Todt Hails Grieving Schumacher

Michael Schumacher had the choice not to compete in Sunday's San Marino Grand Prix but he showed his real humanity by racing despite his mother's death, Ferrari boss Jean Todt said.

"Today again Michael has shown the dimension of what he is as a driver and as a man," he said, taking Schumacher's place at a post-race news conference after the German handed Ferrari their first win of the season.

"It's a shame sometimes that people may want not to understand what he is. Today I think he has done a big demonstration and we are very proud of him."

Schumacher's mother Elizabeth, 55, died in a Cologne hospital early on Sunday morning after both he and his younger brother Ralf flew back to Germany on Saturday for a final farewell. Both then lined up on the front row and completed the race, Michael winning and Ralf finishing fourth.

"He had the choice," said Todt. "I think it was very important. He decided together with his brother yesterday to go to Germany and definitely he felt in a way more comfortable having been there," said Todt.

"Then it was his decision. We at Ferrari will never push a driver to drive the car if he is not intending to drive the car. So it was his choice. I must say, it was a very respectful choice."