Posts by mistybear87

Thanks for the compliment, though I can't help but feel we're missing some of those more compelling details here 😛

Jack Kelly5 said:I don't mean to rain on your parade, but half of what you just wrote sounds like the fairy tales old-school Ferrari fans tell their little boys at bedtime...
Well, to each their own, I suppose...

I didn't actually write that myself; I was just passing along what 😛

Monza 2000.
Tears in the Royal Park
Pole position at the start, and first across the finish line.

September 10th was a day defined by both triumph and tragedy, much like the heavy atmosphere we often felt before a race at the Autodromo. Just before the lights went out, Schumacher learned that his friend and former karting mentor, Willi Bergmeister, had suffered a stroke. In a moment of pure humanity, Schumacher called the clinic and made a promise: "Today, I’m going to win this for you, Willi." But the race itself took a dark turn almost immediately. Right after the start, a massive accident unfolded at the Variante della Roggia involving several cars, which tragically claimed the life of a marshal working trackside. Despite the chaos, Schumacher managed to hold off Hakkinen, securing a hard-fought victory and celebrating with his fans by waving the trophy. It was his third Ferrari victory at Monza, bringing him level with the legendary Senna at 41 GP wins. During the press conference, Schumi was visibly moved, breaking down in tears while explaining just how much everything meant to him. A magazine later ran a headline that really captured the mood: "Schumi, we saw your heart." For so long, the media had dismissed him as nothing more than a "heartless robot" or a "driving computer," but that day changed the narrative. The emotion didn't end there, though. Schumacher wept a second time when his brother Ralf delivered the news that the injured marshal had passed away in the hospital. As he put it, "At first, all I knew was: someone is hurt."


Suzuka 2001.
Taking first place ahead of Alain Prost.
Pole position, and then crossing the finish line in first place. Isn't there something just inherently perfect about that kind of dominance?

The last race of the season. Even though Schumacher has already been crowned the world champion, he’s still driving with this incredible, pure motivation. The result? His 11th pole position of the year. I can almost picture the scene: Norbert Haug asking him, almost in disbelief, "Michael, what on earth did you just do in that first sector?" And Michael's response? A playful, "I'll tell you if we happen to run into each other this winter!" To this day, that remains their little secret. The sheer madness of it was that Schumacher carved out a massive 0.7-second lead in the first sector alone, specifically through those S-curves tucked right behind the pits. Before the race even got into full swing, his mindset was clear: "If Rubens can just find a way past both Williams cars and close the gap to me, then I'll let him through. But if he can't? Well, I'm not about to sacrifice my own result." Fast forward just three laps, and Schumi has built an unthinkable 11-second cushion. It's almost surreal, isn't it? That massive gap paved the way for a comfortable victory, and honestly, he couldn't have done it without the tires—they were remarkably consistent throughout. With 11 wins under his belt this season and a total of 801 points, he officially edges out Prost (who finished with 798.5) to take the top spot. What a season.


Magny-Cours 2002.
Five grueling laps.
Starting from the back, finishing on top.

A world champion by the eleventh race of a seventeen-race season—that’s a feat we’ve truly never seen before. "I didn't even have it on my mind all weekend, which is why I was so relaxed; I just wasn't feeling the pressure," Schumacher explained later. For twenty-three laps, he was sitting right on the tail of Montoya, who had secured pole position, until the Colombian was forced into the pits. Schumacher surged into the lead, but after clipping the line exiting the pit lane, a drive-through penalty dropped him back into second behind Montoya. Then, Raikkonen took the point. "He’s driving brilliantly," Schumacher remarked afterward. Their duel lasted thirteen laps before the Finn spun out on some oil at the entrance to the Adelaide corner. With only five laps remaining, the tension reached a breaking point. "Those five laps were the hardest of my career," Schumacher admitted. "I kept telling myself, just don't make a mistake." And he didn't. Meanwhile, Barrichello, who had likely already checked into his flight after his own retirement, got a frantic text message: "Come to celebrate, Schumacher is the world champion!!!" Five titles now, matching the legend of Fangio.


Monza 2003.
The end of all uncertainty.
From pole position straight to the checkered flag.

That duel really set the entire F1 fanbase on fire, didn't it? It’s been three months since Schumacher's last win in Montreal, and honestly, it felt like we were watching a slow decline. A string of lackluster finishes—5th, 3rd, 4th, 7th, and then 8th—had everyone questioning things. To make matters worse, during that last race at the Hungaroring, the five-time world champion actually got lapped by the winner, Alonso. Can you imagine? The points standings were getting absolutely frantic: Schumacher at 72, Montoya at 71, and Raikkonen right there with 70. Even Williams had managed to leapfrog Ferrari in the constructors' championship. It looked grim. But then, suddenly, you see the true strength of Ferrari resurface. Schumacher clinches pole position and then goes out and wins in his signature style. It all came down to mere tenths of a second. After the race, Luca di Montezemolo told him, "You showed incredible power and motivation." The winner was essentially decided at the very first corner. You had Schumi and Montoya side-by-side, wheel to wheel. Schumacher took the lead into the first turn, but by the time they hit the Variante della Roggia chicane, Montoya lunged for the overtake. Schumi defended brilliantly, though. That moment is now etched in history. Afterward, Schumi made sure to give massive credit to his team, who had been working around the clock to prep the car. "This victory," he said, "is my way of saying thank you to all of you!"


Magny-Cours 2002.
The four-stop gamble
Started 2nd, finished 1st

With Fernando Alonso (Renault) sitting on pole and Schumacher right next to him, you could practically see the worry on his face: "Am I going to get a clean launch on this dirty side of the track?" But that’s just classic Schumacher, and classic Ferrari for you. "If they don't have the fastest car, they'll just outwork everyone else or pull off some brilliant tactical masterstroke. Why didn't anyone else think to pit four times?" Niki Lauda famously asked back on April 4th. In France, Michael didn't win through those heart-pounding, wheel-to-wheel battles we all love; he won because of pure strategic genius. "During our second stop, we made the call to go for two more," explained Ross Brawn, the mastermind strategist behind Ferrari's moves. That was the secret sauce. Schumacher was the only driver to pull off four stops, yet he still crossed the line eight seconds ahead of Alonso. It was almost too simple. But it brings us back to Lauda's question: why didn't anyone else think of it?

Thanks, Krunta

Here’s a look at Schumacher's favorite races from every single season, handpicked by the man himself. Enjoy MONZA! 🙂

Monza 1991.
The first points on the board, and finally, that first bit of prize money.
Starting from 7th on the grid and fighting my way up to a 5th place finish... not exactly the podium we were hunting for, was it? Still, it’s a solid result considering the circumstances.

It’s his second GP overall, but his very first for Benetton—and he’s already walking away with his first DC points. Isn't it fascinating how quickly things can shift?
All of this follows an incredibly intense weekend at the Autodromo that left my nerves absolutely frayed. It’s quite a situation, isn't it? Just two weeks after his debut at Spa—which, if you recall, was funded by Mercedes-Benz while he was driving for Jordan—Schumacher has to navigate a breach in his contract clauses. To make matters even more complicated, Flavio Briatore has to figure out what to do with his other driver, Robert Morena, just to clear a seat for the young German. And let me tell you, the kid has nerves of steel. His physical conditioning is top-notch, too. He was actually able to hold off Mansell's aggressive lunges toward the end of the GP, finishing his very first real Grand Prix in the same lap as the winner. He even remarked, "I'd much rather you just put some fresh tires on me so I can run this race all over again." To add another layer to this story, on September 8th, the young German formally outclassed his teammate, the three-time world champion Nelson Piquet, during both qualifying and the race itself. This is also the race where Schumacher sees his first real paycheck in F1; a cool $20,000, thanks to a rather sophisticated bonus structure worked out by his manager, Willi Weber.


Spa 1992. Looking back at that era, you have to wonder how much of it was pure talent and how much was just having the right machinery under you. It’s one of those years that stays etched in your mind, isn't it?
It’s hard to believe it’s been seventeen years since the Jochen Massa era. Time really does have a way of slipping through your fingers, doesn't it? Looking back at that period, you can't help but wonder how much the sport has changed, or if we're all just chasing the same ghosts.
Starting from third on the grid and still managing to take the checkered flag in first? It’s quite a feat, isn't it?

It was one fulfilled dream—something straight out of a Hollywood scenario! On the legendary Arden circuit in Belgium where he made his debut just a year ago, Schumacher managed to clinch his very first GP victory. He did it in only his 18th start, which puts him just two races behind the great Senna in terms of youth; back then, he stood as the third youngest winner in history, trailing only Bruce McLaren and Jacky Ickx. But honestly, I don't think any of them were quite as composed as he was. Regarding that decisive 30th lap, Michael remarked: "When I briefly spun off the track, my teammate Martin Brundle passed me. I took a look at his tires and saw they were completely shot, almost finished. I figured mine must look just as bad. So, I thought, better get to the pits as soon as possible." That split-second decision by Schumacher secured him his first GP win, marking the first time a German driver had reached the top step since Graf Trips in 1961 and Jochen Massa in 1975. As for how it felt standing on that podium? He described it perfectly: "Heart pounding, laughter, tears—it was all happening at once!"


Looking back at Estoril 1993... does anyone else get a sense of déjà vu when they revisit that era? It was such a pivotal moment in racing history. You have to wonder, looking back through the lens of time, how much those specific turns shaped the legends we talk about today. It really makes you think about the sheer unpredictability of the sport during those years.
A triumph right in front of the world champion.
Starting from sixth on the grid and still managing to cross the line in first place? It’s quite the feat, isn't it?

Imagine Michael Schumacher and Alain Prost popping some champagne together after one of the most chaotic weekends Formula 1 has ever seen. It was pure madness. During practice, Schumacher was spinning out three different times; the car just wasn't balanced at all. By the time the warm-up rolled around, he was trailing the leaders by a massive two seconds. But Michael didn't quit. He stayed deep in the garage working alongside his mechanics—who, mind you, had been pulling an all-nighter—to fine-tune the car. He eventually hopped into the T-car, planned for two pit stops, and then, suddenly, there he was, leading the pack. "At that moment, I knew," he remarked, "I’d try to make it to the finish line with just a single tire change." And wouldn't you know it? That gutsy tactic paid off perfectly, much like that legendary moment back at Spa in '92. Even though Alain Prost officially secured his fourth world championship title on September 26th, Michael will forever be the hero of that specific weekend. Reflecting on the win, Schumacher put it this finely: "The first victory was great, but this one feels even better when I think about how we actually pulled it off."


Interlagos 1994.
Schumacher in Senna-Land
Starting from the back and crossing the line in first place—isn't there just something incredibly poetic about that kind of comeback?

Senna and Schumacher are sitting right there on the front row for the start. Are we really about to witness this duel between them?
"The whole season," the Brazilian legend had predicted just before his home GP. Even Schumacher couldn't help but smile when reflecting on those "years of racing against Senna." But then, God took Senna less than two months later, dealing Formula 1 its most devastating blow as a sport. In that final home GP, the Brazilian driver went flying off the track following a driving error. Once Schumacher managed to pull ahead of Damon Hill in the second Williams, his mindset shifted instantly: "Now, I just have to bring this race home, as conservatively as possible." To lead with such absolute dominance felt strange to Michael, though he certainly grew accustomed to it as the season progressed. And then, the checkered flag, the champagne. Schumacher remarked, "Without a second thought, this is my most beautiful and important victory." Even Willi Weber, Michael's manager, noted how remarkable it was: "To hand the great Senna such a defeat on his home turf is truly unique." Sadly, the Brazilian would never again get the chance to settle the score. There was another significant moment that March 27th, though; a young talent named Rubens Barrichello finished the race in an unexpectedly high fourth place.


Spa 1995.
Capturing life through the lens, even when things get a little wet.
Starting from P16 and ending up on the top step of the podium... isn't that just the ultimate racing dream?

That classic Belgian microclimate really threw everything for a loop. Thanks to the unpredictable weather, both Ferraris ended up securing the front two spots on the grid, while Schumi was sitting way back in 16th in his Benetton. At that point, Schumi himself was being quite realistic, isn't he? He remarked, "Maybe I can break into the top six, or at most grab a podium, but a win is out of the question." Then, Formula 1 delivers a total Hollywood scenario. We see Schumacher driving like an absolute beast through the heaviest downpours, perfectly timing his pit stops during the Safety Car phase, while his rival, Damon Hill, seems to hit the pits at exactly the wrong moment every single time. It was pure chaos—that wild mix of sun and rain—as Schumacher secured the win on August 27th. Even Niki Lauda couldn't help but chime in, saying, "You couldn't drive any better than that!" But, of course, it wasn't all smooth sailing. Just like last year at Spa, old problems resurfaced, and the threat of disqualification loomed over the result. Williams actually filed a protest, complaining about Schumacher's "zig-zagging" on the track. In the end, though, the protests and accusations were dismissed. With that hurdle cleared, the path toward his second title is wide open.


Barcelona 1996.
A demonstration out in the rain... you have to wonder, doesn't it? There’s something almost poetic about it, though I suppose it’s much less romantic when you're actually standing there getting soaked to the bone. It makes you think about the sheer grit required to stay put when the weather turns sour. Is it passion, or just pure stubbornness? Perhaps a bit of both.
Third place on the podium, but still sitting at the top of the standings. Is there any better feeling than that?

It’s been six races since Schumacher made that massive move over to Ferrari, and yet, we’re still waiting on that elusive first win. Is it just me, or does it feel like the breakthrough is taking much longer than anyone anticipated?
The Scuderia isn't expected to really find its footing until mid-summer, but that’s all about to change on June 2nd in Barcelona. Even though Schumacher had secured pole position at Imola and Monte Carlo earlier that year, he found himself starting third this time, tucked behind both Williams cars. But did that stop him? Not even slightly. He went out there and snatched another victory, proving his own point that strategy is the absolute deciding factor. Just moments before the lights went out, Schumacher actually turned to the Spanish King and remarked that Barcelona felt like one of the safest tracks on the calendar. Looking back, most people would say thank goodness he said that, considering what followed was one of the most dangerous races in Formula 1 history. Despite a sluggish start and a nasty issue with two cylinders, Schumi delivered a masterclass. It was easily one of the most magnificent drives ever seen. He later admitted, "You can't see anything; you just have to drive by instinct." After several terrifying excursions off the track, he added with a bit of a chill, "It could have easily caught me too." Watching him push a malfunctioning car to the absolute limit—maintaining a full minute's lead while dodging constant danger—was nothing short of mesmerizing for everyone watching. That day, Schumacher truly cemented his reputation as the ultimate "Rain Man."


Suzuka 1997.
Pure teamwork at its finest.
Starting from second on the grid, but finishing first across the line. What a way to do it.

The championship standings heading into the penultimate GP in Japan are looking absolutely wild right now. Things have taken a massive turn because Schumacher dropped out of the race in...
After that collision between Fisichella and Ralf right at the start of the Nürburgring, Jacques Villeneuve managed to pull away and take the win. That puts him ahead in the standings, 77 to 68. It really leaves Michael in a bit of a tight spot, doesn't it? If he wants to keep his championship dreams alive, he absolutely has to secure a victory on October 12th. It feels like the Ferrari strategy is already being mapped out down to the last detail; they’re looking at some incredibly tight team coordination with Eddie Irvine to make sure everything goes according to plan.
Shortly after the start, Schumacher pulls into the pits looking for some guidance from his crew. Meanwhile, Irvine had been leading the pack, but he was left hanging for quite a while waiting for that call from the pit wall. In a bit of a chaotic sequence, the Irishman lets Schumacher through, but ends up blocking Villeneuve instead. Ultimately, Schumacher takes the win, while the Canadian—looking visibly frustrated—finishes fifth only to be disqualified later on. "Before Suzuka," Schumacher remarked, "my chances were only good on paper; now, it’s fifty-fifty." And that was all before the accident at Jerez...


Hungaroring 1998.
A quick question for Radio-Schumi.
Starting from third on the grid, but crossing the line in first? Is there anything better?

In Canada, Schumacher is starting from only second on the grid, tucked right behind those two McLarens—Hakkinen's and Coulthard's. Honestly, at this point, the McLarens look absolutely untouchable. But then, just when you think they have it in the bag, things start to go sideways for them;
Mika is struggling with some suspension issues, and David just can't seem to maintain his previous pace once he hits that third set of tires. Inside the Ferrari garage, the brilliant Ross Brawn feels that sudden, unmistakable urge to go for the throat. He decides right then to scrap the two-stop strategy and pivot to three. Of course, pulling off a move like that requires someone with "Superman" levels of talent behind the wheel. "Michael," Brawn comes over the radio, "we can win this if we change tactics. Can you pull a 25-second gap over the next 19 laps? That’s exactly what we need to make an extra pit stop work." Schumacher doesn't hesitate. He nods, mentally, and proceeds to clock a 25.2-second lead over those 19 laps. He exits the pits nine seconds ahead of Coulthard, riding on fresh rubber to secure yet another victory that was perfectly logical, yet absolutely mind-blowing. They were arguably the fastest 19 laps of his entire career. Or, as Schumacher himself would put it, the most important.


Sepang 1999.
A Super-Strong Comeback
1. starting position, 2. finish

The debut of a brand-new track and a truly magnificent return; Schumacher is back in the mix, marking his first appearance since that accident at Silverstone. While securing the world championship title isn't in the cards for him anymore, he can certainly help his teammate, Eddie Irvine. "That was my promise to Ferrari," he said. During qualifying, Schumacher was the only driver to clock in under 1:40. Then came the race, where he drove with a massive three-and-a-half second lead, cruising two laps ahead of the pack. "See how much speed I still have?" he remarked. Then, quite unexpectedly early on, he lets Irvine through and holds up Hakkinen. He does the same during the second pit stop, exiting just ahead of Irvine only to let him pass immediately.
Schumacher, who is often labeled an egoist, proves himself on this October 17th to be the ultimate team player, essentially gifting the win to his teammate. "Michael isn't just the best number one, he's also the best number two," Irvine told the room. "Michael deserves this win, not me." But regardless of all that, the 1999 title ultimately goes to Hakkinen.

wearyraven41 said:I have a feeling the Bayer fans probably froze up once they actually sat down to read your thread...

😂

wearyraven41 said:Why on earth www.formula1.com is down right now?😕

😁

I suspect it’s for the exact same reason we have over twenty people hanging out in this subforum at once :P

Here is a draft of the text (I'll give it a proper polish once I find some free time 😉)
Statistics compiled by Brian Lawrence

This analysis was mainly derived from the official FIA lap chart, which can typically be found at www.fia.com, www.forix.com or www.autosport-atlas.com on race day or shortly after. Please note that the original chart is the copyright of the FIA. There are plenty of other fantastic Formula One websites out there, but keep in mind this specific analysis is entirely unofficial.

To keep things consistent for this study, I only count what I usually refer to as "genuine" passing maneuvers. This means I make sure to exclude:

a) any position changes that happen during pit stops
b) instances of lapping or unlapping vehicles
c) anything occurring during the very first lap

Just a small note: a pass isn't actually added to these statistics UNLESS the driver manages to hold onto that gained position until they cross the start/finish line again and it gets officially noted on the lap chart.

These are the passes that I read for the 2005 Monaco GP:

Lap Place Passer (Passed)
==========================================
3 16 Ralf Schumacher (Monteiro)
4 15 Ralf Schumacher (Albers)
8 13 Ralf Schumacher (Friesacher)
23 16 Monteiro (Albers)
56 12 Rubens Barrichello (Vitantonio Liuzzi)
61 7 Juan Pablo Montoya (Felipe Massa)
71 2 Nick Heidfeld (Fernando Alonso)
72 9 Felipe Massa (Giancarlo Fisichella)
74 3 Mark Webber (Fernando Alonso)
78 7 Michael Schumacher (Rubens Barrichello) [team-mates]

That brings us to a total of 10 passes, which is quite a jump from the 5 we saw back in 2004.

Most passes: Ralf Schumacher 3

Now, let's touch upon a few of the more controversial calls—

On lap 63, Felipe Massa slipped from 8th down to 11th, losing ground to Ralf Schumacher, Rubens Barrichello & Michael Schumacher. Usually, when you see a driver lose more than two positions in quick succession, it’s a clear sign that something has gone wrong with the car. For that reason, I've decided to exclude those passes from the count.

Then on lap 64, Giancarlo Fisichella fell from 5th to 10th, overtaken by Juan Pablo Montoya, Ralf Schumacher, Rubens Barrichello, Michael Schumacher & Jarno Trulli. I've applied the same logic here and excluded them.

Similarly, on lap 64, Jarno Trulli dropped from 6th to 9th, being passed by Juan Pablo Montoya & Ralf Schumacher, Rubens Barrichello & Michael Schumacher—so those were excluded for the exact same reason.

stormyviper11 said:Where on earth are you getting these numbers? They aren't accurate—or at least, they certainly aren't complete. I think we all remember, or have at least heard the stories about, that opening lap at Indianapolis 1993, where MS was one of the drivers Ayrton Senna overtook. Yet, Senna isn't even on this list... Without wanting to go out of my way to dig deeper, it just goes to show that this list was put together quite sloppily...

If I recall correctly, this list only covers the last 10 years. In that case, Charles Martin78 probably has a point regarding that first lap. If we look at Juan Pablo Montoya at Monaco, he overtook four drivers on the very first lap (and another one later in the race), so by these specific statistical standards, he’d basically be the undisputed king of overtaking in Monaco. 😉

lol, honestly, they really need to get started at least once 🙂

Python:

No. - number of units used (assuming all are new and haven't been used before)
2R - number of units that survived 2 races
km. - total kilometers covered in practice, qualifying, and races
Avg. - average kilometers per unit

Kevin Long20 said:Where on earth are you pulling those stats from?

There's no way you sat there counting every single overtake on Mihajl by yourself, right?

No, I've been pulling them from various news groups—both local and international. It's likely someone just downloaded them from the old forums.😉

Michael Schumacher overtook the following drivers:

10 Juan Pablo Montoya
7 David Coulthard
6 Rubens Barrichello
4 Damon Hill
3 Mika Häkkinen, Eddie Irvine
2 Giancarlo Fisichella, Ralf Schumacher
1 Jean Alesi, Fernando Alonso, Gerhard Berger, Jenson Button, Olivier Panis, Kimi Räikkönen, Jacques Villeneuve

And here is the breakdown of those who fell victim to JP Morgan:

10 Michael Schumacher
7 Jarno Trulli
6 Nick Heidfeld, Kimi Räikkönen, Ralf Schumacher
5 Jenson Button, Mark Webber
4 Rubens Barrichello, Olivier Panis
3 Giancarlo Fisichella, Felipe Massa
2 Fernando Alonso, Zsolt Baumgartner, David Coulthard, Mika Salo
1 Gianmario Bruni, Cristiano, Pedro de la Rosa, Ralph Firman, Eddie Irvine, Christian Klien, Allan McNish, Antonio Pizzonia, Takuma Sato,
Jos Verstappen, Jacques Villeneuve, Alex Yoong

Total: 79

I suppose that explains why the Ferrari fans harbor such intense resentment toward him, doesn't it?

It would be quite fascinating, wouldn't it, to see how many times they actually collided with one another? 😁

C++ Code:

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PS: Please excuse the messy appearance of this post; I couldn't quite get the columns to line up properly.

Carol Ortiz4 said:It isn't 15kg; it’s actually a little less than 5kg...
Doesn't the rulebook state that the car, including all lubricants and fuel, has to weigh in at 600kg?

Actually, if I remember correctly, it wasn't even under 5kg—it was about 5.6kg under the limit, coming in at 594.6 kg.

I don't have the exact wording of the regulations right in front of me, but I am certain of one thing: at no point during a race can the weight of the car and driver drop below that 600kg mark.
So, the lubricants are included in the weighing because they aren't being topped off during a pit stop or after the checkered flag. As for the fuel, they drain it to "simulate" that specific moment when the car rolls into the pits on its very last drop.

Come on now, don't be like that—Ferrari is an absolute institution 🙂

Tom Hanks said:What if everyone just hopped on a bike? 😁

But no, apparently biking is just too dangerous. 😁

frch said:I mean, it seems a bit silly to develop an entire game just for a handful of people using free accounts... honestly, I didn't even realize that was the case at first, and I spent most of my day scouring the web without finding any clear info on it.🙄

We actually have a dedicated thread on our forum specifically for F1 links; you might have better luck looking through there.

Mr.Ex.President said:I'm leaning towards Zonta...

Sit down, five 👍