He [Michael] could be very ruthless, he could be cold, he could be distant. I think that’s probably what, at that level, you need to have to be that successful. Coulthard said, as reported by gpfans.net

Schumacher retired from the sport after the 2012 season for the second time, at the end of his stint with Mercedes, before suffering a life-changing accident in 2013. Schumacher was replaced by the other seven-time world champion, Lewis Hamilton who proceeded to claim six titles with Mercedes.

Sebastian Vettel fondly recalls Michael Schumacher’s worldwide impact

Michael Schumacher firmly established himself as the most successful driver of all time at the time, retiring after the 2006 season. Schumacher did come back for a second stint with Mercedes in 2010, retiring with a stellar record and 91 race victories.

Sebastian Vettel always deeply respected his compatriot, being mentored by him through Vettel’s junior career. The triple world champion has always named Schumacher as one of his greatest influences. Vettel reflected on Schumacher’s impact on the 10th anniversary of his disastrous accident in 2013, recalling how he became a household name because of both his racing abilities and respectable character.

Someone like Michael will always be a household name because his successes and his statistics will forever be visible in black and white, but the peculiarities of characters also remain.That Michael had this special bond with Ferrari, that he achieved the miracle of the World Championships, put together a team there and stuck together for such a long time. Vettel said, as reported by RacingNews365

Michael Schumacher retired the year Vettel won his third championship, often expressing his pride for his young countryman. Vettel is the second most successful German driver, with 53 races won in his career, making him currently fourth in the all-time list for race victories.