A few months ago the Michael Schumacher documentary debuted on a streaming video service. Many Formula One fans who may have not followed the sport for a long time were unaware of the details of the German’s F1 career. To celebrate his achievements a permanent showcase was opened in Cologne, Germany, near his hometown of Kerpen in the shape of the Michael Schumacher Museum.

The mini-museum showcases the career of the seven-time F1 world champion. It is housed at Motorworld Cologne Rhineland and has 12 Formula 1 cars, trophies, helmets and race suits from his two decades at the pinnacle of motorsport. Michal M, friend and reader of Double Apex visited the Michael Schumacher Museum and sent us these images to share with you.

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Early career

Kart and Formula Ford

Like most F1 stars Michael’s career started with karting and quickly progressed to single seaters. Here is one of his early karts and a Formula Ford.

Mercedes Backing

Mercedes backed from early in his career

You can see from the side of this ‘wings and slicks’ racecar that Schumacher was a Mercedes-backed driver even during his early years in the sport .

Mercedes Driver Program

Michael Schumacher Museum

The Mercedes young driver programme helped build the careers of several promising drivers, most of whom made it onto the F1 grid. Without a Formula One team of its own at the time the breeding ground was the world of sportscar racing. Schumacher shared this car with Karl Wendlinger.

F1 Debut

Jordan F1 car

F1 debut: Schumacher’s F1 career, famously, began at Jordan. The young German impressed on his debut by qualifying 7th, four places ahead of a more experienced teammate at a track he’d never raced on in a car he’d never driven before. Jordan only managed to use his services for one race before Michael was snapped up by Benetton. That very car went under the hammer earlier this year, as you can read here.

Two Titles

Benetton

The championship-winners: After a few years with the team backed by an Italian fashion label, Schumacher claimed the driver’s title twice, first in 1994, which he then successfully defended in 1995 before moving to Ferrari.

Catch some beautiful retro F1 Monaco footage at this link.

The Ferrari Years

Michael Schumacher Museum

Record-breaking: Schumacher and Ferrari re-wrote the F1 record books when they started winning together, from 1996 already. The floodgates opened in 2000 with Michael claiming five successive titles. There are no fewer than seven Ferraris in the collection. An early car is pictured above and a later model below. The F2003-GA that Schmuacher raced is currently up for sale, as you can read here.

One of seven Ferraris on display

A Regular Winner

Race overalls

The collection features trophies, helmets and these racesuits. We have no doubt that the bulk of these are champagne-soaked from podium celebrations.

Back to Mercedes

Michael Schumacher Museum

It seems only fitting that Schumacher ended his F1 career with Mercedes. After a brief sabbatical, the German returned to F1 for a three-year stint. He was not as successful in his return but rather laid the groundwork for Hamilton and Rosberg who have won multiple titles for Mercedes-AMG F1