Analysis: Schumacher Seals 7th Title Where it All Began

Michael Schumacher wrote another chapter in the record books and underlined his dominance of Formula One by adding a seventh Drivers' Championship on Sunday.

Schumacher finished second behind Finland's Kimi Raikkonen on Sunday and clinched his seventh driver's title at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit he made his debut at in 1991.

He made his debut at Spa driving for Jordan, switched to Benetton the very next race, and won for the first time in Belgium in 1992. Since then, he has won six times at Spa and it was fitting that he stood on the podium on Sunday celebrating another title at the high-speed track.

The Ferrari star is arguably the most successful driver the sport has seen with a record of 82 career victories, scoring a record 1166 points. This year he has scored the most wins in a single season, currently 12 from the 14 races, which includes a record seven consecutive victories before finishing second on Sunday.

The only record the 35-year-old has yet to make his own is for pole positions, still held by the late Ayrton Senna. The Brazilian claimed 65 poles. Schumacher has 62.

With a contract with Ferrari until 2006, and a firm insistence that retirement is not on the cards, Schumacher will add to his ever-increasing record collection.

Controversial Career

His career, however, has not been without controversy.

Given his break in 1991, when Jordan's Belgian driver Bertrand Gachot was arrested for spraying banned CS gas in the face of a London taxi driver after an altercation, he was clearly a champion in waiting.

The move to Benetton reaped rewards as the young Schumacher was crowned champion in 1994 and 1995 before switching to Ferrari ahead of the 1996 season. The 1994 title was the first of the controversies, however, Schumacher turning into and colliding with Damon Hill in the title decider in Australia.

In 1997 he was stripped of second place overall after trying to run Jacques Villeneuve off the road in the title decider. Two years later, with Schumacher desperately attempting to take the Ferrari team built around him to a long-awaited world title, he broke his leg in a crash at Silverstone.

He returned in the final two races to help the Italian team to the constructors' title, which they have held ever since. The German secured Ferrari's first driver's title in 21 years in 2000 and his latest Championship success confirmed his supremacy.

His role as the leader of Ferrari's 'Dream Team', which includes boss Jean Todt, technical director Ross Brawn and chief designer Rory Byrne, has propelled Schumacher to worldwide fame.

He is paid more than any other Grand Prix driver, an estimated $50 million a year, and has shown the young pretenders to his throne he has no plans to ease into retirement just yet.

Lawn-Mower Engine

Son of a bricklayer, who now owns a go-kart circuit in Kerpen near Cologne, Schumacher was born in Huerth-Hermuelheim on January 3, 1969. Germany's first and so far only Formula One World Champion began karting at the age of four in a machine built by father Rolf and powered by a lawn-mower engine.

His career in motor racing really took shape from the moment he teamed up with manager Willi Weber in 1989 in German Formula Three, with Formula One an inevitable destination.

Schumacher, whose younger brother Ralf followed him into Formula One, has shunned the exotic lifestyle of Monaco for a settled life in Switzerland. He is married to Corinna and has two young children, Gina Maria and Mick, who he keeps out of the public eye.

His mother Elisabeth died on the morning of his San Marino Grand Prix victory last year and his desire for success that day helped Schumacher through a traumatic day with victory.

After the joy of the past five years he just wants to keep on winning.