On October 7, 2023, Max Verstappen became a three-time world champion. Rewind 23 years to the 2000 Japanese GP. On October 8, 2000, Michael Schumacher became a three-time world champion. After five seasons of giving his absolute best for Ferrari, Schumacher finally got what he wanted. That win left a mark on Formula 1, not just because Schumacher won his first championship with Ferrari, but because it marked the beginning of the Schumacher era and solidified his status as one of the greatest drivers to compete in the sport.

As a racing driver, you can never have enough. You always want more. So, after Schumacher reigned supreme at Ferrari and retired in 2006, he couldn’t stay away. Rejoining F1 in 2010, he spent till the end of 2012 with Mercedes, after which he retired for good. Unfortunately, he never got to experience retired life properly because, just over a year after his retirement, he got into a skiing accident in 2013. Even though he woke up from his coma in 2014, he hasn’t been the same since. But October 8 will give him something to smile about.

Michael Schumacher’s Suzuka masterclass

“Schumacher had a bit of the devil in him, combined with this was a meticulous dedication to his craft, the quest for perfection. Precision, hard work, and discipline were his hallmarks,” wrote James Allen in his biography of the seven-time champion. The 2000 Japanese GP was like a culmination of all these—Schumacher exploited all of his qualities to end Ferrari’s 21-year championship drought. Going into the race, the German had an 8-point lead in the championship over McLaren’s Mika Hakkinen. With Suzuka being the penultimate race, there were only 20 points up for grabs. If Hakkinen had won Suzuka, the Malaysian GP would have decided the championship. But Ferrari and Schumacher ensured that didn’t happen.

In the build-up to the race, Schumacher said, “It hasn’t been a relaxing time at all, and I still haven’t completely got over the jetlag from the States. But I’m prepared to sacrifice this and a lot more to bring the title back to Maranello.” His quest for his first championship with Ferrari started looking good after he secured pole position. With Hakkinen lining up alongside him, the Finn overtook Schumacher when the lights went out. From there on, he had the advantage. That was until the second round of pitstops. That’s where it all came back to Ferrari and led to this iconic radio message by Technical Director Ross Brawn.

Hakkinen had undercut Schumacher, but the German out in a banger of an inlap. While exiting the pits, Brawn said, “Look out, Michael. When you get out, he’ll be there. I’ll talk you through it. You’re looking good. It’s looking good, it’s looking good. It’s looking fantastic, Michael! Well done. Well done. Fantastic. Just keep it on the road now.” Schumacher emerged ahead of Hakkinen, and he knew if he kept the car on track and brought it home, he’d also bring home the championship. That’s precisely what he did.

For his first four seasons driving for Ferrari, Schumacher didn’t come close to a championship. But he bided his time—just like he did at the 2000 Japanese GP, the race of his life—showed the exceptional patience of a champion and became just that. A three-time champion. Had it not been for his patience during the race—and with Ferrari, in general—who knows? Maybe his third championship wouldn’t have come. And neither would the ones that followed in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005 have come.  

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To be a champion, apart from having patience, you also need to be cutthroat. Per his Ferrari teammate Rubens Barrichello, Schumacher had that box ticked, too.

Michael Schumacher never helped Rubens Barrichello

If you need proof that drivers help their new teammates, take the case of Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda at AlphaTauri in 2021. Or even Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri at McLaren this season. Gasly and Norris both made Tsunoda and Piastri feel at home since the time they joined their respective teams. Or even take the case of Fernando Alonso helping out Lance Stroll at Aston Martin as much as he could this season. Unlike all of them, Barichello explained how he never felt at home with Ferrari, primarily due to Schumacher.

He said, “I’ve always made friends, and I’ve always had a good relationship with all my teammates, but Michael has never supported me. He’s never been there to offer help, and I’ve never asked for it. With Michael, it was different. Many times, we ended a meeting, and then another one just started with him. In the end, I understood that the team was only his.”

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What is your take on Michael Schumacher? Do you consider him one of the best to have raced in Formula 1?