Schumacher: I felt for Alonso at Monza

Alonso was penalised after the race stewards judged that he had blocked Felipe Massa during qualifying. The furore over that decision resulted in Alonso claiming that he no longer felt F1 was a sport.

Looking back at that incident in a lengthy interview with German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung, Schumacher has admitted that the Monza controversy reminded him of how he felt after the 1994 British Grand Prix - when he was banned for two races for ignoring a black flag.

Speaking about his punishment in 1994, Schumacher said: "My perception at the time was: it was all staged and I was made out to be the angry maverick.  We had a large lead in the world championship and this penalty was very convenient.

"There they (the FIA) developed a rule compliancy trend against us.  The way in which Flavio Briatore went about it certainly did not help. No one is interested because you are swimming against a strong current.

"In hindsight, I have to admit that one later looks at things differently and not only sees one's own side only.  Maybe Fernando Alonso will also see it like that in the future."

He added: "When he (Alonso) felt that he was unfairly penalised by the FIA and presumed that there was a conspiracy against him I had a lot of sympathy for him and I could understand his reaction, because I thought back to how I felt in 1994.  I also told him that after the race in Monza when we met at the airport in Geneva."

Schumacher maintains that he did not ignore the black flag at Silverstone in 1994, brought out for overtaking Damon Hill on the formation lap.

"I didn't ignore the black flag," said Schumacher when asked about the incident. "I just didn't see it.  And I am also not saying that I didn't make a mistake then, only that the FIA was likewise not without fault.  And I couldn't understand why I of all people should have been the scapegoat."