Michael Schumacher, Q&A

Following the announcement he will compete at the Race Of Champions again, Michael Schumacher chats about his return, as well as discussing what he has been up to since retiring from F1 at the end of last season...

Q:
Michael, last year you and Sebastian Vettel won ten races out of ten en-route to your sixth consecutive ROC Nations Cup victory. That's hard to top but how much are you looking forward to gunning for your 'lucky number seven' for Team Germany in December?

Michael Schumacher:
Well, I already announced it last year, didn't I? But seriously, I am sorry to say but of course we want to win it again! Both Sebastian and I are competitive guys and once we are sitting in any car and the visor goes down we just want to be first over the finishing line. The fact that it will be the seventh title this year makes it even more interesting, at least for me. So be prepared for a hot Team Germany to enter the ROC Nations Cup.

Q:
We saw you drive the Nordschleife in the Mercedes F1 car in May. How much time are you still spending on four wheels?

Michael Schumacher:
I am still on four wheels a lot, but obviously not in F1. I still do a lot of karting, as this is my 'old' love, and I have been driving the Mercedes AMG SLS GT3 which was a really good experience. It is obviously different when you are racing every other weekend but I am still quite used to it.

Q:
What else has been filling your time and how have you been getting your adrenaline rush lately - horses, parachutes, motorbikes, etc?

Michael Schumacher:
It is funny that everybody thinks I need adrenaline to be happy - in fact, if you had an adrenaline rush in a F1 car, you would be facing problems. The calmer and more relaxed you are in the car, the better - and this goes for motorcycling and other things as well. What I love with those things is finding the limit, being on the limit and still controlling it. Just to find this fine edge is something I have always liked.

Q:
What do you think of Mercedes' fortunes in F1 in 2013 and how much satisfaction do you take from your part in the team's and car's development in the previous seasons?

Michael Schumacher:
I am happy for the progression the team has quite clearly made. It means the work we did in the past years was not bad, as indeed we managed to set the basis we wanted to find to then increase the performance. It is cool to see that the step the team took is probably even bigger than expected from last year to this year, and I think I have good reasons to be happy about it.

Q:
Your fans around the world will be hoping this won't be the last we see of Michael Schumacher at ROC. Even if you get 'lucky number seven' can we still hope to see you come back for more?

Michael Schumacher:
Well, let's put it like this maybe: I have always enjoyed the Race Of Champions, being together with the other drivers in a relaxed atmosphere, and in the end this is why I have always returned. It is a cool event where everybody has fun: drivers, spectators and media. I am sure the crowd in Bangkok this year will understand even better that they just have to turn up and be part of the spectacle, so I put my trust in them to celebrate the Race Of Champions together with us.