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London. Michael Schumacher celebrates a major milestone at Spa-Francorchamps this weekend, even if the glory years of the seven-time world champion form part of Formula 1’s history rather than its present.

It has been 20 years since the sport’s most successful driver, who has 91 wins and 68 pole positions, made his grand prix debut at the daunting Belgian circuit which he calls his “living room.”

The German did not complete a race lap with the struggling Jordan team that Aug. 25 afternoon in 1991 and retired with a clutch problem, but by qualifying seventh he revealed a talent that would enable him to dominate Formula 1.

Schumacher swiftly moved to Benetton and was on his way to greatness, taking his first win in Belgium in 1992 and going on to enjoy five more victories at Spa.

Although no other F1 driver can boast a career spanning two full decades — Argentine great Juan Manuel Fangio crammed his five titles into just eight years — Schumacher’s former Ferrari teammate Rubens Barrichello has started more races since his own debut in 1993.

Once the “Rainmaster” in the capricious local conditions, Schumacher will have to fight for whatever meager points he can grab on Sunday.

Compatriot and champion Sebastian Vettel, dominant this season for Red Bull, will be the man to beat at Spa in a title battle that is all but over.

Vettel, the 24-year-old “Baby Schumi,” has an 85-point advantage over teammate Mark Webber with eight races, or 200 points, still to be won.

Schumacher is 202 points off the lead. The former “Red Baron” is not even the number two German now, with Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg and Renault’s Nick Heidfeld ahead of him in the standings. He has not even appeared on the podium since 2006 — the year he retired from Ferrari before launching his comeback last year.

It will still be a standout weekend for the 42-year-old and his army of fans in the penultimate race in Europe before the long-haul stretch across Asia to the Middle East and South America.

“The race in Spa will certainly have a special touch to it this time,” Schumacher said in a team preview for what promises to be a wet weekend. “A lot has changed in those 20 years, but one thing has not: the track is still sensational. To me, Spa remains my ‘living room,’ because it has been the stage for so many things which have been remarkable for my sporting career.”

Spa-Francorchamps marks Formula One’s return from the long summer break, and Vettel and the rest are raring to go at a classic high-speed track that is a drivers’ favorite as well as an enduring link to the sport’s golden age.

Reuters