Japanese GP THROWBACK: When Michael Schumacher Ended Ferrari’s 21-Year F1 Title Drought

Michael Schumacher is widely known as one of the greatest drivers in Formula One. However, what many people don’t know is that even the German legend went through a title drought. Fortunately, that all changed at the Japanese GP back in 2000, when he won his third world title and first with Ferrari.

He won his first world title with Benetton back in 1994 and the second one a year later. Thereafter, Schumacher had a five-year drought without having won the title, but all that changed in Japan in 2000.

To this day, Schumacher has seven world titles, until recently that Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes has equaled that record by winning the championship last season.

Michael Schumacher emotional after Japan win

The scenes of that day in Suzuka would still be remembered vividly by the fans of the Scuderia. The Maranello-based squad couldn’t control their emotions, and neither could Schumacher, who had tears of joy after winning his third title.

In the post-race conference, Schumacher said, “It’s difficult for me to find proper words for such feelings. There was suck an outbreak of emotions, initially when I crossed the line and these conditions were difficult today.”

Schumacher isn’t concerned if his records are broken

Many would have thought that beating or even equaling Michael’s record would have been a mammoth of a task. However, Hamilton equaled that record last season and is on his way to make a record of his own. Schumacher was well aware that records were there to be broken.

He said, “I would say, absolutely, yes. Nobody thought, neither me, myself I thought I could beat the five of Fangio. Then I did, and I even Increased it to seven.

“Records are there to be beaten. I’m quite relaxed that one day it will happen, whether it’s Lewis, whether it’s Massa, Sebastian Vettel, or whoever. It might be someone of the current or of the future that could or will do it. But I’ve got no problem about it.”

Schumacher’s prophecy was right, as it looks like Mercedes’ Knight will be looking to break the most prestigious record in Formula One and set his own. These two drivers are some of the greatest of all time, and the stats have proven that time and time again.

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