rpm.espn.com: Michael Schumacher

ESPN Network: ESPN.com \| RPM \| NBA.com \| NHL.com \| ESPNdeportes \| ABCSports \| FANTASY

Friday, January 31
Updated: February 4, 3:02 PM ET

Michael Schumacher
By Dan Knutson
ESPN.com

Team: Ferrari
Nationality: German

Michael Schumacher
Schumacher

STATS

Year
Rank
Wins
Poles
Podium
Best finish

2002 1 11 7 17 1st, 11 times

Career 64 50 114

2002 Recap
The Good: Utter domination by the big red Ferrari machine and Michael Schumacher. The Ferrari was so good that Schumacher and teammate Rubens Barrichello scored as many points as the rest of the drivers combined. Schumacher sets a string of records as he joins Juan Manuel Fangio as the only driver to win five World Championships.

Season Highlight: With 11 wins in 17 races there were so many highlights. But two of Schumacher's best victories came on the challenging Spa (Belgium) and Suzuka (Japan) tracks where he obliterated the opposition.

The Bad: Ferrari so dominated the season that fans began to get bored with it all. Furthermore, Ferrari's constant and blatant use of team orders got to the point where people thought that the team was making a mockery out of the sport.

Season Lowlight: Ferrari's team orders in Austria when Barrichello had to move over to let Schumacher win sent the fans and media into a chorus of boos. Schumacher botching the finish at Indianapolis and giving the win to Barrichello was another embarrassment.

Michael Schumacher

Key Stat: Which one do you chose? A record-tying fifth World Championship? A record 11 wins in a season? Finishing every race on the podium? Increasing his record career win total to 64? Topping his own record for the most points scored in a season? Records for career laps led, fastest race laps and career points scored?

2003 Outlook
What needs to be done: Ferrari just has to make one small step to stay ahead of the competition.

Prediction: Schumacher will be as motivated and as quick as ever. He will win his sixth World Championship, but it won't be as easy as in 2002.

Your Take
Will Schumacher cruise to yet another F1 championship in 2003? Here are your thoughts on Schumi's prospects for the 2003 season.

Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories

	F1 off-season driver spotlight index Spotlight index