7EVEN

Rivals and colleagues each recall one of Michael Schumacher’s seven title-winning years

1994 Flavio Briatore Benetton team boss

“We were Benetton, a T-shirt maker, yet in 1994 we showed up Ferrari, Mclaren and Williams. The highlight was Barcelona where Michael managed to drive and make a refuelling pitstop, all while stuck in fifth gear. That year will always be in my heart – and I know it is the same for the mechanics, engineers and everyone who worked at the team.”

1995 Damon Hill Williams title rival

“Back in 1995 I went head to head with Michael Schumacher and I thought he would be tough to beat, but I didn’t realise just how tough he was. We had one or two moments along the way, including collisions, and I got thoroughly beaten. It was a tough one for me, but Michael was on a trajectory that no one could have imagined.”

2000 Jean Todt Ferrari team boss

“My relationship with Michael is a very special one. I consider him and his family to be my own family. In 2000 Michael enabled Ferrari to win their first drivers’ title since 1979. There were many twists and turns, but when I hugged him on the podium I told him our professional life would never be the same. It was the most emotional moment of our career.”

2001 Stefano Domenicali Ferrari sporting director

“Nine victories for Michael, 11 pole positions and the strongest car in the field – 2001 was another incredible year for us, filled with success. Our main competitor that year was Mclaren, but they were suffering a lot from reliability problems, so we were able to win the title as early as Budapest [race 13 out of 17]. It was a great period for the team.”

2002 Rory Byrne Ferrari chief designer

“I have fond memories of working with Michael in 2002. He dominated the championship and won 11 races, which at that stage was a record. He also won the title in the shortest possible time in F1 history [race 11 out of 17]. He finished every race on the podium and scored more points than the second- and third-placed driver put together.”

2003 Kimi Räikkönen Mclaren title rival

“It was my third season in Formula 1 and the Mclaren was a pretty good car at that time. We started strong and won the second race in 2003, but we always knew that Michael and Ferrari would come back even stronger. I hung on in the championship until the very last race and I ended up losing the drivers’ title by just a few points.”

2004 Ross Brawn Ferrari technical director

“The F2004 was dominant, taking 15 wins. By then our whole system was really humming: the whole team, the whole company. Rubens Barrichello had rattled Michael at the end of the 2003, but come 2004 Michael was on sensational form and we won the title in Hungary. In my new role in F1 it would be disastrous if someone won the title that early…”