WATCH: Throwback to Michael Schumacher making history at 2000 Japanese GP, winning his first title with Ferrari

On this day in 2000 Former World champion Michael Schumacher won his third F1 title at Ferrari which is the 1st of the 5 straight titles for the Maranello-based Racing team. Michael Schumacher won 5 world titles with Ferrari from 2000 to 2004. The Streak was broken by none other than Fernando Alonso in 2005 and he continued his winning streak the next year to become a two-time world champion.

On this day in 2000, F1 legend Michael Schumacher wins the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka to clinch his 3rd, and 1st of 5 straight F1 World Drivers Championships with Ferrari.📆 #F1 #formula1 #f1history pic.twitter.com/ZKN1MyYkQn

— F1 Chronicle (@F1Chronicle) October 8, 2024

Ferrari and Michael Schumacher is a love story made in heaven as the 7-time world champion raced 180 races with the team which is still the highest for any driver at Ferrari. On October 8, 2000, the Japanese Grand Prix took place in the famous Suzuka circuit. It was the classic Rivalry between Mika Hakkinen and Michael Schumacher fighting for the driver's title. 

The class of big champions. The mutual respect between these two was something special.
Huge drivers, massive respect.
Schumi wins the title at Suzuka in 2000.
Schumi says to Mika " you bastard" and Mika smiles and hugs.

Those were the days. What a championship year. pic.twitter.com/I72PgwEGQs

— Filippos McLaren (@F1lippos) January 26, 2022

Schumacher's First title with Ferrari

Schumacher won the race starting from the Pole position as his rivals David Coulthard and Mika Hakkinen couldn't match the champion. Schumacher led Hakkinen by 8 points and Ferrari led McLaren by 10 points. At the start of the race, Hakkinen Overtook Schumacher in the first corner till 31 laps and Schumacher overtook him during his second pit stop and maintained the lead throughout the race. The result of the race confirmed Michael Schumacher with his third championship title, first with Ferrari leading by twelve points.

The first of 🖐 world championships with @ScuderiaFerrari 🏆

Michael Schumacher started from pole and finished as the champion at Suzuka 20 years ago today#F1 @schumacher #KeepFightingMichael pic.twitter.com/eeV10yDt84

— Formula 1 (@F1) October 8, 2020

After Michael Schumacher, no other driver is as successful as Michael for Ferrari. Only Kimi Raikonnen won their last championship in 2008 and Ferrari is still struggling to be the F1 champions. But next year the Ferrari pair is looking much stronger than any other team on the grid with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.

If Ferrari gives the pair the best Formula 1 car ever then there could be another winning streak in the coming years. Lewis Hamilton moving to Ferrari is the biggest thing that happened to the Italian team after Michael Schumacher. Everyone is hoping that Lewis Hamilton will turn the tide for Ferrari just like he turned it for Mercedes.

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