Michael Schumacher in danger of losing his records to Sebastian Vettel?

At 25 years old, Vettel became the youngest triple world champion. At the same age, Schumacher was just winning his first Championship. Vettel’s three titles rank him equal with Ayrton Senna, Nelson Piquet, Niki Lauda, Jackie Steward and Jack Brabham. Only Alain Prost, Juan Manuel Fangio and Michael Schumacher have won more championships than him.

What’s more frightening is that the likes of Senna and Prost were into their thirties before they racked up multiple titles; if Red Bull masters next year’s regulation changes, then Vettel could usurp them all. Some drivers insist that records don’t bother them, but Vettel knows his place in the history books. After all, Vettel regularly goes hell for leather to record the fastest lap of a race on the final lap. Schumacher won his last title in 2004, at 35 years old, while his last victory came two years later at the Chinese Grand Prix. He was 43 when he last competed in a Formula 1 race, before his second retirement from the sport at the end of 2012.

Schumacher didn’t win any race during his comeback, but showed he can still put a perfect lap on one of the most challenging tracks in Formula 1, when he claimed pole position in Monte Carlo last year. Moreover, he proved he can still be competing at the top with his last podium finish at the 2012 European Grand Prix, which came 20 years after he first stood on a podium. Will we be able to write the same about Vettel in 2028? Only time will tell…