Michael Schumacher won five Formula One Drivers’ Championships with Ferrari. He captured them consecutively from 2000 through 2004, transforming Ferrari’s long-running title hopes into one of the sport’s defining dynasties.
His first Ferrari championship came in 2000, when he defeated McLaren’s Mika Häkkinen and ended Ferrari’s 21-year wait for a Drivers’ title. He then retained the crown in 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004. The 2002 season was especially dominant: Schumacher clinched the title with six races still remaining.
The common mix-up is with Schumacher’s career total of seven championships. His first two titles came with Benetton, in 1994 and 1995; the other five were Ferrari victories. Ferrari also won six consecutive Constructors’ Championships from 1999 through 2004 during this era, with Rubens Barrichello contributing strongly as Schumacher’s teammate.
Schumacher’s five straight titles matched Juan Manuel Fangio’s earlier record and helped establish Ferrari as Formula One’s benchmark team in the early 2000s.