This guy, who is the first German to win the Formula One World championship, was born on February 3, in 1969. Hürth Hermülheim, Germany is the place where it happened. Seven-time world champion, Michael Schumacher is "statistically the greatest driver the sport has ever seen" (according to the official Formula One website). In a 2006 FIA survey, Schumacher was voted as the most popular driver among Formula One fans.

After winning two championships with Benetton, Schumacher moved to Ferrari in 1996 and won five consecutive drivers' titles with them from 2000-2004. Schumacher is the first and only Formula One driver to have an entire season of podium finishes (2002).

But this racing star has also black sides. Michael was twice involved in scandals that determined the outcome of the world championship. His collision with Jacques Villeneuve was the reason of his disqualification from the 1997 championship. After the 2006 Formula One season Schumacher retired from race driving. He was an assistant to Scuderia Ferrari CEO Jean Todt for the 2007 Formula One season.

Off the track, Schumacher is an ambassador for UNESCO and a spokesman for driver safety. He has been involved in numerous humanitarian efforts throughout his life. He is the elder brother of former Formula One driver Ralf Schumacher.

Lewis Hamilton could go on to beat Michael Schumacher's all-time record of seven Formula One world titles, motorsport boss Max Mosley predicts.

Hamilton made a spectacular F1 debut in 2007, losing the drivers' title to Kimi Raikkonen by a single point.

However, the 23-year-old's debut season was also marred by his spats with former McLaren team-mate Fernando Alonso and the fall-out of the "spy row".

The pressure of the politics surrounding the sport and the media spotlight even led to suggestions by Hamilton that he could quit.

But instead he has signed a new five-year deal with McLaren, reported to be worth £10m per year, and Mosley says that was the right decision.

"My advice to Lewis would be to put the money in the bank and don't worry about the politics," said Mosley, president of the sport's governing body the FIA.

Mosley also insisted that new FIA guidelines, which will see drivers charged £7,441 for the required super licence and £1,488 per point they win, will be used to improve safety.

"We spend a fortune on safety, and most of it is to the benefit of the drivers," said Mosley.

"These drivers are earning mega-bucks, we're spending a fortune to ensure they're safe, so hence the increase."