The 37-year-old's victory in France also made him the first driver to win the same Grand Prix eight times
Michael Schumacher said farewell to Formula One with a battling seventh place for Mercedes at the Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday before an embrace for newly-crowned triple champion Sebastian Vettel.
The Ferrari driver feels far more confident about the new Formula One season than he did last year.
The Brazilian took pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix with championship-leading team mate Michael Schumacher alongside on an all-Ferrari front row.
Formula One will have a record 24 races in the season that starts in Bahrain on Saturday.
Seven-times world champion Michael Schumacher set out on the road back to Formula One on Tuesday by testing a GP2 development car in southern Spain.
Michael Schumacher was just a spectator on the pit wall as Nico Rosberg secured a first podium for the new Mercedes team at Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix.
Formula One World champion Sebastian Vettel hailed Michael Schumacher as his hero and inspiration as the German great prepared for a final farewell to the sport at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Michael Schumacher continued preparing for his return to Formula One with a second day of kart racing in northern Italy on Thursday.
Balbir Singh, the Indian-born physiotherapist who has been at the German's side for the past 10 years, wants to spend more time with his family.
The 36-year-old, now the oldest driver on the Formula One starting grid, said his desire for success remains undimmed.
Brazilian Rubens Barrichello once likened Ferrari team mate Michael Schumacher to a sumo wrestler.
The Ferrari driver is the first Formula One driver to win the same Grand Prix seven times.
Ferrari's six-times world champion Michael Schumacher starts Sunday's Canadian Grand Prix on the third row in sixth place.
Mercedes driver George Russell has been disqualified and lost his Belgium Grand Prix win on Sunday, after his car was found to be underweight, and his teammate Lewis Hamilton was promoted to first place.
McLaren accused Michael Schumacher of using tough tactics to prevent Lewis Hamilton getting past for much of Sunday's Italian Grand Prix.
"I think he is in the perfect position. Honestly, he has a strong car, they're very quick, very consistent," Schumacher said.
Adam Peaty hopes to emulate retired American great Michael Phelps, the only swimmer to win gold in the same event at three successive Games, at the Paris Olympics.
Michael Schumacher finished third in qualifying on Saturday for his first competitive motorbike race and will start on the front row.
A Ferrari Testarossa sports car stolen from Austrian Formula One driver Gerhard Berger during the 1995 San Marino Grand Prix weekend has been recovered by London police almost 29 years later.
