Schumacher: Loving new life

By Jens Marx May 11, 2007, 15:24 GMT

Barcelona - Even though he is no longer a permanent feature of the Grand Prix circuit, seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher still packs in the crowds.

On Friday photographers spent hours waiting for Schumacher in front of the official Ferrari box at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, where the Spanish Grand Prix will be held on Sunday.

The German, who last year retired after taking second place in the drivers' championship in his Ferrari, has earlier announced that he will be at Sunday's race in his capacity as Ferrari advisor.

For 20 minutes Schumacher spoke to over 100 journalists and told them about his new life, stressing that he will never become Ferrari team principal or the owner of a team.

The 38-year-old said he does not miss his old life.

'I have only been out of the business for a few years and I am happy with that. It is a huge relief. You wake up in the morning and make your own plans,' he said.

Looking tanned and relaxed after enjoying holidays with his wife Corinna and their two children, he explains that it is something that he could seldom do before as he simply did not have the time.

He is also not worried that the German President Horst Koehler turned down the request of a Schumacher-fan to give the former racing driver the Federal Cross of Merit - one of the highest honours that can be bestowed on German citizens.

'I have heard several reasons why he turned down the request, but it is nice that people are thinking I should receive it.' He added that he had so many titles and honours that one more or less made no big difference.

Holding the microphone in one hand and his sunglasses in the other, Schumacher was slightly vague about his actual work for Ferrari. 'I want to help where I can. My experience could be advantageous to analyze the global perspective.'

For former world champion Niki Lauda Schumacher however is little more than a well paid Ferrari mascot and even Schumacher seems a bit unsure what he is meant to do, though he knows quite clearly what he will not do: 'It is not my job to analyze the drivers.'

Schumacher counts his former teammate Felipe Massa as a friend and the Brazilian is happy that his 'lucky charm' will be present at the season's fourth race.

He has less contact with the driver who took over from him, Kimi Raikkonen. That the Finn has little interest in constant contact he again made clear in Spain. 'I drive the car and have my engineers,' he said.

It is not yet clear from where Schumacher will be watching the race, possibly he will be in the control area.

One thing is certain though, he has missed the traditional football match and the get-together that Ferrari organizes on the Thursday before the race.

For football fan Schumacher, who still plays competitive football in Switzerland and is a fan of German second division club Cologne, that is something that he really misses - unlike racing.