Schumacher Attacks Coulthard and Villeneuve

World champion Michael Schumacher accused David Coulthard and Jacques Villeneuve on Thursday of talking behind his back rather than discussing his driving tactics face to face.

"Somehow, it's always the same drivers that one has problems with, like (David) Coulthard and (Jacques) Villeneuve for example. It's no secret," Schumacher said in an article for Bild, Germany's biggest selling daily.

"They all talk and talk and talk all day but never say anything to my face. It's surprising but there's nothing I can do to change it," said Schumacher who gave Ferrari their first drivers' title in 21 years after winning at Suzuka on Sunday.

Three-time champion Schumacher slammed Coulthard for not allowing him room to pass when he lapped the Scottish driver during the Belgian Grand Prix in August 1998.

Schumacher was leading the race in dreadful weather at Spa when he shunted his Ferrari into the back of Coulthard's McLaren-Mercedes as he tried to lap him. Schumacher was forced to retire from that race and later rushed to the McLaren garage where he angrily accused Coulthard of endangering his life.

"I don't know what it was Coulthard wanted to do back then. I only know that I could not avoid the crash. Not a chance."

"In such an extreme situation as that, a driver has to be able to rely on the others. Either you drive on normally or make room -- but you do not practically stop on the ideal line and risk a crash," Schumacher said.

The German and Scot have both accused each other of unsporting behaviour this season.

The world champion said that Finland's Mika Hakkinen, world champion in 1998 and 1999, was a much more sporting character.

"Mika Hakkinen is different. Even though he's been my toughest competitor in recent years, he is a great and a fair sportsman. He is 100 percent alright.

"If we have a problem on the track, then we sort it out between ourselves."

Schumacher said his greatest regret was when he drove into Jacques Villeneuve's Williams at the European Grand Prix in Jerez in October 1997. If Schumacher had won, he would have won the drivers' title for Ferrari.

"We were so close to the title. So close," he said.

"Villeneuve was on the inside and I tried to close the door where the time for closing it was long gone. I was simply too late. In this moment I didn't think, I simply reacted. My mistake. Man, if only I'd looked into the mirror sooner."

Schumacher was accused of deliberately trying to take Villeneuve out of the race and was stripped of his second place in the championship.

Villeneuve has joined Coulthard in criticising Schumacher this season, saying in August that he was an aggressive driver who could not take criticism and did not listen to others.