Schumacher reaching for the stars

The story of the season - Schumacher leads the field

By BBC Sport Online's Sanjeev Shetty

The word "great" is overused when describing the achievements of modern sporting figures - but there is surely no other description for Michael Schumacher.

It was once thought that if he could win a title with Ferrari, he would confirm his standing as one of the best ever.

He achieved that ambition in 2000 after a thoroughly dominant season, and his form in the following year, clinching the title with four races to spare, has been nothing short of terrifying.

Joining a team like Ferrari, whose rich tradition and reputation were underscored by years of underachievement, illustrated the risks that great sporting figures sometimes take.

  Schumacher's achievements

51 Formula One victories

41 Pole positions

Four world titles: 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001

Formula One debut in 1991 for Jordan in Belgium

First win in Belgium in 1992 for Benetton

The German had a comfortable life in 1995 when he decided to join the Ferrari team from Benetton.

For years, Ferrari were considered a sleeping giant in the same way that Manchester United were before Sir Alex Ferguson's arrival.

The Italian team had not won a drivers' title since 1979, and despite all the glamour that comes with their glorious history, Williams, McLaren and Benetton were the teams to drive for.

The super confident Schumacher knew he would have to wait a while before re-establishing himself as world champion.

But he could not have foreseen the five years he would have to suffer whilst others, notably Mika Hakkinen, stole his thunder.

The transition was never going to be particularly easy - even with the changes that Schumacher was able to make to his car after selecting his own technicians, the Ferrari was still an inferior car to those of other top teams.

Schumacher lifted the pressure with the 2000 title

But the years at Ferrari have allowed Schumacher to display all the skills of his driving.

He is the master of wet conditions and is seemingly so strong in qualifying that his psychological advantages over other drivers cannot be underestimated.

And perhaps knowing that his car is not always the equal of others, he is not afraid to do things which upset his rivals while behind that wheel.

The challenges that remain are breaking the record he shares with Alain Prost of 51 race victories, before attempting to break Juan Manuel Fangio's record of five world titles.

The 32-year-old lives a quiet life when he is not racing, living in Switzerland with his wife Corinna and two children.

His life is so quiet as to suggest that really Schumacher is not so keen on the fame that goes with the glamour game of Formula One.

But breaking records at this rate is no way to keep out of the spotlight.