January 3 is Michael Schumacher's birthday.

      On January 3rd Michael Schumacher, the seven-time world champion, turned 57.

      The German driver made his Formula 1 debut in August 1991 with Jordan at Spa, but immediately afterwards signed with Benetton; the following spring he stood on the podium for the first time and in the same season took his first victory. With that team he won his first two titles, after which he added another five with Ferrari.

      Then there was a three-year break in his career, but in 2010 Michael returned to the world championship, becoming a driver for the newly formed factory Mercedes team, and he retired in 2012.

      A year later, in December 2013, an incident occurred on a ski slope in the French Alps that was as tragic as it was absurd, after which Schumacher effectively disappeared from the public eye, as his family imposed a complete media blackout, and the truth about his current condition is known only to very few people. But millions of fans around the world still remember the emotions they felt when Michael claimed numerous victories on the racetracks — for them Schumacher remains a true hero...

      Ferrari, the team for which Michael raced from 1996 to 2006, today published a poster dedicated to the great driver, who is associated with the most successful period in its history, and wished him a happy birthday. The caption was brief, but much was said in those few words: "The day a legend was born."