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July 29 - Factbox on seven-times Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher, who will return to racing to replace Ferrari's injured Felipe Massa if he passes a fitness test.
* Born Jan. 3, 1969 in Huerth-Hermuelheim, Germany
First grand prix
* Schumacher's first grand prix was with Jordan in Belgium in 1991, as a stand-in for jailed Belgian driver Bertrand Gachot. Despite completing only 500 metres in the race, he made an immediate impression.
* Snapped up by Benetton after that debut, a move that provoked a bitter legal tussle, and scored points in only his second appearance with fifth place in Italy.
* Mexico provided the first podium of Schumacher's career in 1992, and his first win followed later that year in Belgium. Yet he had to wait until Monaco in 1994 for his first pole position.
* Won his first of seven titles later that year, going on to triumph in 1995 (also with Benetton), and 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 (with Ferrari).
* He retired at the end of the 2006 season.
Controversy
* His career was dogged by controversy as well as highlighted by brilliance, the German colliding with Briton Damon Hill to win the 1994 title and trying to ram Canadian Jacques Villeneuve off the track in the 1997 decider.
* During the 2006 Monaco Grand Prix qualifying session the German stopped his car towards the end of the circuit, partially blocking title rival Fernando Alonso, who was on a quick lap at the time. Schumacher was later demoted to the back of the grid for the race.
Records galore
* Schumacher is the only driver to win seven championships in Formula One and he owns most of the sport's meaningful records.
* In 2002 he finished every race on the podium, winning the title with six races to spare - the fastest championship in Formula One.
* In 2004, when Ferrari were dominant, he won a record 13 races in a single season and finished first in seven successive races, also a record.
* Schumacher won an unprecedented 91 times, one fewer than the combined tally of the next two most successful drivers Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna.
Return to F1
* Media speculation linked Schumacher with a return to racing after Ferrari's Brazilian driver Felipe Massa crashed during qualifying for last week's Hungarian Grand Prix, ruling him out of action for the foreseeable future.
* On Wednesday the Italian team confirmed Schumacher would return to racing at the European Grand Prix in Valencia, Spain, next month if he passes a fitness test.