I can’t get any better, says Schumacher

Days before he opens the defence of his world title in Australia, the Ferrari ace said that if any improvements were to come they would have to come from his Ferrari.

"I don't think I can pull anything more out of myself," he told German newspaper Bild. "But that doesn't mean we can't go any faster. You can always improve your car."

"And I think we have made improvements to the car. But at this stage it is difficult to tell exactly where we stand until we see everyone on the track together. I am quietly confident, but we will get an idea on Saturday [F1 qualifying] of what lies ahead.

The multi-millionaire racer, who reputedly earns around £2 million a month and owns homes in Switzerland and Norway, as well as his own private Lear jet and a helicopter, also reminisced about his early days in racing and his joy at getting his first pay packet as a car mechanic - just £650.

At the time he was a part-time kart racer and never imagined he could make a living out of motor racing.

"I never thought I could ever make any money out of my driving," he said. "My first month's salary, long before I got to Formula 1, was about £650. I was very proud. It was a lot of money for me in those days.

"Had it all not worked out as it has in Grand Prix racing I would probably have become a mechanic and most certainly happy at it too."

The German is the highest paid driver in Formula 1 history, reputedly earning £25 million a year - close to double that of rivals Mika Hakkinen and Jacques Villeneuve.