Schumacher, who is regarded as motorsport’s greatest ever driver and still holds numerous records which are unlikely to be broken, will turn 50 on Thursday. The German is still being cared for by his immediate family after his 2013 skiing crash which left him in a six-month coma and little is known about his medical status which is a closely guarded secret. Here Express.co.uk pays tribute to Schumi by taking a look back through his F1 life.
First race: Belgian Grand Prix 1991
Schumacher started the first of his 306 races in Belgium in 1991 after joining Eddie Jordan’s Jordan Grand Prix team.
The team was embroiled in controversy with Michael stepping in to replace driver Bertrand Gachot who was in jail after an altercation with a police officer.
Schumacher impressed after finishing 7th around Spa-Francorchamps in what was his debut Grand Prix and the eleventh round of the 1991 season.
The race was won by fellow F1 legend Ayrton Senna, who some say is the only driver better than Schumacher, who went on to win the last of his three championships that year.
Michael Schumacher’s heartbroken family are celebrating the F1 legend’s 50th birthday (Image: GETTY)
Michael Schumacher celebrates winning his first ever grand prix with Ayrton Senna and Nigel Mansell (Image: GETTY)
First win: Belgian Grand Prix 1992
Schumi only had to wait a year before securing his maiden victory.
The German stepped onto the top step of the podium for the first time after finishing in his Benetton car ahead of Britain’s Nigel Mansell and Italys Riccardo Patrese who both drove for Williams.
Michael Schumacher celebrates his first ever Monaco Grand Prix victory in 1994 (Image: GETTY)
First Monaco win: Monaco Grand Prix 1994
Michael took his first win around the prestigious Monte Carlo track in 1994 and was his fourth victory from the first four races of that season.
It was also the first race following the tragic death of Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger at the San Marino Grand Prix two weeks earlier.
Afterward, he said: “This is more or less where I live now so this victory means a lot. I am very pleased that we came here with the car sorted out after a few small problems and we were very competitive. I am very happy that Formula One set such an example.”
Schumacher gets out of his car after a massive crash which secured his first F1 world championship (Image: GETTY)
First driver’s championship: Australian Grand Prix 1994
Schumacher’s first championship win will always be remembered for his controversial crash with Damon Hill which caused both to retire and handed him the title.
Damon Hill attempted to overtake Schumacher but the two collided and Schumacher was eliminated immediately.
Hill pitted but there was irreparable damage to his suspension leaving Nigel Mansell to claim victory.
Schumacher driving in the torrential rain during the Spanish GP, his first victory with Ferrari (Image: GETTY)
First Ferrari win: Spanish Grand Prix 1996
Schumacher joined Ferrari, F1’s most successful team, in 1996 and won his first race with the team at the Spanish Grand Prix that year.
The win, in torrential rain, is regarded to be one of his greatest ever performances.
Michael claimed victory around the wet track after qualifying in third place.
Schumacher celebrating his first Championship with Ferrari at Suzuka in 2000 (Image: GETTY)
First Ferrari championship: Japanese Grand Prix 2000
Schumacher had to wait to the penultimate race of his fifth season with Ferrari before he could celebrate his first championship with his new team and third overall.
Rubens Barrichello, one of motorsports greatest driver’s never to win a championship, partnered Schumacher for the first time around Suzuka after replacing Eddie Irvine.
Defending champion Mika Hakkinen finished second in the championship with British driver David Coulthard third.
Schumacher celebrating victory in Suzuka during his dominant 2002 season (Image: GETTY)
Recording breaking 2002 season
Michael Schumacher claimed his third of five consecutive driver’s world titles in an unprecedented season in 2002.
The German Ferrari driver finished on the podium in every single race of the season, a feat unmatched in the sport.
He climbed to the top of the podium 11 times out of a possible 17, finishing second five times and third once and was the only driver not to retire from any of the races that season.
Schumacher celebrates his last world championship with his Ferrari teammates (Image: GETTY)
Last championship: French Grand Prix 2004
He won his last driver’s world championship in a dominant 2004 season ahead of teammate Barrichello in second and Jenson Button in third.
Schumi took 13 victories, breaking his own record of 11 race wins in his amazing 2002 season, winning the title with a stunning six races still to go.
Schumi steps up to the top step of an F1 podium for the last time ever in Shaghai, 2006 (Image: GETTY)
Last win: Chinese Grand Prix 2006
Schumacher took his last Grand Prix win in 2006 at the Shanghai International Circuit.
He finished ahead of Fernando Alonso who won his second title that year.
His retirement from Formula One was announced by Ferrari while the F1 legend was still celebrating his victory.
Schumacher stands on an F1 podium for the last time, with Alonso and Raikkonen in 2012 (Image: GETTY)
Last podium: European Grand Prix 2012
Schumacher sensationally returned to Formula One in 2010 with German team Mercedes but failed to register an victories with the team.
However he took his last podium at the European Grand Prix in 2012.
Schumacher was third, finishing just behind Kimi Raikkonen in second and Fernando Alonso.
An emotional Michael Schumacher says goodbye after his last ever race (Image: GETTY)
Last race: Brazil 2012
Schumacher’s last ever race in Formula One was in Sao Paulo in November 2012.
It also marked Jenson Button’s last ever victory and was the scene of Sebastian Vettel’s third drivers’ world championship in a row.
Schumacher finished in 7th, nicely sandwiching his career having finished in the same position in his first ever Grand Prix.