Michael Schumacher is the most successful driver to have raced in Formula One with his well known 7 world championships and 91 race victories over a 21 year career (18 years racing). His title winning years came when the point systems were 10, 6, 4, 3, 2 and 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 but he also raced with the point system currently in use (25, 18, 15, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, 1). From this the idea formed; would Schumacher have the same 7 titles had he been racing with the 25 point system? The new point system rewards wins as well as consistency whereas there was less focus on the race victory in terms of points gained with the old systems. Years that will be looked over will be the 7 original championship winning years as well as three bonus years where Schumacher was challenging for the title but did not win. With this it can be assessed whether Schumacher could have won all his original titles as well as adding to his 7. Results from the year from Schumacher and runner up in the championship will be displayed as well as graphs to help visualise each seasons data.
Original Title Years:
1994:
Schumacher= 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 2nd, 1st, 1st, DSQ, DNF, 1st, DSQ, DNS, DNS, 1st, 2nd, DNF
Hill= 2nd, DNF, 6th, DNF, 1st, 2nd, 2nd, 1st, 8th, 2nd, 1st, 1st, 1st, 2nd, 1st, DNF
Original Tally:
- Schumacher= 92 Points
- Hill= 91 Points
25 Point System Tally:
- Schumacher= 236 Points
- Hill= 252 Points
1995:
Schumacher= 1st, 3rd, DNF, 1st, 1st, 5th, 1st, DNF, 1st, DNF, 1st, DNF, 2nd, 1st, 1st, 1st, DNF
Hill= DNF, 1st, 1st, 4th, 2nd, DNF, 2nd, DNF, DNF, 1st, 2nd, DNF, 3rd, DNF, 3rd, DNF, 1st
Original Tally:
- Schumacher= 102 Points
- Hill= 69 Points
25 Point System Tally:
- Schumacher= 268 Points
- Hill= 196 Points
2000:
Schumacher= 1st, 1st, 1st, 3rd, 5th, 1st, DNF, 1st, DNF, DNF, DNF, 2nd, 2nd, 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st
Haikkinen= DNF, DNF, 2nd, 2nd, 1st, 2nd, 6th, 4th, 2nd, 1st, 2nd, 1st, 1st, 2nd, DNF, 2nd, 2nd
Original Tally:
- Schumacher= 108 Points
- Haikkinen= 89 Points
25 Point System Tally:
- Schumacher= 286 Points
- Haikkinen= 258 Points
2001:
Schumacher= 1st, 1st, 2nd, DNF, 1st, 2nd, 1st, 2nd, 1st, 1st, 2nd, DNF, 1st, 1st, 4th, 2nd, 1st
Coulthard= 2nd, 3rd, 1st, 2nd, 5th, 1st, 5th, DNF, 3rd, 4th, DNF, DNF, 3rd, 2nd, DNF, 3rd, 3rd
Original Tally:
- Schumacher= 123 Points
- Coulthard= 65 Points
25 Point System Tally:
- Schumacher= 327 Points
- Coulthard= 211 Points
2002:
Schumacher= 1st, 3rd, 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 2nd, 1st, 2nd, 1st, 1st, 1st, 2nd, 1st, 2nd, 2nd, 1st
Barrichello: DNF, DNF, DNF, 2nd, DNF, 2nd, 7th, 3rd, 1st, 2nd, DNS, 4th, 1st, 2nd, 1st, 1st, 2nd
Original Tally:
- Schumacher= 144 Points
- Barrichello= 77 Points
25 Point System Tally:
- Schumacher= 380 Points
- Barrichello= 223 Points
2003:
Schumacher= 4th, 6th, DNF, 1st, 1st, 1st, 3rd, 1st, 1st, 5th, 3rd, 4th, 7th, 8th, 1st, 1st, 8th
Raikkonen= 3rd, 1st, 2nd, 2nd, DNF, 2nd, 2nd, 6th, DNF, 4th, 3rd, DNF, 2nd, 4th, 2nd, 2nd
Original Tally:
- Schumacher= 93 Points
- Raikkonen= 91 Points
25 Point System Tally:
- Schumacher= 236 Points
- Raikkonen= 213 Points
2004:
Schumacher= 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, DNF, 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 2nd, 2nd, 12th, 1st, 7th
Barrichello= 2nd, 4th, 2nd, 6th, 2nd, 3rd, 2nd, 2nd, 2nd, 3rd, 3rd, 12th, 2nd, 3rd, 1st, 1st, DNF, 3rd
Original Tally:
- Schumacher= 148 Points
- Barrichello= 114 Points
25 Points System Tally:
- Schumacher= 367 Points
- Barrichello= 271 Points
From the original 7 title winning years its interesting to to see how Schumacher actually lost the 1994 championship as the points lost due to his two race ban and disqualification in three races being exaggerated due to the 25 points for a win especially with Hill winning all three of those races. The 2003 season on paper now looks more fair with the 25 point system given Schumacher’s 6 victories to Raikkonen 1 as from round 8 Schumacher had a steady lead whereas with the original point system going into the final three races the top three (Schumacher, Raikkonen and Montoya) were separated by just 2 points (with the 25 point system Schumacher and Raikkonen were separated by 17 points at that stage). Also with the original point system Schumacher scored more points in 2004 than in 2002, but with the 25 point system 2002 became the higher scoring year, a great example of how consistency is more greatly rewarded with the 25 point system.
Three Non-Title Winning Years:
1997:
Villeneuve= DNF, 1st, 1st, DNF, DNF, 1st, DNF, 4th, 1st, DNF, 1st, 5th, 5th, 1st, 1st, DNF, 3rd.
Schumacher= 2nd, 5th, DNF, 2nd, 1st, 4th, 1st, 1st, DNF, 2nd, 4th, 1st, 6th, 6th, DNF, 1st, DNF
Original Tally:
- Villeneuve= 81 Points
- Schumacher= 78 Points
25 Point System:
- Villeneuve= 222 Points
- Schumacher= 229 Points
1998:
Haikkinen= 1st, 1st, 2nd, DNF, 1st, 1st, DNF, 3rd, 2nd, 1st, 1st, 6th, DNF, 4th, 1st, 1st
Schumacher= DNF, 3rd, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 10th, 1st, 1st, 1st, 3rd, 5th, 1st, DNF, 1st, 2nd, DNF
Original Tally:
- Haikkinen= 100 Points
- Schumacher= 86 Points
25 Point System Tally:
- Haikkinen= 271 Points
- Schumacher= 242 Points
2006:
Alonso= 1st, 2nd, 1st, 2nd, 2nd, 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 5th, 2nd, 5th, DNF, 2nd, DNF, 2nd, 1st, 2nd
Schumacher= 2nd, 6th, DNF, 1st, 1st, 2nd, 5th, 2nd, 2nd, 1st, 1st, 1st, DNF, 3rd, 1st, 1st, DNF, 4th
Original Tally:
- Alonso= 134 Points
- Schumacher= 121 Points
25 Point System Tally:
- Alonso= 321 Points
- Schumacher= 293 Points
From these three non title winning years the most interesting year is 1997 as Schumacher actually would’ve won the title that year with the 25 point system. With the regular points system for that year a win for Villeneuve and a second place for Schumacher at the final race would’ve lost Schumacher the title and thus the imfamous coming together which put Schumacher out and allowed Villeneuve to limp to 3rd and to take the title. The collision was later deemed purposeful and Schumacher was disqualified from the 1997 championship. With the 25 point system however, Schumacher could’ve come home 2nd with Villeneuve finishing 1st. Due to this Schumacher wouldn’t have been so aggressive in his defense of the lead and thus the collision would’ve likely not happened allowing Schumacher to not be disqualified from the championship. The points system would not only change points totals but the outcome of some races too. Because of this, even with the changed point system, Schumacher would’ve still ended up with 7 world championships, just that 1994 was substituted for 1997.
This is not meant to detract from the racing genius that was Michael Schumacher. Had he not had a brake failure at Silverstone in 1999, resulting in a broken leg, he could’ve and probably would’ve won the title that year if his early season form is anything to go by. On top of that, had he not had a engine failure at Suzuka in 2006 (a truly untimely one as his last Ferrari engine failure was in 2000) he would’ve won there and taken the points lead into the season finale. With the lead who knows how Brazil would’ve turned out but it’s a certainty that Schumacher would not have been so daring and would’ve likely not picked up a puncture on lap two due to contact with Fisichella, leading him to a 3rd place and a possible 9th world championship. Whatever the outcomes of these seasons Schumacher’s existing 7 titles stand as a ever present reminder of what a truly great talent he was and will always be remember as.
*All results tables and graphs are my own work