Having just turned 36, it's ironic that Michael Schumacher is forever being asked when he will retire, especially when one considers that his former rival, Damon Hill, won his title (1996) at the age of 36.
Nonetheless, when facing the press at Ferrari's annual get-together, it wasn't long before the subject of his age, and possible retirement, raised its head.
The German veteran is now the oldest driver on the grid, but he as 'in love' with motorsport as he was when he began?
"I think I've more in love with it," he replies, without hesitation, "because I know the sport much better, I know what I'm doing, I know the surroundings.
"When I came in... you're very hot to do it and you very quickly enjoy it, but it's a lot of things to do and you struggle with a lot of things and it's a love and a hate life, but it has turned much more to the love side than the other side."
So does he intend racing for as long as he can?
"There is no time frame for me," he replies. "There is obviously not the intention to make long term contracts because you have to take in my age, from year to year, and I will obviously think what is going to be my future at the appropriate time.
"That's obviously the question it leads to. But the contract runs out at the end of 2006 so for me there is enough time to then talk about it at the right moment. But I see no end at the moment, no. Sorry!"
There is much laughter when the German feels the need to apologize for stating that he will continue racing for as long as he can.
Nonetheless, Schumacher is getting older, therefore will he have to change his physical preparation, his working style?
"I always play around with this," he admits, "but not because of age, more because of experience. I always fine tune whatever I'm doing as preparation. In our sport, we don't have to be maybe as fit as a swimmer, 100 meters sprinter or whatever athlete. We have to have all-round fitness within our job and particularly important is our neck, in a way. There it is very specific what we do and it's probably the most important thing, where you don't have any choice. You just train that until it is done. But otherwise it's very free in terms of what physical preparation you can do. There's many choices and I always play around with this."
Of course, Schumacher is very much a family man, how important is his family to his success, is it the secret to his success?
"I think it is a very under-estimated support," he replies, "because, as I said before, Ferrari is very helpful in order to make us happy, to make us living our private lives which is private, which gives us enough time. But then obviously you need to have an environment where you enjoy your private life, where you fill up and recharge your batteries, where you get your strengths from, where, whenever you have tough moments, you have somebody to lean on like Corinna and my kids and whenever they feel they need to slow me down they pull on the handbrake.
"In all respects, they are there and we are together and we deal with any problems together and sort of take strength from this. It's like anything. Any successful person in any life needs a very strong and good partner and a happy life around him. I think that's pretty much necessary."
But what about life after F1, would he like to compete in other disciplines, such as Dakar?
"No," he replies, without hesitation.
It's pointed out that in the eyes of many, this might make him a more 'complete' driver, like Mario Andretti and Jacky Ickx for instance.
"Yes, but I'm Michael Schumacher," he replies. "OK, maybe when I'm getting older."
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