Schumacher Exclusive Q & A: This is a chance that I could not help myself

Never say never again! The phrase may have been coined for James Bond, but the same also goes for a Formula One driver, especially when that driver is seven-time Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher. The phrase may have been created for James Bond, but the same also applies to Formula One, especially when the driver seven times Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher. Not just the most controversial man in F1 history, Schumacher, at 41 years-old, is also the oldest driver on the 2010 grid, with a full three years' Absence from the sport to make up for. Not only the most controversial man in the history of F1, Schumacher, at the age of 41 years, also the oldest driver on the grid in 2010, with a full three-year absence from the sport to ransom. However, if his recent test times in the Mercedes count for anything, he's still the same as he always was - and far from rusty ... However, if the last test in a Mercedes to count anything, he's still the same as it always was - and far from rusting ...

Q: Are you aware that you are the love-hate figure?
Michael Schumacher: I simply think that if 'you are around as long as I have been there will always be people who follow you more and some who follow you less. Michael Schumacher: I just think that if you were there for me to be there will always be people who follow you more and some people who follow you less. But to be able to be around for so long, I sometimes had to close myself up a bit. But to be able to be around so long, I sometimes had to close myself up a bit. It may be the same again this time. Probably the same again this time.

Q: Lately you have given the impression of caring a little bit more about what people think of you? Q: Lately you have given the impression a little more concern about what people think about you?
MS: Well, let's see how the season develops. MS: Well, let's see how the season develops. It was a very sudden decision, so we all have to get used to see me driving again - myself included ... It was a very sudden decision, so we all better get used to seeing me drive again - including my own ...

Q: You said you felt like a kid with a new toy when you drove at Valencia last week. Q: You said you feel like a kid with a new toy when you drive in Valencia last week. Are you still as keen on your new toy? Are you still as interested in your new toy?
MS: Definitely, yes. MS: Of course, yes. To drive a car like this again, it was just that great old feeling I know so well. To drive a car like this again, it was just a big old feeling I know well. Nothing comes close. Nothing close. I love that sensation, I always did. I like the sensation, I always do. It was just that my batteries were empty at the end of 2006 that I retired. It's just that my battery was empty at the end of 2006 that I retired. I would not have wanted to go on. I'm not going to want to continue. Now my batteries are fully loaded again! Now my battery is fully charged again!

Q: To race for an afternoon is one thing, but adjusting to the normal duties test beyond the 100 laps marker is quite another. Q: For the race for the evening is one thing, but adjusting the test outside the normal duties 100 lap marker is another. Did that still feel okay? Is that still feel okay?
MS: It felt just great. MS: It was just great. No problem at all, just pure fun. No problem at all, just pure fun.

Q: Your doctor, Johannes Peil, was at the track at Valencia, but was not in Jerez. Q: Doctor, Johannes Peil, is on track at Valencia, but not at Jerez. Are you sure you're both now fully prepared? Are you sure you're both now fully ready?
MS: He was in Valencia to do some checks, as he has been with me very often in the past. MS: He was in Valencia to do some tests, because he has been with me very often in the past. We wanted to make sure I am best prepared, and obviously I am, as we both did not see the necessity to have him join me in Jerez. We want to make sure I am most ready, and obviously I am, when we both do not see the need to have him join me at Jerez.

Q: How is your relationship with team mate Nico Rosberg developing? Q: What about your relationship with team mate Nico Rosberg develop? Ross Brawn hopes you that will help him to mature; Nico hopes you'll share with him the secret of winning. Ross Brawn hopes that you will help him to mature; Nico hope you will share with him the secret of winning. What will it be? What will happen?
MS: How could I know? MS: How do I know? Unfortunately I can not look into the future. Unfortunately I can not see into the future. But I do not expect anything else but for it to be fine. But I do not expect anything but for it's fine. At the moment it is very constructive and I do not expect that to change. At that very constructive and I do not expect that to change. For once it is quite a good feeling to be able to communicate in my mother tongue, and at the moment we are 'neighbors' as our motor homes are right beside each other here in the paddock. For once this is a pretty good feeling to be able to communicate in my native language, and at our 'neighbor' as our motor homes beside each other right here in the desert.

Q: Up until now you have planned your career and image very carefully, but this new phase seems more Adventurous. Q: Until now you have to plan your career and image very carefully, but this new phase seems to be more adventurous. Do you have an idea of what this season will be like? Do you have an idea of what this season will be like?
MS: Again, unfortunately I am not somebody to predict the future. MS: Again, unfortunately I am not one to predict the future. I believe in this team, and this belief in the challenge is enough for me. I believe in this team, and this belief in the challenge was enough for me. I love the competition, and I look forward to taking the chance. I love the competition, and I hope to take a chance.

Q: You could always measure the quality of your cars. Q: You always can measure the quality of your car. What are you feeling about the MGP W01? What are your feelings about MGP W01?
MS: I am fully convinced that we have a car that is able to fight for the championship. MS: I am fully convinced that we have a car capable of fighting for the championship. Where we are exactly is hard to say. Where we actually hard to say. This is especially true for me as I do not have the data from last year's car. This is especially true for me because I do not have data from last year's car.

Q: There is barely a month to go until the season opener in Bahrain. Q: There is less than a month to go until the season opener in Bahrain. What is your schedule until then? What is your schedule until then?
MS: We will focus on the elimination of any teething problems, try to Optimize the car, start to work on the fine tuning and get reliability by doing mileage. MS: We will focus on the elimination of any teething problems, try to optimize the car, started to work on fine tuning and get the reliability to make the distance. Then let's see what Bahrain brings. Then let's see what that brings Bahrain.

from: www.f1.com