Formula 1

[Jan Barker]

How many German Formula 1 world champions have there been since 1950?

[d0gsb0dy]

Only one. Michael Schumacher.

[kempie]

How about including those born in Germany? (although it was not until January 1, 2000 that a child born in Germany to non-German parents automatically acquired German citizenship at birth.)

Karl Jochen Rindt was born in Mainz, Germany in the height of the Second World War. When both of his parents were killed in bombing raids he moved to live with his grandparents in Graz, Austria and subsequently began motor racing (as an Austrian).

During the 1970 season Rindt went into the Italian Grand Prix at Monza with an unassailable lead in the championship. However in practice Rindt lost control, skating into the barriers at high speed. He was rushed to hospital, but died on the way. He became Formula 1's first posthumous world champion.