User:Serte/ms1996-1999

1996 − 1999

In 1996, his first year at Ferrari, Schumacher finished third in the Drivers' Championship, behind the two Williams drivers, Jacques Villeneuve and Damon Hill. He won three races, more than the team's total tally for the period from 1991 to 1995. The team's reliability troubles continued - Schumacher did not finish in 6 of th 18 races. In the French Grand Prix Schumacher qualified on pole position but suffered an engine failure on the formation lap.

Further information: [[:Michael Schumacher#Championship deciding collisions|Michael Schumacher § Championship deciding collisions]]

In 1997, Schumacher won five races and fought with Jacques Villeneuve for the title. In the first part of the season, Villeneuve gained advantage. However, Schumacher took the lead by winning the 5th Grand Prix of the season and led the Championship in the mid-part, from the 7th to the 14th Grand Prix, only to lose it in the final races. A win for each driver in Luxembourg (Villeneuve) and Japan (Schumacher), Schumacher entered the last Grand Prix of the season, in Jerez with a one point advantage over Villeneuve. During the race Schumacher and Villeneuve collided after Villeneuve attempted to overtake Schumacher on a right turn. Schumacher ended up in the gravel and Villeneuve scored four points, giving him the championship. Schumacher was disqualified from the drivers' championship and was stripped of all points for the season.

Schumacher battles with Mika Häkkinen at the 1998 British Grand Prix.

In 1998, Schumacher gained another rival, Mika Häkkinen. Häkkinen won the first two races of the season, gaining a 16 point advantage, which he would mantain until the 14th of 16 races, when Schumacher catched him and both were drawn with 80 points. Häkkinen won the last two races of the season and became World Champion. Schumacher won 6 races during the season. During the Belgian Grand Prix, Schumacher stormed into McLaren garage and accused Häkkinen's team mate David Coulthard of trying to kill him after a collision that forced Schumacher to retire.

In 1999, Schumacher's efforts helped Ferrari win the Constructors title. His hopes for the Drivers' Championship were dashed at the British Grand Prix, where he broke his leg. A rear brake failure caused him to exit the track on the first lap of the race while facing the high-speed, right-hand 'Stowe' corner, and he crashed heavily into a tire barrier. This accident prevented Schumacher from competing in the next six races. After his return, he assumed the role of a second driver, yielding to his team mate, Eddie Irvine, in order to help his team win a Drivers' Championship title. Irvine lost the title to Häkkinen in the last race, the Japanese Grand Prix. Schumacher would later say that Häkkinen was the opponent he respected the most.