Schumacher - His story and legacy as seen on the 2021 Netflix documentary

7-time world champion Michael Schumacher. One of the biggest names in the sport. His story has been told hundreds of times, but what makes the 2021 Netflix documentary any different from the rest? Written and directed by Hanns-Bruno Kammertöns, Vanessa Nöcker and Michael Wech, and with a mixture of race footage, interviews, memories from friends and rivals alike, this 2-hour documentary tells you everything you need to know about the racing legend.

(Image credit to whats-on-netflix.com)

“Michael Schumacher: The Life, Legacy, and Legend of a Racing Icon”

The Netflix documentary Schumacher offers a rare, private look at the life of Michael Schumacher, one of Formula 1’s greatest drivers. Mixing archival footage, interviews with his family, friends, and former rivals, the film chronicles Schumacher’s meteoric rise, his dominant F1 career, and the personal life behind the helmet. It’s both a celebration of his unmatched achievements and an emotional reminder of the man behind the legend.

Early Racing Career

The documentary begins by following Schumacher’s humble beginnings in Kerpen, Germany, where his love for racing was born on a go-kart track his father managed. Through rare family videos and interviews, viewers see his unstoppable dedication and discipline, even as a teenager. This section represents Schumacher as more than a prodigy — a determined racer who climbed through the ranks of karting and junior championships, inspired by hard work rather than advantage.

F1 Career

Looking at a mixture of archival footage, exclusive interviews and home videos, we see the full extent of Michael’s career in F1; focusing on his rise to prominence, seven world champion titles and multiple records set in his name. He started his F1 journey a year after his German F3 championship title in 1990, and at the Belgian Grand Prix in 1991 where Schumacher made his debut in F1, driving for Jordan. After a short one-race stint with the Jordan team, Schumacher moved to Benetton and drove with them until 1995. Michael won his first two back-to-back Championships in 1994/5 before moving teams to Ferrari. He raced with Ferrari for 10 years (1996-2006) and achieved his last 5 World Championship titles between 2000 and 2004. In 2006, Schumacher announced his retirement from Formula One; however, he returned with Mercedes between 2010 and 2012.

Family Life

Schumacher, who has always been very private and “known to dislike the celebrity spotlight” married Corinna Betsch, a German champion equestrian, in 1995. They have two children - Gina-Maria, a professional horse-rider (born 1997) and Mick, a professional race-car driver (born 1999). Between 1992 and 1996, they lived in Monaco, before moving to Switzerland. Outside of motorsports, Schumacher’s main hobbies included horse riding, motorcycle racing, sky diving, and playing football for his local team ‘FC Echichens,’ as well as spending time and making memories with his wife and two children - as seen through old pictures and videos shown in the documentary. The family have remained extremely private and close-knit after Michael’s devastating skiing accident in 2013, with Corinna, Gina and Mick at the forefront of his care.

Legacy

Racing in Formula One for three decades, Michael Schumacher’s career left a deep and intense legacy on motorsports in general. From his first world championship title, Michael Schumacher has inspired, and continues to inspire millions of people around the world from fans to aspiring drivers. In 2020, fans voted Schumacher as the ‘most influential person in F1’ - further showing his worldwide popularity and legacy he has in F1

Article written by Ioanna Ntontsef and Charlotte Taylor ©️ 2025