F1: Top 5 Rivalries of Michael Schumacher.

#1 Hakkinen vs Schumacher

Michael Schumacher celebrating with his greatest rival Mika Hakkinen

Every Formula One fan would say Mika Hakkinen and Michael Schumacher when you ask for a top rivalry pair. Their rivalry was more or less a fair contest amongst passionate drivers stretching back to 1990 Macau Grand Prix F3 racing, where Schumacher won the race after colliding with his counterpart thereby ending his race. The heat carried forward to F1 as well, for three seasons from 1998 to 2000 the German and Finn fought head to head peerlessly.

Their rivalry reached the peak at Spa circuit during 2000 Belgian Grand Prix when Hakkinen went on to win the race from pole after an off control spin off the track. Schumacher finished at 2nd place 1.1 seconds behind him, after being overtaken by Hakkinen at the 40th lap after a minor accident which damaged Finn’s front wing. Though Hakkinen started to fade away after his consecutive championship titles in 1998 and 1999, Schumacher considered him to be the greatest rival of his entire career.