Schumacher says records 'mean nothing to me'

Not since Alberto Ascari in 1952/53 has anyone won so many successive races. Until today, Schumacher shared five in a row with Jim Clark (1965), Nigel Mansell (1992) and Jack Brabham (1960).

The German has collected a string of records over the last few years and now has a modern day record of successive wins - but isn't particularly interested.

"The record means nothing to me really," he said. "It is nice to hear people talk about it. But it is not a matter of how many races and championships you win, it is how you win. It is how you have done it and that you have worked hard that counts for me."

Schumacher admitted that his triumph in Malaysia was slightly fortuitous, after both he and team mate Rubens Barrichello went off the track due to hitting an oil slick combined with a downpour.

"We were lucky the cars stayed in shape and didn't have any damage," he admitted. "I thought it was all finished after a few laps when I went into the gravel in the rain but things played into my hands."

Barrichello also had to battle his way through the pack to finish second, despite missing chunks of his front wing and barge boards after numerous early off-track excursions.

"Michael is a hell of a driver but I wish I could have some of his luck," said the Brazilian. "We both went off but he didn't pick up as many stones as I did which meant I had to stop again to have them cleaned out."

Barrichello said it was only quick thinking on his part that kept him from running into Schumacher when the German slid off the circuit while leading on lap three.

"I was too close to him to avoid going off myself as we came out of turn
five," Barrichello added. "I saw him going straight on and knew if I spun I would have hit him so I went wider. I was lucky to recover and keep going."

For full race results, click here.