Schu takes his place at top table

Michael Schumacher punches the air in delight

BBC Sport's Jonathan Legard witnesses Michael Schumacher's third world championship and then asks how the Ferrari man compares to the late great Ayrton Senna.

Michael Schumacher's third world championship was notable not merely because it gained him entry into an exclusive club of triple winners, nor because it fulfilled Ferrari's 20 year quest for the title.

Most significantly his triumph was received with maximum approval and achieved with minimum aggravation and controversy.

Inevitably there have been clashes with rivals like David Coulthard and Jacques Villeneuve who questioned the ethics of his startline swerves off the grid.

His ability in all conditions, his innate car control, his inspirational drive within the Ferrari team and his sheer star quality have commanded the attention.

  Jonathan Legard

The sceptics saw each grey area involving Schumacher and Ferrari tinged with red.

But there has been none of the acrimony and suspicion which tarnished his first championship in 1994.

The bitterness of his rivalry with Damon Hill during his second title-winning year in 1995 has also been largely absent.

Star quality

Instead, his ability in all conditions, his innate car control, his inspirational drive within the Ferrari team and his sheer star quality have commanded the attention.

Incidents like Adelaide 1994 or Jerez 1997 or even Spa 1998 will never be forgotten - nor in some minds ever forgiven - but few will dispute that Schumacher is a worthy and deserving champion in 2000.

He's won the most races. He's now second in the all time list of winners.

Schumacher lacks the charisma of Senna

He's claimed the most pole positions. He's joint record holder for the number of fastest laps.

He's Ferrari's most successful driver by a mile.

Flattering

Yet, in spite of such flattering statistics, does Flavio Briatore's assessment of his former driver still hold sway?

"Michael Schumacher is a great champion, but he's not a hero," Benetton's team leader once said of his title winning charge.

Greatness, never mind hero status, is an indistinct science, which doesn't work well across the generations.

Is it facts and figures or character and conduct?

Was the Manchester United team which won the treble in 1999 greater than the Best, Law, Charlton team which won the European Cup in 1968?

Arrogance

Was Ian Botham greater than WG Grace? How does Tiger Woods compare to Jack Nicklaus? Is Schumacher greater than Senna or Prost or Fangio?

If Senna had lived to contest the 1994 championship and beyond, the Schumacher story might now read very differently.

Two men with iron will, self belief bordering on arrogance and an extraordinary touch and feel inside a racing car.

Quibble if you will that when Schumacher wins, it's genius at work. When Hakkinen wins, it's the wonder of McLaren technology.

  Jonathan Legard

In Senna's absence, however, Schumacher has become the leading driver of his era.

Quibble if you will that when Schumacher wins, it's genius at work. When Hakkinen wins, it's the wonder of McLaren technology.

Schumacher's strike record is outstanding - victory at least every fourth race. Better than Senna. Better than Prost. In machinery that's never been the class of the field.

Hakkinen's victories have come once in every eight races.

Untouchable

Senna, however, will surely remain untouchable with 65 pole positions.

Schumacher has accumulated less than half that number even though he's fast approaching Senna's total of 161 grand prix.

But statistics are only part of the mystery of greatness.

Schumacher will never have the presence or charisma of Senna, either in or out of a car.

Senna elevated the art of racing to an almost mystical level: in words as well as deeds.

A genuine hero on a global scale.

Schumacher too often resorts to tactics unbecoming. And the scars from these bouts of bullying won't be easily healed, even by Suzuka-like triumphs in the future.