When he retired from Formula 1 racing in 2006, it was the end of an era. For many years, after the dust and exhaust smoke had cleared, there was usually the same man standing on the winner's podium – and his name was Michael Schumacher.

Schumacher's need for speed was clear from the time he won his first race - in a go-kart competition at the age of six. By 1987, he had left school to become a mechanic and to work on his dream of driving bigger and faster cars. It was his first World Championship win in 1994 that cemented his place in the racing hall of fame. It was a feat that he was to repeat. At 26, Schumacher became the youngest racer to win the championship twice.

He scored a total of 91 race wins, the highest ever recorded. Fans praise his uncanny ability to detect openings and overtake lesser drivers. Wet, rainy conditions make driving difficult, and during those times, it's the driver, not the car, that makes the difference. Schumacher was known for his wet-weather wiles and would leave his opponents literarily in the rain.

In 1996, Schumacher joined Team Ferrari. Many considered it a crazy move. Ferrari was then the joke of the racing world despite its glorious past. Ferrari had not won a championship since 1976. They were technologically backward, and even Ferrari drivers thought that the car was an accident waiting to happen.

However, Schumacher saw an opportunity to bring a team back to its former greatness. He put his driving skills to good use, and also displayed his ability to energise a team. In 2000, Ferrari started winning again.

It hasn't always been a smooth drive for the "Red Baron". Not everyone was a fan. Early in his career, Schumacher was often accused of using unsportsmanlike tactics to win. In 1994, his rival, Damon Hill, claimed that Schumacher had deliberately turned into his car in order to win the championship. However, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) found he had done nothing wrong.

Nevertheless, Schumacher's talent was undeniable. Even Hill would write in a later biography, "There are two things that set Michael apart from the rest of the drivers in Formula One – his sheer talent and his attitude. I am full of admiration for the former, but the latter leaves me cold." In his later years, some critics felt that Schumacher calmed down and became more relaxed, putting his more controversial ways behind him.

Charity work
Off the track, Schumacher was active in helping various worthy causes. He was born into a poor family and says that he owes much to the generosity of rich supporters. If not for them, the son of a bricklayer and a canteen lady would never have had the means to pursue the rich man's sport of motor racing.

To return the kindness, Schumacher has contributed greatly to charity. As a special ambassador to UNESCO, he donated over US$3 million to the organisation and funded numerous projects for children. These include a school in Senegal, a clinic in Sarajevo and a centre for street children in Peru.

Not content with simply coughing up the cash, Schumacher insisted on visiting Sarajevo himself to check that the child victims of war were really benefiting from his donations. In 2005, he also gave US$10 million for the victims of the Southeast Asian tsunami, which topped donations by all other sportsmen and worldwide corporations. Later, it was revealed that his bodyguard Burkhard Cramer and his sons had died in Phuket, Thailand, during the tsunami.

An avid footballer, Schumacher played friendly games with other Formula One drivers to raise money for charity. He has also given much to his first love – the world of racing. Racing is a dangerous sport, as Schumacher himself found out when he broke his leg in 1999. After causing an accident in 1997, FIA insisted that he promote road safety as part of his punishment. Schumacher remained a prominent advocate for road safety long after he finished his punishment.

All his achievements make it hard to understand why a man so talented might choose to leave the heady world of racing. Schumacher's reason was simple – having done it all, he had nothing left to prove. Besides, he thought the time had come for new blood and younger drivers. "There's no point just to hang in there just to take away the future of a very talented young driver like [teammate] Felipe," he said.

In one of his final races in October 2005, he showed that he no longer felt that winning was everything. He was comfortably in the lead and on his way to victory. Suddenly, his Ferrari engine blew up. Through no fault of his own, he had to drop out of the race. Most drivers in this situation would be upset with his team, especially the mechanics who are supposed to make sure that the car is in perfect condition.

However, Schumacher knew how rotten his team members must have been feeling. So, he didn't blame them. Instead, he put on a smile and hugged and shook hands with his team members. Commentators watching him were impressed at his gentlemanly behaviour. With his retirement, the world is losing a true sportsman.