who-was-the-greatest-f1-driver/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240214162224/https://f1metrics.wordpress.com/2014/07/18/who-was-the-greatest-f1-driver/ |archive-date=14 February 2024 |access-date=14 February 2024 |website=F1metrics}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=Justin |date=25 May 2018 |title=Who's The Best Formula One Driver of All Time? |url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/formula-one-racing/ |access-date=10 February 2024 |website=FiveThirtyEight}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=22 November 2019 |title=The f1metrics top 100 |url=https://f1metrics.wordpress.com/2019/11/22/the-f1metrics-top-100/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240209235350/https://f1metrics.wordpress.com/2019/11/22/the-f1metrics-top-100/ |archive-date=9 February 2024 |access-date=10 February 2024 |website=F1metrics}}</ref> By 2004, Schumacher came to hold most major Formula One records, and by 2006, his name was inscribed in almost all of Formula One's record books, including for most World Championships (7), most wins (91), most podiums (155), most pole positions (68), and most fastest laps (77),<ref name="Jeffries 2023" /> the latter a record he still holds. Although several of his records were later equalled or beaten, such as the most wins in a season at 13 (a record he first broke in 1995 and then equalled in 2000 and 2001, and further improved in 2002 and 2004), others remain his, such as his 100 percent podium finish in 2002 (17),<ref>{{Cite web|last=Morland|first=Greg|date=19 June 2013|title=Top ten: Unbeatable Formula One records|url=https://www.racefans.net/2013/06/19/top-ten-unbeatable-formula-one-records/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411011800/https://www.racefans.net/2013/06/19/top-ten-unbeatable-formula-one-records/|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 April 2021|access-date=8 February 2024|website=RaceFans}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Elson|first=James|date=21 July 2021|title=2002: the year Michael Schumacher described as 'perfect'|url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/2002-the-year-michael-schumacher-described-as-perfect/|access-date=8 February 2024|website=Motor Sport}}</ref> which included eleven wins, five second places, and one third place.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Masefield|first=Fraser|date=26 March 2014|title=10 Formula 1 Records That Will Never Be Broken|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2006581-10-formula-1-records-that-will-never-be-broken|access-date=8 February 2024|website=Bleacher Report}}</ref>

In 2006, Schumacher was also the driver to have made the most starts with the same constructor (Ferrari, 180) and engine manufacturer (Ferrari, 180).<ref name="Collantine 2006">{{Cite web |last=Collantine |first=Keith |date=9 November 2006 |title=F1 2006 Review: Michael Schumacher stats |url=https://www.racefans.net/2006/11/09/f1-2006-review-michael-schumacher%E2%80%99s-stats/ |access-date=8 February 2024 |website=RaceFans}}</ref> He and Rubens Barrichello were the two drivers who have made the most starts as teammate (102, 2000–2005) and most 1–2 finishes (24 in the same period).<ref name="Collantine 2006" /> Schumacher tied Nigel Mansell in 2004 for the record of most wins at the start of a season, and he tied Senna for most pole positions at the same circuit (eight, with Schumacher at Suzuka and Senna at [[Imola Circuit|Imola]]).<ref name="Collantine 2006" /> At 15 seasons, he holds the record for most consecutive seasons of winning at least one race (shared with Hamilton), and he held the record for most wins at the same venue (eight, at the [[Magny-Cours circuit]] in France) and also the record for the most wins in the same Grand Prix (eight, France).<ref name="Collantine 2006" /> At the 2003 Italian Grand Prix, he set the record for the race win at the fastest ever average speed of 247.586 kph (153.843&nbsp;mph).<ref name="Collantine 2006" /> By 2006, he had spent a record 5,108 of his racing laps in the lead, and led 141 races.<ref name="Collantine 2006" /> He also made the most starts from the front row (115), scored the most points (1,369) before the point-system was overhauled in 2010, finished the most races in the points consecutively (24, from 2001 to 2003), and held the record for most consecutive fastest laps at the same circuit (7).<ref name="Collantine 2006" /> In 2002, he won the World Championship with six rounds to spare, which was earlier in the year than anyone before him (21 July).<ref name="Collantine 2006" />

Schumacher, who dominated the sport in the 1990s and early 2000s becoming in 1995 the youngest back-to-back World Champion at the time,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hardy |first=Edward |date=22 January 2024 |title=Who are F1's 10 youngest world champions? |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/who-are-f1s-10-youngest-world-champions/ |access-date=8 February 2024 |website=Motor Sport}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=21 May 2023 |title=The 17 World Champions that belong in an exclusive Formula 1 club |url=https://www.planetf1.com/news/every-multiple-formula-1-world-champion |access-date=8 February 2024 |website=PlanetF1}}</ref> was noted for his ability in the rain, winning many of the wet races he took part in,<ref name="Hilton 2003, pp. 131–132" /> most notably Spain in 1996,<ref name="Beer 2020" /> and for his race pace, being able to set consecutive qualifying fastest laps;<ref name="Auto Racing 2007" /> due to refuelling, he missed out several pole positions, having set his race strategy through more fuel on board (from his debut in 1991 through to the end of 2002 before the introduction of race-fuel qualifying from 2003 onwards, Schumacher was only outqualified 13 times in 178 race entries), and won 23 percent more races than getting pole positions. He also respectively won 51 and 24 times without starting first or from the front row, and had 48 wins with fastest lap, all three being more than any other driver, and converted 40 of his pole positions to wins at 58 percent, a record number that was later beaten by Hamilton.<!--https://www.statsf1.com/en/statistiques/pilote/pole/et-victoire.aspx--> By the time he first retired in 2006, with 91 wins in 248 starts out of 250 entries (only behind Riccardo Patrese), Schumacher had a win ratio of 36 percent of starts, ahead of Formula One drivers Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost, both of them at 25 percent of starts. He also had 27 percent of pole positions, 30 percent of fastest laps, and the most victories from pole with fastest lap at 22.<ref name="Collantine 2006" /> He also could have won even more races had he went to the dominant teams of the 1990s (Williams and McLaren) and not joined Ferrari in 1996, a view echoed by his former teammate Eddie Irvine,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Foster |first=Michelle |date=18 October 2019 |title='Schumi could have won more if he hasn't joined Ferrari' |url=https://www.planetf1.com/news/schumi-couldve-won-more-if-he-hasnt-joined-ferrari |access-date=8 February 2024 |website=PlanetF1}}</ref> and could have become the first driver to win 100 races were it not for some situations that went beyond his control, such as reliability issues causing him to finish lower than first in 1994, one revoked win in 1994, two unfortunate collisions with Coulthard and Juan Pablo Montoya in 1998 and 2004, the two wins he gave to Irvine and Barrichello in 1999 and 2002, and retirements at the 1994 Spanish Grand Prix, the 2006 Japanese Grand Prix, and the 2012 Monaco Grand Prix.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Freeman|first=Glenn|date=27 October 2020|title=Nine lost F1 wins that stopped Schumacher reaching 100|url=https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/nine-lost-f1-wins-that-stopped-schumacher-reaching-100/|access-date=8 February 2024|website=The Race}}</ref>