A look at the career of Michael Schumacher, who announced Wednesday that he is returning to Formula One with Mercedes in 2010 after three years in retirement:
All-Time Records: seven-time Formula One drivers' champion; 248 Grand Prix starts; 91 race wins; 68 pole positions; 154 podium finishes.
1969 - Born Jan. 3, 1969 in Hurth-Hermulheim, Germany.
1974 - Begins kart racing, using a homemade kart built by his father.
1984 - Wins German Junior Kart championship.
1985 - Finishes second in the Junior World Kart championship in Le Mans, France.
1987 - Wins the German and European Senior Kart championships.
1988 - Signs for the Euphra Formula Ford team. Wins the Formula Konig championship, finishes second in the European championship and sixth in the Formula Ford 1600 series. Signs for the WTS Formula Three team.
1990 - Wins the German Formula Three title.
1991 - Debuts in Formula One at the Belgian Grand Prix as a replacement driver for the Jordan-Ford team. Qualifies in seventh but retires on first lap of race with mechanical failure. Signs for Benetton-Ford a week later, competing in five races. Finishes 12th in the standings.
1992 - Records his first Formula One win in Belgium. Finishes third in the standings.
1993 - Wins the Portuguese Grand Prix. Finishes fourth in the standings.
1994 - Wins his first Formula One world title in the final race in Australia amid controversy. Collides with championship rival Damon Hill, taking both drivers out of the race. Becomes first German Formula One world champion. Wins eight races.
1995 - Retains world title, 33 points ahead of Hill. Wins nine races. Helps Benetton to first constructors championship with Johnny Herbert.
1996 - Joins Ferrari, making move from Benetton along with chief strategist Ross Brawn. Finishes third in championship. Wins three races.
1997 - Disqualified from final standings after driving into title rival Jacques Villeneuve in the final race of the season. Wins five races.
1998 - Finishes second in the championship. Wins six races.
1999 - Breaks his leg in the British Grand Prix while leading championship and is unable to compete for six races. Returns to help Ferrari to constructors championship with Eddie Irvine. Wins two races.
2000 - Wins third world title and Ferrari's first by a driver since 1979. Wins nine races, equaling Nigel Mansell's record.
2001 - Wins fourth world title and nine races. Wins 52nd Formula One race at the Belgian Grand Prix, breaking Alain Prost's record.
2002 - Wins fifth world title, equaling Juan Manuel Fangio's 45-year-old record. Wins 11 races, beating Mansell's and his own record. Finishes in the top three in every race.
2003 - Wins sixth world title, breaking Fangio's record. Wins six races.
2004 - Wins seventh world title. Wins 13 of the year's 18 races to finish the season with a record 148 points.
2005 - Finishes third in championship.
2006 - Wins U.S. Grand Prix for the fifth time, becoming the only driver in any series to win five races at Indianapolis. Wins French Grand Prix for a record eighth time. Wins 66th pole at San Marino GP, breaking Ayrton Senna's career record. Announces retirement, effective at the end of the season, after winning Italian Grand Prix. Accepts role as consultant to Ferrari.
2009: Makes announcement of temporary comeback to replace injured Felipe Massa at Ferrari, but is forced to cancel due to neck injuries from motorcycle accident. Signs for Mercedes for the 2010 season, with plans for longer term deal.
