Schumacher reflects one year on

The German admitted that he considered taking a break from Formula 1 after being deeply affected by the devastation in New York and Washington DC. His feelings were multiplied on the Saturday afternoon at Monza when news filtered through of Alex Zanardi's accident at the Euro Speedway Lausitz Champ Car race in which the Italian lost both legs.

In an interview with Italy's Retequattro TV station today (Tuesday), Schumacher said: "It was a key period in my life with the attack on the Twin Towers and the dramatic injury to Alex Zanardi.

"It was difficult to get back in the car and drive again as if nothing happened. I didn't feel like it and I would have rather been anywhere else than driving.

"I was very resistant but then I decided to get out on the track, although my heart wasn't in it. I was there in the car but in reality I was somewhere else."

Schumacher finished fourth at Monza in a Ferrari painted with a black nose as a sign of respect for the dead. He realised the importance of continuing life as normal when he travelled to the next race, the US GP at Indianapolis.

"It was important to take into account that life goes on, making every effort possible because events like that should not be repeated," he said. "I felt comforted when a few days later we went to the US where I saw that the Americans, however upset, were dealing with the shock.

"I saw people who were ready to start again with great strength in their soul and the need for normailty and a new start."