Michael Schumacher

Michael Schumacher was a German racing driver and seven-time world champion who raced for Ferrari at the age of 26. He became the Scuderia's "savior"—the first driver since Niki Lauda capable of restoring its former glory. The Italians, who idolized speed, greeted him as a messiah, even though he was an outsider—a German in a red monster.

Behind the helmet lurked an icy perfectionist with a fiery temperament. On the track, he was a merciless predator: his attacks on the brink of foul play, like those at Jerez in 1997, enraged his rivals, but he cared nothing for the paddock's opinions. He demanded the impossible from his engineers, sat late into the night with data, and personally tested components. He had a maniacal need for order. Schumacher's charisma was overwhelming: he commanded attention with his mere appearance, was unashamed of his emotions, and spoke his mind.

A tall, lean, sinewy athlete. His body is all sinew and muscle. His features are sharp, even coarse. His light, almost sun-bleached hair. In the cockpit, he wears a red suit that fits like a second skin and a helmet in the colors of the German flag with a red crown. Outside of racing, he wears simple clothes.