Q & A with Michael Schumacher

The seven-time champion, who has spoken little about the sport he once dominated since he retired last season, was the centre of attention the moment he appeared in the Ferrari garage, shaking hands with his former mechanics, to prepare for his first press conference in a Formula One paddock in more than half a year.

Autosport.com was there to listen to Schumacher speaking about life following his retirement, about his plans for the future, and a lot more.

Q. Michael, you are six months into your retirement now. Where are you at? How is your life? What do you think of when you wake up in the mornings? How structured is your life?

Michael Schumacher: Well, it is certainly very obvious that there is a life after Formula One. After being 16 years here, it has been an interesting experience not to wake up every morning and think about it - (instead) just thinking about other things like the family and so on. It has been very exciting.

Q. Do you have a specific role here with Ferrari, or are you just observing from a distance?

MS: Exactly! You hit the nail on the head.

Q. Michael, is there any chance that your presence here this weekend might distract the team from their normal operating procedures?

MS: I would not be here if that was the case. All my participation is to help the team in any means that I can, and not to distract.

Q. So will you be in with all the briefings with the drivers?

MS: I will be there where I am needed to be.

Q. Have you noticed a change in Formula One recently with the new generation of drivers like Lewis Hamilton coming along?

MS: It has been very exciting to watch the races. It has been pretty exciting with new drivers and new faces. There is a much tighter competition, so it has been nice to watch it.

Q. At the launch of the F2007 there was a story that Jean Todt asked you whether you fancied having a go in the car, and you said no. Are you still reluctant to get in an F1 car, or do you feel sometimes that you want to get in there and have a go?

MS: No, not at the moment.

Q. What are your impressions of Lewis Hamilton from the first few races?

MS: I have made some comments already. He has been doing a very good job, and that is not a surprise to me after seeing his races last year in particular. It is maybe a surprise that he can deliver it so consistently. But there you go. He is well prepared, he is quick and he does the job.

Q. Is he a future champion?

MS: We will find out. We have quite a few great drivers in the field, so we will see.

Q. You look very fit, what has your workout regime been like?

MS: As you know, I have a passion for soccer. You need to be a little bit fit for that, but that is basically what I do.

Q. Do you go to the gym?

MS: No. Not really.

Q. Do you have any ambitions to be a team owner somewhere down the line, or would you be quite happy to run Ferrari somewhere down the line?

MS: Neither! Absolutely not.

Q. Why not?

MS: I just don't want to. I have other ambitions in life other than that one.

Q. Are there any drivers from the new generation that you are particularly looking at?

MS: No. I am more looking at the team structure and what is going on inside the team. That is the main focus I have, as well as the road car development. I am not looking at the drivers at the moment.

Q. Can you give us some idea of the kind of input you have had with Ferrari this season, how much involvement and how much contact you have had from the races?

MS: I don't think there is a point to go through my agenda here and now, to get into the details. I like to keep that the way I mentioned it, because there is no such guideline that has to be followed for what I have to do. Ferrari are doing incredibly well. They have restructured the company in a very good way, so obviously there is much less possibility to be of support.

I am happy to see the way things are going. It is the same for Ross (Brawn) and myself, when you have been such a long time in a team like this and make so many friends, and you leave that part of work then you feel very happy to see the success continuing and that they can still do the job they do.

Q. What is your analysis of the job that Kimi is doing at the team?

MS: It is not my part of work to analyse the drivers. Certainly I have my view, but I don't think it is my job to make that public honestly. I don't see any reason, as I spoke before, to make any comments in any direction. Unfortunately in this business they can be twisted too many times around, so I am happy that we as a team are doing well and we can win the championship. That is all that counts.

Q. Mika Hakkinen has said that he can imagine you getting back into a racing car and racing again because a lot of ex-racing drivers miss the buzz of being in a car. Is that possible, or do you have something in your life that has replaced the satisfaction of F1?

MS: No, I am only so many months out of this business. And I am quite happy with that. What could be in the future, who knows? If I knew that, I would be doing it.

Q. Can you compare the emotions you feel when Ferrari have a good day, or maybe a day like Massa had in Malaysia, with when you were racing? How do you react?

MS: It depends where you are, honestly. Or how is the situation, or who you are with. The team are what counts and they were always the number one priority in the past and they still are now. It is not about a single person. So you celebrate and you feel and be happy with the team when they win, or you are disappointed when they lose. That is how it was in the past.

Q. You've been travelling quite a bit since you retired, are you finding out more about yourself and your family now?

MS: Yes, naturally. That is the situation that I was looking for. Now when the kids have holidays we can plan the holidays without any other agenda that comes in my way. I am very, very relieved about this one. You can wake up in the morning and make up your own schedule rather than somebody doing it for you.

Q. You probably don't miss press conferences like this, but what do you miss?

MS: I am feeling pretty happy, but there is obviously sometimes the wish to see the guys more often. That is true. Usually on the Thursday before a race weekend we would play soccer together, we have dinner together and after the race we may hang out together. Those moments have always been very pleasurable. Those things I do miss, there is only so much I can have. I have other enjoyments now and I am happy about this too. On the other side when I have the time I always can come up and see that.

Q. What about your relationship with Felipe? We see you on the phone ringing Jean Todt and the team?

MS: Obviously I am in close contact with the guys when I am not there. I follow everything and naturally I know Felipe very well. We have been friends over the years he has been working with Ferrari, so we have a very close relationship with him on the phone as you can see.

Q. So are you advising Felipe? Are you helping him?

MS: That is not my job. You see the job, and how he is doing. I may have done that last year but it is no longer necessary.

Q. Now we are back in Europe, do you have any idea of how many races you will attend?

MS: No. I will take them as they come, and see whether there is a need or if there is a pleasure for me to be there. It will be one or the other.