The 2000s are coming to a close, and with it Formula One's sixth decade of world championship racing. Manipe F1 is taking the month of November to recap the decade by nominating the 'Grid of the Decade' - a list of the top 20 drivers that have impressed, inspired and succeeded in ten years of extraordinary technical and engineering innovation. Our countdown begins with Germany's Ralf Schumacher in 20th place.

Being the brother of Michael Schumacher and living in his shadow was never going to make life easy for Ralf, but his 11-year F1 career is regularly classified as one of the most disappointing, especially those of this decade. Despite attracting jaw-dropping salaries and driving some of the best cars, Schumacher never once challenged for the championship, nor was he capable of pushing an underperforming car to its limit - a trait that characterised his unfulfilled F1 tenure.

Over the course of his career, Ralf scored a total of six race wins, all in the 2000s and all at Williams. In 2000, three podium finishes was all he could muster in Williams' first BMW-powered car, before claiming three of his six wins in 2001, while driving alongside rookie team-mate Juan Pablo Montoya.

Ralf was one of only two non-Ferrari drivers to win in 2002, but still finished behind Montoya in the standings, nevertheless helping Williams to second in the constructors'. Ralf fell further behind his team-mate in 2003, Montoya's championship-challenging year, finishing just fifth in the standings despite back-to-back victories in Europe and France, ultimately his last F1 triumphs. With a car capable of winning the championship, decent points-scoring finishes was all he could string together on a regular basis.

His final season with Williams in 2004 was shortened by a career-threatening accident in the United States Grand Prix, when he crashed backwards at high-speed into a concrete wall, with the deceleration measuring in at a colossal 78g. Despite severe concussion and two spinal fractures he was back in action before the end of the year.

2004 saw him switch to Toyota, accompanied by a major pay-rise, but was never able to justify his earnings. Nevertheless to his credit, he was able to finish ahead of team-mate Trulli in 2005, despite the Italian's impressive early-season pace, before he claimed the team's one and only podium finish of the season in 2006.

Finishing behind Trulli in 2007 proved to be the last straw for Toyota, as they opted not to renew the German for 2008, despite him offering to take a considerable wage cut to keep his seat. A last-ditch effort to keep his F1 dreams alive ended in humiliation after finishing last at a post-season test for Force India, going more than half a second slower than the team's new test driver at the time, Tonio Liuzzi.

With no room in F1, Schumacher turned to the German touring car series DTM for 2008 with Mercedes, collecting three points in a year-old car in his debut season. In 2009, driving a current model, he scored just eight points, finishing 11th at season's end.

Decade highs:
Multiple race-wins in 2001, his best F1 season.

Decade lows:
Career-threatening crash at the 2004 United States Grand Prix - the 78g impact ruled him out of the following six races.
Failing to secure a drive in F1 for 2008, forcing a switch to DTM.

2010s?
With little success forthcoming in DTM, Schumacher's racing days are numbered. He may choose to turn his hand full-time to F1 punditry like fellow veteran David Coulthard, having already helped out with German channel RTL on occasions. With rumours linking him to GP3 for next year, a foray into team management is also an option, as is sitting back and enjoying his vast fortune.