Michael Schumacher was employed as a race car driver.
Formula One ( also Formula 1 or F1 and officially the FIA Formula One World Championship ) is the highest class of single-seat auto racing that is sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile ( FIA ) . Michael Schumacher ( [ ˈmɪçaʔɛl ˈʃuːmaxɐ ] ; born 3 January 1969 ) is a German retired racing driver . Schumacher holds many of Formula One 's driver records , including most championships , race victories , fastest laps , pole positions and races won in a single season -- 13 in 2004 ( the last record was equalled by fellow German Sebastian Vettel nine years later ) .