Michael Schumacher drove for Ferrari when he won five consecutive Formula One Drivers’ Championships from 2000 through 2004.
Schumacher joined Ferrari in 1996 after winning titles with Benetton in 1994 and 1995. Ferrari had not won the Drivers’ Championship since 1979, but Schumacher, technical director Ross Brawn, designer Rory Byrne and team principal Jean Todt rebuilt the team into the sport’s dominant force.
The run began in 2000, when Schumacher defeated McLaren’s Mika Häkkinen. He then retained the title in 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004. Ferrari also won the Constructors’ Championship in each of those five seasons, with Rubens Barrichello serving as Schumacher’s teammate from 2000 to 2005.
A common mix-up is confusing Schumacher’s five-title streak with his career total: he won seven Drivers’ Championships overall, adding Benetton’s two titles to his five with Ferrari.