Can he now claim to be the greatest talent the sport has ever seen?

Schumacher's triumph over double world champion Mika Hakkinen means Ferrari have broken their 21-year hoodoo and won the driver's crown at last.

Where does the German rate compared to some of the most illustrious names in the Grand Prix world?

Schumacher joins an exclusive club of triple world champions that also includes the likes of Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Nelson Piquet, Juan Fangio, Jack Brabham and Nikki Lauda.

Does his achievement in reviving the Prancing Horse of Ferrari - the most romantic name in the sport - mean he has now eclipsed even these great individuals?

How good is Schumacher? Tell us what you think?

In every driver generation there is one outstanding talent. Schumacher is undoubtedly the greatest driver of his generation. It is impossible to make comparisons between the generations but I would say that Schumacher is at least equal to the best that have gone before. And I am not a fan!!!
Chris, UK

Schumacher is a brilliant driver. However, in comparing drivers across different eras, one asks the question "who did he beat?" For Fangio it was Moss and Ascari. For Senna, it was Prost, Piquet and Mansell. And for Schumacher....? Only Hakkinen, Coulthard and Irvine. No comparison. Also, the cars today require a different style of driving than previously. Not only are they semi-automatic, but the use of pit stops has meant that the skills of conserving tyres and fuel are now redundant. Schumacher is the best of his era without a doubt, but let's not carried away.
Michael Gerrard, UK

Think what you will of Schumacher, no one can deny him as being the best. People forget he came back from a broken leg fitter than ever and showed his determination to get the job done. He has deserved this title. When you are champion you will always have that arrogance and that's what makes people jealous! He is a true champion. I think Barrichello is a good driver too and should get a bit of credit for his win in Germany when he was 18th.
Frank, England

Whilst Schumacher is certainly the best of the current crop, it is difficult to consider him as "the greatest" because of the lack of comparable drivers for him to prove hinmself against. Senna is considered one of the greatest because he raced, and beat, Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell, Nelson Piquet etc, that is was what made him so truly special. I never seen Hakkinen's name tossed into the "greatest ever" hat for example.
Jason, UK

The title of world champion driver should be given by driving against other drivers that have similar if not idealy identical cars. Todays technology in Formula 1 surpasses the ability to make a fair comparison. Usualy one or two very wealthy teams monopolize, so the title of "World Champion driver" is not accurate. Constructor championship yes but not "world champion driver".
David Weston, San Diego CA - USA

Michael deserves to be called the greatest because his talent and driving skills, but overall for his confidence, discipline and mental strength.
Andrea, Chile

For years Micheal has been in the shadows of the late Senna, however now he has showed the world that he is truly the best driver in the world.
Mark Fricke, England

Everybody talks about Schumacher winning, despite having an inferior car. Where is the evidence that the McLaren is so much better? Rubens Barichello has been regularly finishing ahead of Coulthard recently and in 1999 Ferrari won the constructor's title despite Schumacher missing a good chunk of the season.
Matt, UK

Given that winning an F1 Driver's Championship three times is a stupendous feat. There is more to being a champion than just getting the checkered flag. In racing, like most sports, there is the matter of how you conduct yourself while acheiving a title. Michael Schumacher certainly falls far short in this area, being that of sportsmsanship: Remember his run-ins, a.k.a. runs into, Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve and in addition all his whining when he didn't happen to win? I certainly cannot place him at the top of the heap of the triple crown winners.
B. G. Conroy, Canada

Schumacher is a brilliant driver, yes, but can you compare him to greats like Moss and Fangio? No, Formula 1 today is completely different. The courage and artistry needed to drive a car of the 50's round the old Nurburgring or the Mille Miglia is no longer needed. Fitness and precision are the attributes required.
Michael Powell, UK

Schumacher the best ever? Close, very very close, but Ayrton Senna remains the greatest formula one driver ever. We are very lucky to have witnessed in the last decade some amazingly skilled drivers - Senna, Prost, Mansell, Schumacher, Piquet, Hakkinen et al. I would say that Michael Schumacher is part Senna - part Prost...very talented and also very thoughtful.
Deejay Haydon, UK

How do you define 'Greatest'? The points say one thing but there is more to being 'The Greatest' than points. Motor racing is supposed to be a sport but Michael would be better suited to chariot racing where aggression and a total lack of consideration for anyone else on the track would be acceptable. Michael the Greatest? Not by a long way.
L Crowley, England

No way Shumacher can be consider the best ever driver! Senna, Fangio, Ascari probably represent the triumvirate of F1. Those people left a mark that goes beyond the myth
Enrico Galasso, Italy

There is no doubt that MS deserves this year's title. He does not have an equal car to Hakkinen & Coulthard and can still take the title which speaks for itself. I believe however that Villenueve could be pretty close if he had the car. Schui is very good but I would certainly not say the best ever.
Jim Donald, USA

Who cares? Wasn't the British Superbike championship won over the weekend? How come a British site is full of over hyped F1 pap, and not a single mention of Hodgson wining the BSB series? When will the BBC wake up and realise that there are motorsports other than F1 of equal if not higher interest to British sports fans?
Andy Lord, England

Schu is the best at the moment, no doubt. He can be ruthless but that is what makes a champion not a runner up. I think his talent puts him up with Ayrton Senna but Senna had the edge. It is a great shame we will never see the fantastic battles that could have been if Senna was still around. To me he is still unrivalled. Schumacher, though, is a close second.
Mike Bardwell, England

Schumi is a superb driver,there is no doubt about it, BUT he has got FIA wrapped around his little finger and now he is champion, he will have a more say what happens in F1, regarding rules. Schumi can get away with things on the track and other drivers can�t.
Michael Pearce, Germanay

Schumacher is a hugely over-hyped driver who will never come close to the likes of Clark, Senna, Fangio and Prost. Anyone who watched Damon Hill comprehensively out-drive him at Suzuka in 1994 in the worst rain conditions that I can recall, will know that "regenmeister" is a largely undeserved title. Although he is certainly very good, he is flattered by only having a small number of drivers to race against due to the dominance of McLaren and Ferrari. If Villeneuve was in a comparable car, I'm sure it would be a very different story.
Matt Hinnigan, UK

Schumacher is truly worthy of this championship, it just annoys me when I hear about people harping on about the clash he had with Hill and Villeneuve, have we all forgotten how Prost and Senna behaved? .
Perry Hemmings, England

There is no doubt that Schumi is the best driver at the present time, but the greatest driver ever? You cannot compare Schumi with drivers of the past. The technology was different, as were the cars and circuits. All you can say that in recent years he is the best - regardless of the car he is in - and thats what make him great. Lets see what happens in 2001!
John Di-Mascio, UK

The advent of the 'strategic procession' in Formula 1 has heralded a shift in the criteria by which we may accurately rate drivers. The speculations we make about ability of drivers is mostly conjecture, however, due to lack of overtaking, it appears as though drivers are challenged more by the ongoing race with technology rather than the race on the circuits. Schumacher is leading that race. The best of all time? In my opinion...yes.
Jeremiah Niekamp, Canada

Schumacher is very good... possibly great. But the best? - I don't think it's possible to choose a "best". I believe Senna was better as a raw driving talent, Prost was better technically, Hakkinen has more class, Gilles was unbelievable... and yet none of the modern era drivers seem to have the sportsmanship of the Clark, Hill, Moss and prior era. What happened?... are "class" and "sportsmanship" destined to be permanently replaced with media hype, whining/complaining losers, lawyers deciding race outcomes, astronomical salaries, and one or two passes per race? {click}-TV off
Pete Muller, USA

Senna's death, while tragic, immortalised the man and placed his talent on a pedestal. Schumacher's quest to win at all costs ensures he will never be seen in such a fond light, yet everyone, from fellow drivers to the public, can not help but marvel at his talent. Just note his credentials. Three world championships in inferior cars. A cunning tactical mind. Shattering speed. The rain master. While he may never be revered, he is undoubtedly the greatest.
Juliette Burroughs, Australia

The amount of bias against Schumacher in the British media is disgusting. If he were British, then he would be hailed as a genius. Controversial manoevres are made in every race,by various drivers, but criticism is reserved only for M.S. A less xenophobic ear will detect no more arrogance or lack of sportsmanship in post race interviews than many of his contemporaries and predecessors. Give the guy a break, he won on merit despite some bad luck and childish" revenge " attacks from Coulthard. Nice one Michael!
Martin Normington, Holland

Yes, Michael is without doubt the best driver at the moment and deserves the title, but there is that niggling doubt that he isn't up there with the likes of Prost or Senna. Does watching a flying Schumacher lap have the same breathtaking effect of one by Senna? I think not.
Mark Kaye, Australia

There have not been any others in recent times that could tame the prancing horse like Michael and I think that this speaks volumes for the man. I also believe Michael's ambition and determination to win has been interpreted the wrong way. In a sport where the rewards for winning are great, he has proved he is a professional sportsman and is simply doing what he is paid to do. I'm sure that if he was behind the wheel of a Merc or Jordan, he would not be vilified, rather he would be applauded. Simply magnificent!!!
Goran Jankoski, Australia

Schumacher plus Ferrari: simply the best ever.
Umberto, Italy

Schumacher is the best driver of his generation, without a doubt. The greatest driver ever, that is debatable.
Olukunle Amodu, England

Michael Schumacher is the best driver in F1 right now, no doubt about that. But there is no way to fairly compare him with the past greats. The only reason McLaren is not champions again this year is because they don't have Schumi driving for them. Hakkinen is great too, but if he can't handle rain like Schumi can, he is not the best.
Yeap, Penang, Malaysia

Schumacher has won three world championships and over forty grand Prix and yet he has never had the best car. Doesn't that speak for itself?
Phil, England

I think Both Hakkinen and Schumacher are great drivers. Look at the gap between 2nd and 3rd place in Japan. Obviously this shows the class between these two drivers and the rest of the field
Paul Murray, Scotland

I am by no means a Michael Schumacher fan but I have to grudgingly admit that he is special. His furiously committed driving style makes him unique to the rest of the field, especially the smooth but altogether relaxed styles of Messrs Hakkinen and Coulthard. Michael was the greatest driver of the 90's, of that there is no doubt and his 2000 championship win seems to suggest he can be the greatest driver of the next five years or so, perhaps even longer. Schumacher, however, is by no means the greatest of all time; any suggestion to the contrary is absurd. Fangio, Senna, Prost, Clark and maybe some others were better. But in recent years we've experienced a dearth of talent and Schumacher is the King of F1.
William Wilson, Britain

Schumacher may be a good driver but he is not consistent like Hakkinen or a good sportsman like Hakkinen who can take wins and loses in the right sense.
Siddharth, India

Michael Schumacher is a great driver but will only ever be a great champion when he learns to take defeat as well as he does winning. In the last race he slammed Coulthard for "balking" him in the early stages yet in this race he nearly put Hakkinen out at the start. Schumacher will do anything to win but woe be tide any one who tries it on him - remember the Hill incident a few seasons ago - did he deliberately take Hill out? Schumacher may be champion but he is no sportsman in my eyes.
Jon P, UK

Although Schumacher is undoubtedly a talented driver, but by the last few races of the current season, it was obvious that some comments and decisions were in favour of Ferrari. That tainted the competition somewhat. As for me, it was enough to put me off F1 as a fan.
Mike Yap, Malaysia

Schumi is one of the greatest drivers of all time. He is streets ahead of most of the other drivers. Can you compare him to other drivers in different eras with different cars? Not really, anyone who has raced will tell you how much of a part luck can play in determining the outcome of a race. One of the greatest ever drivers was Gilles Villeneuve - he never won a title but without doubt in the same league as Senna and Schumacher. What about Stirling Moss? Never won a title but compared to Damon Hill, Nigel Mansell who was the better driver? Statistics based on winning will give you one version of the events but to really judge you should ask the drivers. They alone know who they fear as being good.
Ade, USA

Michael Schumacher deserves this title because he is so far the best driver... See where the Beneton team is now and you will probably understand what I mean!
Fran�ois Gilson , Belgium